The Two Cups of God Study continued

For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: "Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.  "And they will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them."  Then I took the cup from the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the LORD had sent me: (Jeremiah 25:15-17 NKJV)

            One of the purposes of God’s people is to share the warning that other people will drink of the Cup of God’s Wrath if they don’t turn from their sin and seek God’s forgiveness.  This is the back side of the Great Commission, to warn the lost that they are in sin and must drink of God’s wrath unless they turn to Him.

            So we must share the wine cup of fury so if they will hear they will not have to drink of the Cup of God’s Wrath.

            Some will enjoy the message because they want vengeance or because at least it isn’t happening to them.  I remember a friend in an area I served who said about his pastor, “I don’t mind that my pastor thinks I am going to hell, I just wish he didn’t enjoy it so much.”

            We shouldn’t be happy about presenting this cup.  For one thing it is dangerous.  Many who offered this cup perished for lifting it up.  Better to kill the messenger than bear the message. But there is also a danger of not offering this cup either because we don’t believe a loving God would do this or because you do not want people to find hope in Jesus.  (Look at the Book of Jonah for a sad tale!)

            But we also shouldn’t be happy to see them get theirs.  We should realize that if they get theirs we cannot be far behind in getting ours!  As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”!

Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. (Psalms 11:6 NKJV)

            I remember when Ted Bundy was put to death.  Many church people gathered outside the prison to celebrate his destruction.  I wonder how many will not be in heaven to see the celebration of his redemption?

            Ted Bundy started with pornography and by that was led to sexual deviancy and from that on to murder.  For years many lived in fear of this unknown person who killed young women and destroyed families.

            Between his arrest and death Ted Bundy professed to receive the grace of Jesus Christ.  He even shared his testimony about the dangers of pornography and about the grace and redemption he had found by faith in Jesus Christ.  I cannot know in this life for sure but a deep dark part of me prays it is so.  FOR THEN THERE IS HOPE FOR ME!

            Ted Bundy’s physical death paid for the physical suffering he caused so many, but his spiritual death and suffering was paid for by Jesus.  Some are angry about this since they feel it isn’t fair.  But I don’t believe that Ted Bundy escaped all spiritual suffering.  I believe that the burning wind of judgment brought tears of regret that some he killed may have gone to hell because they were cut off from mercy by his crimes.

            We all face judgment and our own and theirs is terrible enough so we shouldn’t wish worse on others!  Do not wish on others what you do not want to receive for yourself.  Somewhere I believe Jesus taught us something about this.