Lion of Judah
For some reason I, and I believe many Christians, are aware less of God’s just nature than any of His other characteristics. We seem to forget that His justice is just as powerful and important as His love, grace, mercy, and absolute control and power. This is evident in our preaching. We seem to try to strip the message of the Cross from God’s justice, anger, vengeance, and hatred towards sin. I believe the consequence of this is the absence of godly repentance, and false hope in salvation. Somehow in our minds the Lamb of God, the Saviour of the world, is not quite as present as the Lion of Judah, the Lord of Lords. May be we are scared to think about God’s justice because we don’t like to think about the day when we will stand in front of Him and give account for our actions. Or may be we don’t speak about God’s justice because we don’t want people to think that we are bitter, hateful, judgemental, unforgiving, or vengenful.
In 2003 on the last day of high school and right before exams a close classmate of mine was sitting with me and few other classmates around a table in the school’s library. He was from Pakistan and he and I used to discuss our religious beliefs quite often as he was a Muslim and I am a Christian. He was very smart and was doing very well in school with an average, I believe, in the mid 90s in the last year; he wanted to become a doctor. He also used to spend a lot of time hanging around teachers at school. On that day in the library he said, “Fadi, I want to tell you something.” I said, “Ok” and he proceeded to say, “You know, I spend a lot of time helping the physics teacher and this last semester he had asked me to help him mark the labs and so whenever I came across you lab reports I never gave you as high marks as you deserved. I made sure you never got a full mark on any lab.” I was shocked by his actions (and my other classmates too) because I didn’t understand how can anyone do something like this. But the incident didn’t concern me much because as far as I was concerned I wasn’t going to university until I found out what God’s will for my life was first (primarily what were the talents He had gifted me with). And so after high school I worked in a warehouse for four years and initially I kept contact with that classmate but then I lost contact with him. About six months after graduation I happened to chat with another classmate from high school and I asked him if he knew what everyone from high school was doing and he mentioned that my Pakistani classmate was studying at University of Toronto but he wasn’t doing well at all—that he was failing 3 out of 5 courses or so. I immediately remembered his actions of stealing grades away from me and I though of God’s justice.
I can give you many personal examples about God’s justice and the Bible is certainly full of similar stories. But I am writing this mainly because Valentine's Day passed by few days ago and I thought about the many women (and men) who gave their all to their spouses whom in return committed adultery against them and sinned against God. Sometimes when I watch TV I am appalled when I see a man who committed adultery worried about getting a divorce not because he destroyed his marriage and family and devastated his wife, a woman who gave her life and entrusted herself to him, but because he doesn’t want to lose half the house!
When it comes to justice I like the words by Dr. Charles Stanley who once said something to the like, “You say you don’t believe in hell because you don’t believe a loving God sends people to hell. I believe in hell because I don’t believe a loving God sends wicked people to heaven.” I don’t know where you are in life but if you feel mistreated and that justice has not been done in your case, then I want you know that God is the great judge who sees that justice is carried out.
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"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so
that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according
to what he has done, whether good or bad."
(2 Corinthians 5:10)
"Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this
comes judgment."
(Hebrews 9:27)
"I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the
throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is
the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were
written in the books, according to their deeds."
(Revelation 20:12)
The Beatitudes -- Matthew 5:1-12
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat
down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and
be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Toronto, ON; winter 2009.)
Comments and faves
photonaturedreams, Child of the King Photography, godserv, A time for refreshing, and 29 other people added this photo to their favorites.
photonaturedreams (40 months ago | reply)
nice photo . that"s true your sin will catch up with on earth in heaven
Child of the King Photography (40 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Inspired by Him -- Invite Only --, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Superb capture!!!!!!
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?²ˣ)
thaines (40 months ago | reply)
majestic photo!
{kari elaine} (40 months ago | reply)
"We seem to try to strip the message of the Cross from God’s justice, anger, vengeance, and hatred towards sin. I believe the consequence of this is the absence of godly repentance, and false hope in salvation. "
This is sooo true Fadi... it is something that my family and I talk about alllll the time. Those "happy go lucky" messages from preachers do not speak truth. The truth is that God is sovereign- he will judge us accordingly.... even every idol word! Many times this is left out... I have heard before that our sin is just a "bad choice" after becoming born again! Anyway, I am so glad that he has opened our eyes to this truth!
=)
godserv (40 months ago | reply)
Thanks for touching on the justice of God which many forget about so easily because we either don't study the Word or we desire something different than what the Word of God teaches. God's justice is righteous that is why he made a way out of not facing His judgement on our sins. Instead, we who believe on Jesus can experience grace - something we do not deserve.
loswl (40 months ago | reply)
Beautiful message, I love the photo that goes with it, the lion looks very serious, I agree totally with you, the scripture speaks about the judgment of God , but seems some theologians and pastors are just tickling the ears of the people and we just swallow it up :o( The church really need to get back to true biblical teachings, thanks for sharing this, because, I just replied to someone on our blog about the same topic :o)
This Beautiful Photo is invited to the INSPIKS Pool
jeannetteyvonne (40 months ago | reply)
WOW, love this, doing a study "Beth Moore" on Daniel so
what an awesome thing to see here, loved all you wrote.
God is just and we are not.............
001FJ (40 months ago | reply)
Thank you for reading my writing, liking the photo, and commenting.
I would like to give special thanks to godserv ( www.flickr.com/photos/godserv/ ) for explaining to me how to edit the photo to make its contrast and colours stand out more.
godserv (40 months ago | reply)
Sweet :)
A time for refreshing (40 months ago | reply)
this picture reminds me of the verse in the Old Testament where the Lord says to certain individuals..."my face is against you".....
Did that lion see you taking his photo?
001FJ (40 months ago | reply)
I don't think the lion really cared about cameras...he just didn't like the many people looking at him (it was his lunch time!) I don't think he paid attention to a single individual though :)
Eric P. Olson (40 months ago | reply)
Very beautiful Fadi!
sylkky2 (40 months ago | reply)
Great message!
I saw your beautiful photograph in the INSPIKS Pool
Solitude + Fog [deleted] (40 months ago | reply)
Wow, this is an absolutely stunning image! What a wonderful capture. :-)
Carlo Fontanarosa (40 months ago | reply)
Now that is a beautiful picture of a beautiful animal
♥ leona ♥ (40 months ago | reply)
Wonderful!!!! wonderful.... greetings my friend!!! :-)
sylkky2 (40 months ago | reply)
This beautiful photo was admired in:
Inspired by Him
Avapi (40 months ago | reply)
Well done - really great photo & like your writeup as well!
lisadozknit (40 months ago | reply)
Beautiful capture and thanks for sharing too.
A time for refreshing (39 months ago | reply)
Lately I have had some dealings with people in which they haven't shown me respect and honor when I am doing good towards them...some in family and some in business endeavors where I have purchsed a product/service from them. How I wish that I could know that Our Father who Art in Heaven and His Son are looking at those people in my behalf in even a near image of the expression on the lion's face that you photographed! I just saw this again and I now remember that is why I was attracted to it...it looks like he is saying, "oh yeah. Do you think you will actually get away with what you are doing?"
Christ tells us that he will avenge us speedily when we are wronged. What is wonderful about when Christ does avenge it is done in great style and wisdom...for He is always hoping that the party/person that wronged us will repent.
Joanne-V (39 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called NATURE'S POT-of-GOLD ~~ Competitive Group {Post 1, Comment 1}, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Joanne-V (39 months ago | reply)
This is truly a photograph of
some quality
You are invited to post it to BARRETTS BIG CATS!
Please tag your photograph ' BBC '
CodePaster
stuart.shone (39 months ago | reply)
a superb photo , a very majestic subject
This is a magnificent example of
Nature's Pot-of-Gold!
Thanks for adding to
Nature's Pot-of-Gold Group.
Helen Beresford (39 months ago | reply)
Simply superb! :0)
This is a magnificent example of
Nature's Pot-of-Gold!
Thanks for adding to
Nature's Pot-of-Gold Group.
bossejonsson59 (39 months ago | reply)
This is a magnificent example of
Nature's Pot-of-Gold!
Thanks for adding to
Nature's Pot-of-Gold Group.
Freek Moog (39 months ago | reply)
Amen.
loswl (39 months ago | reply)
Congratulations this Photo is being featured in the INSPIKS | Flickr Roundup
Daniel E Bruce (38 months ago | reply)
I am a Christian, I trust in the virtue and merit of one, Jesus Christ my lord..
1 John 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we KEEP his commandments. whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. (TRULY SAVED) (BORN AGAIN). By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Jesus said you will know them by there fruits...Those of us who love him are being conformed to the image of Christ, galations 2:20
listen to this SHOCKING MESSAGE from brother Paul washer www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8
also this is my friend Ryan Jennings website,www.illbehonest.com
I buy books and I study here www.monergism.com/
and here www.ligonier.org/
God bless you all and this is a beautiful picture..
001FJ (38 months ago | reply)
Thank you all for your comments :)
Daniel & Carla, thank you for your detailed comment :) I love brother Paul Washer. I often listen to him while working out :)
Freek Moog (38 months ago | reply)
Please share this beautiful photo in our group
Talent4Christ
loswl (35 months ago | reply)
Please Come & Share this Photo in: Photos of God's Creation:
A NEW Thread in INSPIKS | Inspirational Pictures Group!
Post Your Photo Here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/inspiks/discuss/ 72157620854798350/
ThomasD300 (34 months ago | reply)
Nice shot
Thanks for sharing
Tom
FireandWater7777 (30 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Jesus Saves Jesus Saves, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
morta2 (30 months ago | reply)
sent