“When a crime is not punished quickly,

people feel it is safe to do wrong.”

Eccles 8:11 (NLT)

One of the great deceptions the Satan uses to mislead men is the common sales slogan: “No deposit, pay later.”  It is unfortunate when the idea of deferred payment traps so many people into financial disaster, but it becomes an eternal, tragedy if applied to the results of sin.

David recognised this danger when he was envious of the wicked because of their prosperity.  He noted that those who were proud and blasphemed God seemed to have more success than the ones who tried to do right and live God’s way.  This apparent injustice almost caused him to backslide, until God gave him a vision of the heavenly sanctuary and the final punishment of sinners.  The fact that God does not immediately reward the righteous or punish the wicked, does not lessen the final results.

Anne of Austria had this in mind when she said to the Cardinal Mazarin, “My Lord Cardinal, God does not pay at the end of every week; nevertheless He pays.”  Payment for wrongdoing may seem long deferred, but there’s reason for the delay.  We have a long-suffering God who patiently waits for all to repent and accept His free pardoning grace.  “The wages of sin is death; but the {free} gift of God is eternal life.”  The law of retribution requires that evil shall not go unpunished.  But Christ has voluntarily taken the place of the sinner who accepts Him as his substitute.

Only those who have not accepted the Substitute need fear the consequences of sin.  The penalty for sin has been paid by the Saviour (Jesus Christ)  and the offender (you and I), is now free.  But to those who willfully and persistently disobey and refuse to accept the proffered mercy, there is a sure and certain day of judgment when punishment will be meted out to all such.

Now is the time to accept God’s mercy, because the day is not far distant when it will be too late.

May we seek the Lord and help others to do the same, while He is to be found!

Humbly

Your servant and His

Wenessa