Everyone Listen!

There is no reasonable justification to compare God to a cruel, ruthless murderer.  The good reputation of men and women are often smeared by their enemies, and it seems the almighty God is no exception.  Those who believe God created the heavens and the earth in His wisdom celebrate the brilliance of God for fine-tuning the earth and celestial bodies to sustain life on this planet.  No one complains about the natural law of gravity that is perfectly suited for our survival, but plenty of people oppose the spiritual law that sin ultimately brings death.  God is gracious to reveal this reality before the penalty is imposed, and when it comes to fruition He has been much maligned.

God has done everything to take the sting out of death for people created in His own image by experiencing death Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.  The God who is the same yesterday, today and forever desires none would perish and that all would come to repentance.  This desire to preserve life is seen in the Old Testament as well.  Jeremiah 26:1-3 reads, "In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying, ² "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. ³ Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.'"  Because of their sin God's people in Jerusalem courted destruction which only faith in God demonstrated by repentance could turn away.

God knew the wayward and stubborn hearts of His people, yet He sent Jeremiah to them with severe warnings about what would occur should they continue in their current course of wickedness.  Jeremiah was one of many prophets God sent to notify His people of their guilt so they might heed and turn from their sins.  Even though God knew they would not listen, He sent Jeremiah anyway.  In no way did He infringe upon their right of choice to heed or deny Him, and He would make their decision to stand.  Their refusal to hear and obey the word of the LORD would condemn them when His intent was to relent concerning the calamity He would bring upon them as a just Judge.

In a court of law it is possible to have a judge who goes beyond legal precedent to punish citizens, who receives bribes, gives preferential treatment or turns a blind eye to corruption.  This cannot be said of God who is righteous, just, merciful, loving and gracious.  He has sent Jesus Christ to shine in the darkness so we might repent of sin and turn to Him in faith so we can be spared from destruction, forgiven and receive eternal life.  God has not withheld this opportunity from the worst of the worst because He says, "Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way."  For all who believe in Christ and repent, God will relent from bringing eternal disaster upon us and will draw us to Himself forever as His own.  God says in Isaiah 45:22, "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."  When we turn our eyes to Jesus lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, we see God drawing all people unto Himself for salvation.