Did you know that the Lord, many times, allows wrong doers the opportunity to choose their own punishment? Their own fate? It’s true. People have had a choice of punishment. Here’s an example with King David:
“But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord , “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord , for doing this foolish thing.”
“The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”
“I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:10-14 NLT)
David realized he had disobeyed God. He acknowledged his sin before the Lord, and the Lord, through the prophet Gad, gave him three punishment options. David had a choice of punishment.
David did the right thing and put his fate into the just and loving hands of God. He decided to let God choose.
That was then. This is now. God hasn’t changed, and neither has man.
True, God has judged sin once and for all through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But people must make a personal decision either for, or against Christ. And if mankind would only have the sense (and faith) to call upon Him, my, how different the world would be.
If the people of this nation would truly repent of their selfish ways and receive Jesus as their Lord, this nation would turn around over night.
But they don’t. They keep living as if God isn’t real; or, if He is, He didn’t mean what He said. They won’t humble themselves before God, as David did.
So God has given the people of the U.S. a choice; a choice of punishment. “How will you be punished for your lawlessness, selfishness, and arrogance?”
What choice did Americans make?
Well, America voted on it. The voters, the votes of the electoral college, the pen and phone of the president, the lobbyists, and even the Supreme Court have all gotten into the act of replacing God; removing Him from society. The nerve, and downright arrogance, of this country. “We’ll decide once and for all if same-sex marriage is right.”
The majority will have their say.
And that will be America’s punishment. America will have to learn how to fend for themselves. God won’t force His ways upon anyone. Not then, not now, not ever.
He’ll let them have their say; their way.
Good luck, America.
Jan Grace 