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Is God cruel and judgmental?

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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: If there’s a God, he’s cruel to allow what goes on in the world. I’d like to believe in a loving God, but even my friends would turn their backs on me if I believed in a God full of judgment. – G.J.

A: Even with accusations hurled at God, He never changes. Regardless of man’s continual sin, the grace and patience of the Lord is overwhelming. You can’t miss the countless warnings that come from Him. “‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.’” (Ezekiel 33:11).

Unless we allow Christ to destroy the evil within us, evil still wants to destroy Him. This is the conflict of the ages. Many people refuse to turn from sin because they’re more afraid of man’s ridicule than of God’s judgment. Others think belief in Christ is foolishness. Well, let’s see who is foolish. The whole world laughed at Noah when he boarded an ark on dry land. Lot’s neighbors in Sodom and Gomorrah laughed when he ran from the cities, saying they would be destroyed because of rampant immorality. But these eternal judgments were fulfilled as scoffers drowned in the flood and burned in the brimstone of Lot’s hometown. “The Lord will judge….’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:30–31).

But a greater judgment took place more than 2,000 years ago on Calvary, when the sins of the world were placed on Jesus. He shed His blood on the cross to pay the penalty for sin. Who are we to say that God has no right to judge us? He already has. But the sentence has not been put into motion.

 

Oh friend, do not doubt the power of holy God who calls out to the world to repent and find the mercy and love of the blessed Savior and Redeemer of the soul.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2022 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


(c)2022 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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