Misjudging God
In 2 Chronicles 32:1-22, the Bible tells us of an Assyrian king that greatly misjudged God. King Sennacherib had defeated many nations when he set his sights on Judah. Sennacherib even taunted the people of the city of Jerusalem, telling them not to let their king – Hezekiah deceive them into thinking that his God could withstand him. The Assyrian king was foolishly misjudging God.
Listen to Sennacherib’s derision of God: After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Were Their gods Able To Deliver Them Out of My Hand?
Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?
Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? (2 Chronicles 32:9-15).
Worshiped Man-Made gods
Sennacherib worshiped a god made by a man. So when he utterly destroyed and overtook the nations around him who also worshiped gods made by human hands, it’s no wonder their “gods” didn’t save them. The Assyrian king even stated as much: none of the gods of the other lands were able to save their people from death and destruction.
But Sennacherib hadn’t encountered the one true God up until this point. When he taunted God saying that God could not deliver Judah from him, Sennacherib really believed this. No man is a match for Almighty God; maker of Heaven and earth. The very God that creates each and every one of us. How foolish to think the thing formed can thwart the creator. Oh, Sennacherib really did misjudge God.
Sennacherib is not alone. He misjudged God. Adam and Eve misjudged God. The whole world misjudged God except for Noah and the seven other people with him on the ark. Sadly, many people are still misjudging God today. Yes, that’s right. People still misjudge God, the true God, the God of the Bible, even today.
One Third Of Millennials Are None’s
Around one third of millennials have no religious affiliation at all. They are called “none’s.” The none’s are atheists/agnostics. They foolishly claim there is no God, even though each and every one of us can look around at creation and know that God is real. God has written His law upon our hearts.
Plus, you have a God-given conscience. The word conscience means with knowledge. Yes, you know right from wrong, because of God’s law and your conscience. So everyone who claims there is no God is absolutely foolish. You would have to obtain all knowledge to say for certainty that there is no God. So atheists put themselves in the place of God. Oh, they are greatly misjudging God.
Other people worship false gods. People worship Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Catholicism Bahai and many others. Just like Sennacherib worshiped a false god, these false world religions also worship false gods. Some even proclaim to worship Jesus, but they don’t worship the Jesus of the Bible. These folks are misjudging God, just like Sennacherib misjudged God.
Non-Religion Is Your Religion
I’m pleading with you to turn from your false religions and false idols. Even if you say you are not religious, your non-religion is your religion. You are misjudging God. It is a terrible thing to misjudge God. In fact the Bible says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). Even the demons believe in God and tremble (James 2:19).
Yes, many people misjudge the God of the Bible. The Lord revenges. To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste (Deuteronomy 32:35). Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (Romans 12:19).
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Jesus Will Judge The Whole World
Jesus Christ is the righteous judge and He will judge the whole world. The Lord is the sinless Son of God. He died on the cruel cross for guilty sinners like you and me. Jesus met the righteous demands of the law. He never sinned, not one time. Yet, He died on the cursed tree. Not because He was cursed, but because we are cursed. We are sin cursed. All of us have sinned against God. None of us are righteous or right with God on our own.
Jesus was the perfect, acceptable sacrifice to pay the sin debt of sinful creatures like us. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness for sins. But there is forgiveness found in Jesus. Your sins can be wiped clean. Your sin debt can be completely removed. Yes, your guilty conscience can also be cleared. If you repent from your sins and put your trust in Jesus. Oh trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Trust Jesus tonight. Surrender your life fully and completely to Him. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus Christ. Salvation is of the Lord. Jesus saves! Submit your life to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The Bible says every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God (Romans 14:11).
Name Above Every Name
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).
Every single person will bow and confess Jesus is Lord. All God-mockers. Every God hater. All followers of false religions. Every single person that misjudged God will bow to the Lord Jesus on Judgment Day. But it will be too late if you wait until after you die, to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. You must bow to Him in this life. Oh, stop mocking God. Stop rebelling against God. Stop telling God no, that you will not have Jesus reign over you.
Bow to Jesus tonight. Confess and forsake your sins. Cry out for God to save you. Repent from your sins and put your faith in Jesus. Do this tonight and be saved. Come alive in Christ Jesus. Receive eternal life. Repent and believe the Gospel and be saved.
Greatly Misjudging God
If you don’t repent from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus, if you continue rejecting such a great of salvation and you die in your sins, you are greatly misjudging the God of the Bible. You will receive eternal punishment for your sins against God; for your rejection of Jesus Christ the Lord. The guilt of your sins will remain upon you forever. God’s wrath, His righteous anger over your sins will remain upon you for all eternity. You will suffer unimaginable pain and suffering – that never ends.
But it starts with you misjudging God and rejecting Jesus Christ in this life. Please listen to Revelation 20:11-15: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Misjudging God Has Eternal Consequences
Misjudging God leads to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. If your name is not found in the book of life, you will be cast into the lake of fire. No second chances. No way of escape and no way to get in a right relationship with God at that time.
Don’t continue rebelling against God. Don’t continue misjudging God, the God of the Bible that says vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Oh, come to Jesus Christ through repentance and faith. Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Judge correctly. Judge rightly. Admit that you are a sinner. Stop trusting in your own goodness. Instead, trust in the goodness of Christ. Confess your sins to God and beg Him to have mercy on your soul. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Don’t put it off. Today is the day of salvation. Call upon the name of Jesus and receive everlasting life.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on February 9, 2018)