Truth Versus Lies: Is God More Tolerant Than He Used To Be?

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

– 1 Timothy 3:5

You see it everywhere these days: “Coexistence.”  Islam, Christianity and Judaism — side by side, living in harmony.  Throw in all the other religions and philosophies too.

What’s wrong with that?  Nothing, if we understand coexistence to mean treating each other with the respect deserving of every human being, as a person created in the image of God.  In a diverse society, we can and should have friends across the lines of religion, politics, economics, race and culture.  And within those friendships, there should be room for mutual respect even when we disagree.

But make no mistake about it: there is one Lord over all the earth.  He has come to redeem His people and He will return to execute judgment upon those who ultimately choose to resist His lordship.

You’ll often hear the lie that the God of the Old Testament, Jehovah, was a war-like, hostile God, but Jesus is like a doting grandfather.  He lets us get away with anything because He is sugar, spice and everything nice.  How do we separate the fact that God is love from the fiction that He turns a blind eye to sin and to those who decide to do things their own way?

First, we acknowledge that He IS love, and that, in His great love for fallen man, He provided the one perfect sacrifice that would satisfy His just and holy wrath.  Check it out:

Hebrews 9:15, James 1:17, Isaiah 40:8, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, 10:14, John 6:28-29

Second, acknowledge that this sacrifice was needed.  Since God is perfectly just, He can not turn a blind eye to sin.  We can all recognize this if we search ourselves — we have an innate need to see justice done.  When we watch a news story about someone who has committed violent, horrible acts against defenseless victims, we feel the need for justice.  We may disagree on what the punishment should be, but we don’t want the criminal to escape.  We don’t want the judge to let him off.

So let’s break it down:

• God recognizes that, at our very best, this human race is deserving of wrath for our sins against Him and His creation.
• God, in His great love, Has provided a perfect “scapegoat” — a sacrifice for our sins.  And it’s His own Son, the sinless Jesus Christ
• Many refuse to accept that sacrifice.

What is left, then, is judgment.  Daniel Montgomery is not the judge, thank God.  I’m full of sin and can only avoid wrath by resting in the blood of Christ.  You are not the judge either.  God is the judge.  When He finally says “enough is enough,” He will show how little tolerance He has for sin.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

– Revelation 19:11