Vengeance

          What is your first reaction when someone cuts you off in traffic? The same question can be asked in a number of situations and can usually be attributed to stupid responses that come naturally when one's so called rights are violated. One of our responses leans toward showing the other person that we can get even quickly. The combination of these feeling when coupled with both individuals often results in what we call “road rage.” It is only one of a series of things that take place each day in our lives. I was riding on a school bus going home after school and felt someone pulling at the chain of my wallet which was sticking out of my back pocket which actually contained nothing of any value. My response was to jerk my elbow back catching the much larger boy square on the nose. My bus stop came up and I got off and ran as fast as I could, not looking back. Second Thessalonians 1:6-7 says, “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,”

         The things in life that are concerned with this verse are far greater than any incident on a school bus. There are those times when people cause you trouble just because it seems to please them to do so. Our response is what is important. You should read the other verses down to the end of the chapter as it brings us the total picture of what God is going to do. Wrong actions can cause you more harm than good. The answer lie in the context of this passage which contains a rather long sentence but the main thought is right there in verse 6 when it says, “...God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you...” God doesn't come down and sock them in the nose, as He uses many other, more natural, things to bring tribulation to someone. He even once used a swarm of bees to take down an invading army. Can you imagine having on full battle armor and getting just one bee down inside of it? God also once used a worldwide flood to take care of a lot of unbelievers and He also used the waters of the Red Sea to drown the might army of Egypt. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with divine judgment. This doesn't mean that God is your personal avenger for taking care of the bullies in your life but will take care of all things in His own way. The murderers of the five missionaries in Ecuador over 50 years ago eventually became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. God often has His own unique ways to melt the hearts of the bullies and evil people of this world. Why, even the Apostle Paul, who was going about trying to kill as many people of “The Way” that he could, eventually had his own first hand experience with the Lord Jesus Christ on the Road to Damascus. Vengeance is more often not fire and brimstone, but love. When you find yourself in a situation that tends to irritate you and fills you with anger, try praying for the other person. It is difficult to hate someone that you are lifting up in prayer. Praise God today for His working in our lives every moment.