“Vengeance Is Mine”

Originally Posted August 11, 2020

I was wondering why I like stories where the “good guy wins”. I enjoyed the old cowboy movies because Roy Rodgers or the Lone Ranger or John Wayne always got their man and usually ended it with a good punch in the nose. I guess when you’re getting pushed around a lot by the bad guy, you long for wrongs to be righted, for the time when evil must pay its dues. 

Several years back I saw a movie flying back from the West Coast called “Taken”. It was the story of a father rescuing his daughter from an evil sex trafficking ring. The father also happened to be a former CIA operative who made Rambo look like Mother Theresa. Well, evil really got its just dues and the daughter was rescued. While I could never condone the violence and the “hero” would have clearly flunked out of the “Christian Personal Relations” course, there was something in me that said boy I like it when evil doesn’t win. I rationalized my thinking by saying the Lord used this man to avenge his daughter….hmmmm. 

We know that scripture teaches us “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19) Vengeance belongs to God. 

Scripture clearly teaches that there will be a day of reckoning, when all will be made right. In Psalm 76, it says “at your threat oh God of Jacob, horse and rider lay stunned ….you, you alone strike terror…who shall stand when your terror is roused? You uttered your sentence from the heavens ; the earth in terror was still when God arose to judge , to save the humble of the earth…”(Ps. 76:2-10) 

Wooooo, when God rises to judge,the earth in terror is still. At God’s threat, the horse and rider lay stunned.

If that doesn’t get your attention, listen to this excerpt from the book of Daniel,  “ Thrones were set up and the Ancient One (God the Father) took his throne…clothing bright as snow ..hair white as wool,,, his throne was flames of fire…thousands upon thousands were ministering to him and myriads upon myriads attended him….the court was convened and the book were opened….” (Dan. 7:9-14)

Wooooo….. Gulp !!! 

Being on Jury Duty in Somerset County can be a bit intimidating with the police and the bailiff and the lawyers and the judge…but, what about the heavenly court when “the court is convened and the books are open !!!

On that day, I sure want to be on the right side of God. I want to be confident that my debt has been paid before I stand before the just judge. Justice will be perfect that day. Vengeance will be dispensed by the Lord… a terrible day. Rambo or Louis Lamour won’t be dispensing justice that day, but the Lord God Almighty. May we appear with our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, at our side….. with our redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ at our side…with the Judge rising, not to condemn, but to embrace us and announce to us and to all the heavenlies… “well done my son, my daughter, welcome home”. 

In the meantime, may we dispense mercy and reconciliation  (not vengeance) to our enemies and pray for them that they too may turn from their evil ways and  receive God’s mercy. The Lord paid a terrible price for all to come to salvation… may no one be left behind.