We have a history of God's Blessing

Matthew 11:20-24

From the beginning of mankind, we have a history of God’s blessing to man and mankind being deceived by the one Jesus calls the “Enemy or Thief” in John 10:10, and then rebelling against God who has blessed them.  Do you recall your dad telling you this little riddle, “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me,” after being caught in some kind of scheme where someone took advantage of you.  And what about when it was your own scheme, it was you wanting your way and yet knowing all the time that it was an action of rebellion against the authority in your life?  My dad often would give me a pass on the first offense, but had no tolerance for a second offense.

In my search to understand why you and I are such easy targets of the one Jesus calls the “thief,” I ran across these three quotes: “I always believed in God and Christ, but I was in rebellion – trying to make my relationship with God fit into my life instead of making my life fit in with him.  I was stubborn.” (Scott Stapp)  The next quote is from John Elliot,  “Unwillingness to accept God’s “way of escape” from temptation frightens me what a rebel yet resides within.”  The last quote comes from one of the great thinkers, C.S. Lewis, “A creature revolting against a creator is revolting against the source of his own powers--including even his power to revolt. It is like the scent of a flower trying to destroy the flower.”

Jesus is giving a “Woe” to the unrepentant cities where most of his mighty works have been done.  “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”  (Matthew 11:21-24)

After looking for the many miracles done in these places, I turned to HCSB (Study Bible) and looked at the footnotes on page1633, this is what I found; “These verses remind us that the Gospels are not exhaustive accounts of Jesus life.  Jesus performed most of His miracles in Chorazin . . . Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and yet the Gospels do not describe His miracles at Chorazin and mentions only two that were performed at Bethsaida (Mk 6:45; 8:22; Lk 9:20).  God’s judgment against sin is more tolerable for people to whom little revelation is given.  On the other hand, those who have received much revelation bear greater responsibility and thus incur greater judgment for their unbelief.”

So that brings us to your nation that has the gospel of Jesus Christ and the free gift of salvation has been written about in your language?  If so, it is grace time, but will God not extend both his grace and his judgment on your nation?  I have no doubt that the United States of America will stand in more judgment than Sodom!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice