"God is Patient and Kind!"

 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set to them to do evil." (Ecclesiastes 8:11 KJV)

  "You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing such things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" (Romans 2:1-4 NLT)

 For the moment, let's pretend that this portion of Scripture has a positive message; one that will bring us back to the cross, where we once believed God's heart was that everyone would be saved, and no one would be going to hell, if that could even happen! Besides, we are all guilty of this, so called judging people, forgetting that we ourselves are guilty of the same sinfulness. 

 Here is what we are looking at, just in case you don't see what is being said. Say you are doing something that you know you shouldn't do, oh, say we are talking about surfing the web and looking at things which you know God does not like you to do; but you really don't feel He is going to punish you, since there is nothing happening to you so far; so you continually do it, even with greater desire and intent. 

 You have got to understand, God's mercy does have a limit, because He wants us to be faithful and good children; so, He will, as someone has said, "Get up off the couch and give you a spanking!" However, that is usually the reaction for those that are His children; those that do not want anything to do with Him, He will attempt to get them to listen, but they must make that choice.

 Because He loves us so much, He will not allow us to continue in a life of sin; sooner or later, He will make a move and cause us to be totally depending on Him! Besides, we that have been born again, and do not any longer belong to "the sons of men," we are now, the children of God...

"If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is you your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:13-17 NLT)