Will God Avenge His Elect?

 Won’t God avenge his elect, even though he bears long with them?

Today’s American brand of new age Christianity does not admit there are real enemies of the faith. Political enemies, business enemies, bad neighbors, maybe, but not enemies out to destroy them personally and spiritually.  There are just “potential converts.”  So they befriend these enemies. These enemies mock God and his Christ.  They pursue their pleasures and seek to pervert truth. They propagate lies and false gospels. They hate true Christianity and love false Christianity. 

These are those upon whom God will exact his revenge. These are the ones whom the true Christians ask justice upon.

 This does not mean that the Christian is not supposed to love them. If your enemy thirsts, give him something to drink.  If he hungers, feed him. In so doing, we heap coals of fire on his head. Some mushy sentimentalist may think this means that we are embarrassing him thereby, or making his conscience lively, but that is not scriptural. Paul says in so doing we “make way for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord’.” 

Do not be confused in this matter. In helping our enemies, we are not fulfilling the scripture that says, “When I was thirsty, you gave me drink…” Jesus is not our enemy. He may be the starving brother over there, or the weak sister over here, but he is not his own enemy!  When we help a brother or a sister, this is not to heap coals of fire on their head! This is because we love Jesus and want to help him in our brothers and sisters. This is love, but it is not the same as loving one’s enemies. 

The real Christian is vexed by his enemies. They are lovers of self, lovers of money, etc. They are not the starving hordes in a disadvantaged county; they are the pornography publishers who claim to love, the porn actor who claims to be a Christian, the punk rock musician who claims to be a Christian, the author who writes children’s books on witchcraft and sorcery and claims to be a Christian, the televangelist who twists the truth: In other words, those who blaspheme the Name of Christ. If a Christian does not see these as his very real enemies, then he should examine himself to see whether he is a Christian himself.

I remember one incident as an example. I was staying at a half-way house called “God’s House.” It was run by a Pentecostal man who thought he was an apostle. He claimed everything could be cured by speaking in tongues and was suspicious of anyone who did not pray in tongues with him. He spent hours (he claimed) thus occupied. He even claimed that praying in tongues cured him of masturbation, a very substantial claim.  

One day, while I was in the kitchen preparing dinner from donated potatoes and rice, I caught a view of one of the lazy con artists that habituate halfway houses coming out of the apostle’s office. He had spent time in there speaking in tongues. Evidently, this had paid off. 

“Let’s go, I got it!” he said to one of his fellows, who had been reclining on a couch outside the door.  He held a five-dollar bill above his head in victory, rubbing it smartly between thumb and forefingers.   His friend leaped up in joy and they rushed out of the house with their catch.  They were probably going to help the poor, or get a hamburger and fries, or a carton of cigarettes (this was 1972).  That money came straight out of my pocket. I had just given it to the apostle (he had demanded I cash my paycheck when I stumbled in that evening from work – I was the only one employed.  “Isn’t it customary to pay the room and board at the end of the week?” He needed some money. We managed to get me to the bank before it closed. There are overhead expenses at a halfway house, I suppose. I myself was without money and without a Big Mac. I returned to peeling some maggot-ridden potatoes for the night’s supper. 

When the apostle and the con man “prayed in the spirit,” did God hear them?  I hope not.

Did God hear me when I prayed to Him to “settle up” these things in the name of truth?  I hope so.

I enjoyed making meals out of those rotten potatoes and other vegetables given to the halfway house. I saw God’s hand in these things and still do. This does not mean I enjoy the presence of the wicked or hope that God hears their prayers. But I continue to bless them and feed them because this is God’s command. I experience God’s love when I love my enemies. I pray for their salvation. I pray that God will spare them a few more days so that they have space to repent. When we read Psalm 35, we see the true spirit of loving one’s enemies.

Also, Proverbs 24:17-18 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord sees it, and it displeases Him, and He turns away his wrath from him.” This may not make sense to the fleshly mind, but since when did that matter?

God can save anyone whom He chooses. Didn’t he save Saul (Paul the apostle)? But don’t be fooled by your enemies into “loving” them in their sins. They are your enemies. They want you to fall. Be smart. You are as sheep among wolves.

 “Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?   I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:7,8.

- Chris Simonson

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