Full Responsibility
As Isaiah said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts—so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” – John 12:40 (NLT)
Scriptures that tell me the Lord hides truth and light from people’s understanding, and Scriptures that tell me the Lord steels people’s hearts against love and compassion, are quite disturbing to me. While I don’t wish ill upon anyone, I do prefer a system of justice that holds everyone accountable for their decisions and their actions. Notions of evil people being cut off and of callous people being brought low by Divine Providence hold a definite appeal for me.
But how can people whose understanding is thwarted and whose hearts are hardened by God ever be justifiably held accountable for their transgressions?
Perhaps my focus should be less upon God’s retribution against the wicked and more upon God’s boundless mercies in my own life—and the dusty ashes we all have in common.
What a wonder God in Christ is. Jesus comes to give his life for the sins we have committed. Then while being executed by the people he loved enough to lay down his life for, Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Only love that is supremely radical and utterly unfailing would cause God to take full responsibility for our sinful condition.
While watching a marriage counselling session on TV recently, I was taken aback by the rude and condescending manner in which one man spoke to his spouse. Appearing rather flustered himself, the counselor turned to the rude man’s spouse and asked, “If you could change anything about your husband right now, what would you change?
The spouse responded, “I would go back into his life and change everything that has made it so hard for him to give and receive real love.”
Prayer
Lord, your judgement is always tempered by your love, and we thank you. Amen.
About the AuthorKenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Decatur, Georgia.