神是愛─啟示錄  

當我們繼續研讀啟示錄中即將面對的審判與忿怒，我們必須謹記在心：耶穌說律法的總和有兩大誡命─愛神超越一切與彼此相愛。我們若真的愛神，我們會想要討祂喜悅，不去做惹祂不悅的事。 

律法說不可偷盜、殺人，甚至不可嫉妒他人；但我們若愛他人，我們不會想要做這些事。耶穌將所有律法上的『不可』，換成簡單正面的愛神與彼此相愛。因此，我們的目標不單是遠離罪惡，而是要做一些祝福神與祂子民的事。『敬畏/懼怕（fear）神是智慧的開端』，當我們不成熟時，懼怕神的確能幫助我們。然而，當我們成熟時，我們必須在更高的智慧中成長，而更高的智慧就是愛。 

承認『神是愛』並沒有否決祂對抗邪惡與作惡之人的審判與忿怒─這些事會殺害並摧毀祂所愛的人。神的道路高過我們的道路，正如祂的嫉妒和人類自私的嫉妒不一樣，祂的愛也高過我們的愛。神的忿怒和審判也是祂愛的一部份─為要摧毀那些毀滅者。 

因此，當我們為神的真理站立，抵擋那些毀滅人的事，我們這麼做並不是出於我們的忿怒，而是出於真誠渴望來拯救。神喜愛憐憫勝過審判，儘管到了一個時候不再有憐憫，審判無法避免，這對主而言是很憂傷的，對我們也應如此。當神要毀滅人時，亞伯拉罕、摩西與許多聖經裡的先知禱告神不要毀滅。這是有一定順序的，但當祂決心要這麼做時，我們被呼召在萬事中與祂合一。正如前面所述，祂對邪惡和作惡之人的忿怒是祂愛的一部分。當被延伸的恩典和憐憫遭到拒絕時，我們必須定意與神站在一起，不為祂或祂的行動道歉，而是要對這些行動表明清楚。只有這樣才會有盼望，其他人才會知道，測試主並與邪惡站在一邊，是一件很可怕的事。 

儘管我們也虧缺神，白白領受恩典與憐憫，但在那些悔改承認罪者與不悔改者之間有一分界線。那些硬著心抵擋主與祂憐憫的人已經被自己定罪，到了特定的時刻，我們都會在此『斷定谷』，每個人都將選擇他們自己的命運。神允許我們『先分辨自己，就不至於受審』（參考哥林多前書11:31），是祂極大的恩典與憐憫。 正如詩篇卅二篇6節告訴我們： 

為此，凡虔誠人都當趁祢可尋找的時候禱告祢；大水泛溢的時候，必不能到他那裡。  

我們不能等到審判來時才悔改與神對齊─那時才去找祂已經太晚了。我們必須定意現在就來找祂，在我們生命中為著惹祂忿怒的事悔改，如果可以，出於愛來做；如果必須，出於懼怕來做。有誰可以完全悔改實在令人懷疑，但讓我們盡力去做，祈求恩典可以做得更好，也持續祈求恩典悔改。 

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week7, 2018)

 
God is Love—The Book of Revelation
Week 7, 2018
Rick Joyner

         As we continue our study of Revelation with the coming section that deals with impending judgment and wrath, we must keep in mind that Jesus said the entire law was summed up in just two commandments—loving God first above all things and loving one another. If we truly love God, we will want to please Him and not do the things that displease Him. 

The law says that we must not steal, murder, or even envy others, but if we love others we will not want to do these things. Jesus replaced all of the “do nots” of the law with the simple positive of loving God and one another. Thus, our goal is not just to keep from sinning, but to do the things that bless God and His people. The “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and this helps us when we are immature. However, there is a higher wisdom that we must grow in as we mature, and that higher wisdom is love. 

         Recognizing that “God is love” does not negate the judgments of God, or His wrath against evil and those who do evil—these are the things that kill and destroy those He loves. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and just as His jealousy is not like our selfish human jealousy, His love is higher than our love. The wrath and judgments of God are also part of His love—they come as the destruction of those who destroy. 

         So as we stand for God’s truth, and against those things that destroy the people, we do not do so in our wrath, but rather out of a sincere desire to save. God prefers mercy over judgment. Even though there is a time when mercy will not be received and judgment is inevitable, this is grievous to the Lord and should be to us as well. Abraham, Moses, and many of the prophets of God in Scripture interceded with God not to destroy the people when He was about to do so. This is always in order, but when He is resolute that it must be done, we are called to be in unity with Him in all things. As stated, His wrath against evil and those who do evil are a part of His love. When the grace and mercy that was extended is rejected, we must resolve that we will stand with God, not apologizing for Him or His actions but rather being clear about them. Only then will there be a hope that others might learn that it is a terrible thing to test the Lord and side with evil. 

         Even though we too have fallen short and have received grace and mercy, there is a dividing line between those who acknowledge their sin and turn and those who do not. Those who harden themselves against the Lord and His mercy have condemned themselves. There is a point when all will be in this “Valley of Decision,” and all will choose their own fate. It is the great grace and mercy of God that He allows us to “judge ourselves lest we be judged” (see I Corinthians 11:31). As we are told in Psalm 32:6,    

Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. 

We cannot wait until the judgments are poured out to repent and align ourselves with God—it will be too late to find Him then. We must be resolute in finding Him now, and repent of anything in our life that would cause His wrath to come. Do this out of love if you can, but out of fear if you must. It is doubtful that anyone ever repented perfectly, but let us do the best that we can and ask for the grace to do better, while continuing to ask for the grace to repent.