Several days ago we reported on the horrible terrorist attacks on a Coptic Church in Egypt, and how in spite of the horrors of what happened, the Christians still forgave the Muslims. Now in a recently released video from Egyptian television, Muslims are rejoicing in the streets, bragging about how they are glad for the death and bloodshed they caused and hoping that there will be more:
Muslim woman in Egypt rejoices at the terrorist attack by Islamists on St Marks Coptic Cathedral in Cairo which targeted women and children, killing 25 and leaving dozens injured.
The woman in the video says 'prophet' Mohammad was in a nearby mosque and he must of heard the Christians criticising him, so he 'answered' back and this explosion will bring Christians to unity with Muslims in one Islamic faith.
When asked how would she explain this, the woman replied "By the will of Allah this brings monotheism for Christians. There is only one God, Mohammad is our beloved prophet, may Allah praise him.
Thinking about the Christians forgiving the Muslims and how the Muslims reject their forgiveness should not be a surprise, for Islam is a religion of an evil diety who hated. However, it is also a sobering reminder of God's just judgment and a reminder of how mercy and justice work.
God is Love, and He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to give mercy to a fallen human race. St John writes this clearly:
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
and
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:16-19)
As I have written about in much detail, love constitutes both mercy and justice. You must have both present, for justice without mercy is legalism while mercy without justice is license.
This Christmas, Christ comes to us as a baby. Babies are easy to love because all they ask is love. Isaiah prophesied this in the Old Testament when the Lord said through Him:
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.
God is love, all He asks is that we obey Him. This is difficult because men are inclined to sin. God understands this and is most patient with men.
However, God will not be mocked. To all those who refuse His mercy, His justice must be given. Since God is perfect Love, He is also Perfect Mercy and Perfect Justice. That means His ruling is final.
Jesus the Just Judge. While emphasizing the mercy of God is very important, so equally important is His justice. God is not a vengeful or cruel master, but He is just and when He is angry He has a right to be angry. This is not only the reason to be very thankful for mercy, but also why to ask for mercy and pray for others even when it seems like it would make "no sense," such as with this Muslim woman. Heaven and Hell are both very real- why aid the cause of another's damnation when you can at least try to help their salvation?
The Nativity by Fra Angelico
As you look at the video of the woman above, do not forget that such evil will not endure forever. God comes this Christmas as a baby inviting His mercy. However, He will come again, and when He comes it will not be as a newborn baby, but as an king in His regal glory, under which He will judge the nations. The first time He came with mercy, the second time He will come with Justice, and the Bible speaks clearly as to what He will do:
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
This is the same Jesus who forgave the woman who committed adultery and said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone," who said the sinful woman that begged His forgiveness and anointed His feet with oil would have her deed retold throughout the ages, who brought salvation to and converted the Zaccaheus the cheating tax collector, who told the good thief that asked Him to remember him that he would be with Him this day in paradise. So what changed?
Nothing changed. Zero.
The Last Judgment by Fra Angelico.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever because He is God and God does not change. What you are simply witnessing is the righteous justice of God for those who rejected His mercy and did not desire to receive it later.
So keep this in mind for yourself, and do pray for this Muslim woman. She needs it more than she realizes.
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