"INFLICTING VENGEANCE!"

2 Thessalonians 1:4-12                   (ESV)

"4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of GOD for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of GOD, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of GOD, for which you are also suffering-

6 since indeed GOD CONSIDERS IT JUST TO REPAY WITH AFFLICTION THOSE WHO AFFLICT YOU,

7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the LORD JESUS is revealed from heaven with HIS mighty angels

8 in flaming fire, "INFLICTING VENGEANCE" on those who do not know GOD and on those who do not obey the gospel of our LORD JESUS.

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the LORD and from the glory of HIS might,

10 when HE comes on that day to be glorified in HIS saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

11 To this end we always pray for you, that our GOD may make you worthy of HIS calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by HIS power,

12 so that the name of our LORD JESUS may be glorified in you, and you in HIM, according to the grace of our GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST."

There appears to exists very little respect and admiration for the things of GOD any longer in our society.  GOD cannot be limited to mortal words.  GOD cannot be accurately described. However, GOD does exist and JESUS came as an "image of the invisible GOD" and by HIM and for HIM were ALL THINGS created (Colossians 1:15-16) !  Just because we can't SEE, TOUCH, and physically FEEL HIM doesn't mean HE doesn't exist!  HE is made REAL to those who seek after HIM with all their hearts (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:13).  

JESUS instructed in Mark 11:22 to "Have faith in GOD"!  In Exodus 14:13-14 it is written "13 And Moses said to the people, "FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM, and see the salvation of the LORD, which HE will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."  Why is it that I want to "fight for the LORD" instead of letting the "LORD fight for me"?  It is hard to fight when you are being silent!

When Moses was speaking to the children of Israel he told them "you have only to be silent"!  Maybe the reasoning behind the Israelites being silent was so GOD could get ALL of the glory for delivering them from the pursuing Egyptians?  GOD is a jealous GOD (Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:15), but GOD created us and HE deserves nothing less than our devotion and absolute admiration to HIM!  

Since GOD created us (and everything) then only HE has the authority to "INFLICT VENGEANCE" on those who refuse to acknowledge HIM.  HE doesn't delegate HIS authority to anyone else, for apart from HIM we are ALL unholy and wicked.  I should not judge (Matthew 7:1), but I am called to warn people that GOD WILL JUDGE THEM, not because I'm better than them, but because GOD loves them and HE wants us ALL to be saved from HIS wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Romans 5:9)!  Yes, GOD is a loving GOD, so much so that HE SENT JESUS for our redemption!  But HE is a Holy GOD and HE WILL "INFLICT VENGEANCE" on those who do not know GOD!!!