God Will Repay

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 ~ "...since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflicted you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels."

Someday, beloved, God will avenge His people. 

There is a disparity of life for most Christians. We look at the world and the continued rise of wickedness seems to be unabated. Persecutions against the saints of the LORD seem to be the only unrestricted hatred that happens in our world. In Revelation 6:10, beneath the altar of the LORD, the saints cry out, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" The increasing global hatred for true believers comes from those who, otherwise, would proclaim a level of tolerance for all other members of society.

The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 73:3, "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." And there are many today who see the increasing power and prosperity of the wicked in our world and, perhaps, grow envious of them still. Jeremiah asked a similar question as the psalmist in Jeremiah 12:1, "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?" But, my friends, let me encourage you to not look upon the worldly increase of the wicked as if that is a situation that will last them forever. 

The church of Thessalonica suffered greatly from persecutors and Paul looked to them as the steadfast example for other churches. Consider 2 Thessalonians 1:4, "Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring." Yet their willingness to remain faithful to Christ in the face of such hatred was evidence that they belonged to Christ. For true faith must be tested and when it is, it will bring glory to God and confidence to the believer (see 1 Peter 1:7).

But even as God will use the persecutions that come against His church to strengthen and refine His people, He will also repay those who persecute believers with the afflictions that they had caused the church to suffer. Romans 12:19 states, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'"

Christian, God has never once overlooked the sufferings that you have endured at the hands of the world. He has seen every hatred, has heard every slander against you and knows that you have been greatly distressed in your faith. Hear the word of God from Isaiah 35:4, "Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.'" 

But you might ask, "when will this take place? When will God repay the wicked and grant relief to His saints?" The time is soon... sooner than we might believe. In our text, we are encouraged with the knowledge that the day of Christ's return will be the day of final and full relief for those who are born again, and ultimate repayment for those who rejected the LORD and persecuted His people. 

The Day when our Lord Jesus is revealed is a twofold promise: a promise of full redemption for those who belong to Christ, and also a promise of final judgment for those who despised Him. So, beloved, hold out hope until that day even as we are told in Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

1 Peter 4:19 reminds us, "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." So let us be patient and continue to do good. Soon, God will bring a just repayment for His people.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

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