by Bob Coy
Who deserves to die? The really rebellious, the serious sinner, the wildly wicked, and the extremely evil, that's who. Names come to mind: Adolph Hitler, Pol Pot, Gehnkis Kahn, Joseph Kony, Ivan the Terrible.
Can you think of anyone else? I can: Billy Graham, Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, James MacDonald, Bob Coy.
How is it that these two lists can be compared? How can really "evil" people be combined with - what I think - are really "good" people? Here's how: Scripture says it so well in the first half of Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death…"
What are wages? Earned income... Regular payment... You get something for sinning.
So who deserves to die?
Everyone. Everyone deserves to die because everyone is a sinner. Obviously, some will receive a more severe punishment or penalty, but what if you're not that bad? What if you're not an Adolph Hitler or Ivan the Terrible? I'm sorry, but “the wages of sin is death.”
Does that mean there's no hope? Is there no solution?
The second half of Romans 6:23 says this: "…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So that brings us to another question. Not "Who deserves to die?" but "Who deserves to live?" Who gets the gift? Who enjoys the grace?
Here's why so many people have difficulty with God. You've heard people say this: "More blood gets shed in the name of God, than anything else." People have a tendency to judge the Judger. And they judge without having all the facts.
Let's make sure we have all the facts about God’s attitude toward death:
Ezekiel 18:32 - "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies…"
Ezekiel 33:11 - "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live…"
2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish"
When somebody is judged, you can't blame God. God would rather that nobody dies according to the above scriptures.
God would rather nobody died including the wicked!
God struggles with the whole process of death. That's why the shortest verse in the Bible reads, "Jesus wept." Just outside of Lazarus' tomb, even though Jesus has the power of resurrection coursing through His veins, He weeps. He's sad to see this order of things.
It's because of sin that death entered this world.
It wasn't supposed to be like this; it wasn't His will. God created the Garden of Eden with the intention that we’d live forever enjoying fellowship together with Him.
But Adam sinned. Be careful, Christian, not to find fault with Adam. You would have done the exact same thing. These verses still apply:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
“The wages of sin is death.”
God didn’t want it this way. That’s why God is slow to judge. That’s why in scripture we see God giving repeated warnings before judgment falls.
Don’t be bothered by God’s judgment. God gives warning and witness before he judges. The implication, when you’re irritated with God for His righteous judgment, is that you’re more kind-hearted and more magnanimous than God. You’re judging God. That’s a little weird. I’m a little embarrassed for you when you do that.
One of the enemy’s tactics against you is to discredit, demean, and dishonor God. That’s why we need the Word. We need to have all the facts. God doesn’t want to judge. In fact, the Bible says if you judge yourself, you will not be judged.
Take a look at the Word of God. Align your heart, and you won’t be judged. We have a tendency to judge when we don’t have all the facts.
When faced with questions about the credibility of God, answer them with facts from the Word of God.
