Romans 2 clearly gives us the message that how we live is really important. Not just a little bit, it is vitally important. Paul begins by telling us we “have no excuse” when it comes to judging others. Often one way we deflect attention from our own failings is to point to those in another. But it is really clear that pointing fingers is a bad idea. “For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things”. The sinner should not be pointing at the sins in another. That is you and me. While we can easily pick out things every other person in our patch is doing wrong – the reality is that we must first look in the mirror and deal with the sin in our own lives. It is not our job to be judging others. That is God’s role in this process. What we need to do is deal with the hard facts of our own life.
What is the issue? We have a “hard and impenitent heart” and rather than deal with our failure to obey God’s direction – we try and deflect it by judging others. The results of that will not go well for us as Paul says “you are storing up wrath for yourself”. God is not going to listen to our play by play on others and how good or bad they have lived. Here is the reality my friends: “He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury”. We don’t want to hear this truth because it stomps all over our toes. But we can’t ignore it – because it is God’s truth and our future. We will have to deal with the result of our life – how we live now will determine what our eternity looks like. If we are disobedient eternity will not go well. If we get our focus on getting our life in order and focused on living God’s way in obedience – it looks fantastic. Too many people think how they live here on this planet really isn’t all that important. But it is totally important – it is the key to eternity – and we need to get focused on living it God’s way.
Paul goes on to say those who fail to obey will experience “tribulation and distress” while those who do good will see “glory and honor and peace”. That is another reality we need to face. Not only is how we live going to determine eternity – it also is the main factor in how we will experience life on this earth too. God is paying attention and is He is keeping score. “God shows no partiality”. You can’t get favors because of who you are or who you know or what your parents may have done. This is between you and God – and no one else will influence the outcome. “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified”. You alone will determine your eternity. Your church can’t save you. Your family can’t save you. Your hard work or good deeds won’t save you. It comes down to how you respond to God’s law and the offer of grace He gave us through the blood of Jesus Christ. That alone will save you. What have you done with Jesus? Have you accepted His saving grace and are you then living life as He leads and directs? That is the only thing that matters. Forget what others are doing. You may be better than them, but that doesn’t matter. There is only one thing that God cares about in regard to your eternity – and that is what you do. Is Jesus your Savior? If not, things won’t turn out how you want them to. If so, then get on with living for Him!
