Tuesday 6 September 2016

Cheaters Never Prosper


Scripture: Zechariah 5 v 3-4:  "Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.  I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof."

Nothing makes people more upset than injustice. People that get off on a technicality in court when their guilt is obvious to all turns some communities into vigilante mode.  Angry people take the law into their own hands because nobody but the villian feels good about the fact that he got away with his crime.

As Christians we are told not to be judge, jury and executioner. But we want to be reassured that God is doing something to repay the wrongdoer.  Those words mean they will die. In Romans God says, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.  In Zechariah He says the thief will lose everything.

There are untouchable people in high places who seem to survive corruption and fraud but our God makes no distinction for the high and mighty. They are all going to receive their just desserts.  We have seen it in South Africa recently when the ruling party lost heavily in the local municipal elections, and are now running about like headless chickens, trying to regroup.  Until they remove the corrupt leadership the electorate will punish them, our God will perform His Word!

Theft covers many things - theft of innocence by rapists, molesters, paedophiles. Theft of a human life by murder; theft of a person's reputation by slander; theft of a spouse through adultery; piracy of media products such as dvd's; theft of tithes by unscrupulous pastors.  Theft of taxpayers' contributions by wasting and abuse by corrupt and incompetent officials is also a crime.  If they escape the law they will run into the King of kings, whose name is Jesus, the Righteous Judge, and they would rather serve a jail sentence than face His wrath.

Some years ago there was a televangelist in the USA who asked for donations in exchange for prayer for healing. It was found that the bank account number was directly into his personal account and the postal address was the same as the bank. The clerks were just throwing the letters away and banking the donations. When this scam was exposed this man then told his TV audience that he had in fact got blood poisoning from lying on the letters and praying over them for days. I am not sure what God has done to repay this thief and liar to his face but I would not like to be in his shoes.

Jesus says we must not avenge ourselves but allow Him to be the judge. His punishments can be severe.  Jesus means what He says and unless we repent of stealing of all kinds or using God's name as a curse word we are in danger of His judgment. The judgments of the Lord are fearful. Either serious illness or death.

Those who repent and become born again will be forgiven and there is never any condemnation from Him again. Your life must be lived according to His will for you and you will know joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Prayer: Father God so many of us at some time have sworn or stolen even some tiny thing but Your word excuses none of us. Please forgive us every theft and every curse of your name and cleanse us with the Blood of Jesus. We repent (ie change our ways) and will never do such things again. Please deliver us from Your judgment against us. In Jesus' name. Amen.