Issues of justice and judgment...
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Issues of justice and judgment are tough to deal with in real life, or in terms of biblical teachings and examples. Often it seems "there ain't no justice." Good, honorable people who try to do what is right too often experience unexplainable difficulties and pain, while some who mock God and disregard even simple common human decency "get away with murder."
Antiochus Epiphanes was one of those who literally got away with murder. This text is part of the story of the martyrdom of the seven brothers and their mother, during the persecution of the Jews who remained faithful to the word of God. Their only crime was that they tried to remain faithful to their God. Because of this they were tortured and ultimately suffered terrible deaths.
The story is told about the Vermont farmer who was in a bar one day When two gentlemen with much more knowledge and sophistication than he were discussing nuclear energy. Finally, aware of his presence and thinking they would have a little joke, one of them said to the farmer, "Where would you like to be in the event of a nuclear explosion?" The old Vermonter thought for a moment and then answered, "Someplace where I could say 'What was that?' "
Much may happen to us and our loved ones that we don't understand. (Beware of pious, simplistic answers.) But perhaps some day there will be a time of final judgment when God's ultimate justice will be experienced by the likes of Antiochus Epiphanes. God's promise to us is that we, together with the seven brothers and their mother, will be someplace where we can say "What was that?"
Antiochus Epiphanes was one of those who literally got away with murder. This text is part of the story of the martyrdom of the seven brothers and their mother, during the persecution of the Jews who remained faithful to the word of God. Their only crime was that they tried to remain faithful to their God. Because of this they were tortured and ultimately suffered terrible deaths.
The story is told about the Vermont farmer who was in a bar one day When two gentlemen with much more knowledge and sophistication than he were discussing nuclear energy. Finally, aware of his presence and thinking they would have a little joke, one of them said to the farmer, "Where would you like to be in the event of a nuclear explosion?" The old Vermonter thought for a moment and then answered, "Someplace where I could say 'What was that?' "
Much may happen to us and our loved ones that we don't understand. (Beware of pious, simplistic answers.) But perhaps some day there will be a time of final judgment when God's ultimate justice will be experienced by the likes of Antiochus Epiphanes. God's promise to us is that we, together with the seven brothers and their mother, will be someplace where we can say "What was that?"
