Whether in Hell or on the Cross...

Too often I take things into my own hands, even so far as stepping into God's role. I was reading Piper last night when he stepped on my toes about this habit of mine. Piper was writing about humility, when he said: "Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got." You see, much of the time, we feel as if we that right to not be treated poorly. We have the right to everyone fulfilling our needs, whims, etc. We feel like we have a right to good service, a right to be treated with respect, a right to not be talked down to, the right to be treated well, etc. But you know, no servant is greater than his master, and our master Jesus Christ, was treated horrendously. Who are we to think that we deserve anything better? Piper went on to say that we should assume that we will be mistreated, and that we should not be indignant when we are treated poorly. This is Christlike humility, that we do not think too highly of ourselves, and that we esteem others more highly than ourselves.

So what do we do when we are wronged and treated horribly? After all, none of us like to be disrespected. Piper answers that question by pointing us to God and his greatness. Piper gives us this advice: "Peter (1Pet. 2:1-23) and Paul (Rom 12:19) give us great moral assistance in this difficult task by reminding us that God will settle all accounts justly and that temporary injustice will not be swept under the rug of the universe. It will be dealt with - on the cross or in hell. We need not avenge ourselves. We can leave it to God." So the next time that person speaks to you condescendingly, leave it to God. The next time you are reviled and put down for your beliefs, leave it to the just and righteous one. The next time your girlfriend or wife says something that "insults your intelligence" remember that the Son of God, the I Am through whom the world and wisdom was created was treated the same way; and let God handle it on the cross or in hell.

p.s. This thought of all of our hurts being taken care of on the cross or in hell really should force us to our knees in praise and thankfulness to God that our sins have been taken care of on the cross. But it should also send us to our knees in repentance for the lack of care we have towards those whose sins will be take care of in hell. May it be that when we are sinned against, we see a sin and a sinner whose transgressions might be accounted for in hell. May this knowledge compel us to tell them to flee God's wrath against sin, and run towards salvation by God's grace through faith in Christ Jesus.