"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." (Romans 2:5)

We know that God is a good God. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from Him and that He does not change. We know that Jesus said in John 10:10 that the thief comes to destroy, but that He was different. He came to give us abundant life. However, just because God is good does not mean that He does not judge. And we must understand this. Righteous judgment is good.

A person who is traveling 45 mph or less in a 45 mph speed zone does not fear the sight of a patrolman. The only person not wanting righteous judgment is the person exceeding the limits of the law. Obedience brings order. Disobedience brings chaos.

If a murderer is brought to trial and if the evidence proves that he is guilty, the evidence convicts him of the crime. The jury determines if the evidence is correct and because of the evidence, the jury confirms it to the judge. The judge, seeing that the evidence has confirmed the crime, then pronounces judgment on the criminal. The judge is not the accuser, nor is the judge the executioner. The judge is the righteous man who confirms the evil deed and pronounces the sentence per predetermined rules.

After 40 years of being in the ministry and studying God's Word and listening to His voice on a daily basis, I truly believe with all of my heart that God is a good God. But I also believe that it's foolishness to not accept the truth that God is the righteous judge. All through God's Word we are told that God rewards good deeds with His blessings and evil deeds will bring a curse or absence of His blessings.

When a person sins or does anything that is contrary to God's Word, the door for the wages of sin is opened. God told Cain that if he did well, that he would be accepted and that if he did not do well, sin was waiting at the door and it desired him. (Genesis 4:7) However, God said that Cain could and should rule over the sin.

God has placed before us life and death, cursing and blessing. We have a choice to make and we will be judged by our choices. The devil will not judge you. Your friends and relatives will not judge you. According to Jesus, out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak. And by the words from your heart you will be justified or condemned. (Matthew 12:37) Remember your actions will always follow words that are spoken from your heart.

God hasn't changed. The things that pleased Him 5000 years ago please Him today. And the things that made Him angry 5,000 years ago still make Him angry today. God has not evolved into a politically correct God. What some could have called natural disasters in the Bible (floods, storms, earthquakes, etc.) were actually a result of the judgment of sin. Make no mistake about it. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. In the same measure that he sows, he will reap.

Is God the righteous judge? Does He honor His own Word? You decide.

Devotion 0431