June 6: IS GOD UNFAIR? (part 1)

“… for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45

The Holy Spirit of God is His personal representative on the earth. His presence serves as a Helper (John 14:26) and a Guide (John 16:13) to believers as they endeavor to share the unchanging, everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6) with a dying world. The gentle, divine Presence facilitates empowerment to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Paul reminds God’s people that, as those who are fully surrendered to Him, they are ‘audio-visual’ agents to help others ‘hear and see’ the Savior at work to save them: Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

The Holy Spirit comes near to all, like sunshine—to both the evil and the good, bringing the light of God’s salvation. He descends to the earth like rain—that falls upon both the evil and the good, to bring refreshment and growth. Because God gifted every person with their own will to choose, those who choose to respond will find that their hearts are softened and receptive to the life-transforming message.

Many accuse the LORD of being unfair, citing the verse that reads: But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed… (Exodus 9:12) The wider context demonstrates that in Pharaoh’s resistance to the Holy Spirit (see 5:2;8:15,32), his heart was hardened. When the Bible speaks of God hardening his heart, it is because God’s Spirit continued to plead with Pharaoh. Even after Pharaoh asked Moses on several occasions to entreat the LORD on his behalf—and received relief, Pharaoh still persisted in his sinful, heart-hardening ways (see 8:32).

The same sunshine that hardens clay also softens wax. A response to the Lord’s enlightenment begins a softening effect. The Spirit of the LORD endeavors to woo and to win. But none of us knows when that open window will close. When someone dies, the window closes for that person. Shortly before Jesus returns, the window of opportunity will close upon the entire world. There will be no more switching loyalties (see Revelation 22:11).

Our God is patient, full of mercy and kindness. He will soon bring about a permanent end to sin and to all who cling to it. Both of these statements are true of our Creator and Redeemer. In the days of Noah, the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” During the 120 years that Noah worked to build the ark, he was also a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). The ark’s door, which was closed by the LORD (Genesis 7:16) symbolizes the close of probation, a reality whether or not people are aware (Matthew 24:39). In these last days, the Holy Spirit is holding the door open to exit spiritual Babylon (Revelation 18:4) and enter the ark of safety. Are you willing to see the historical parallel? After literal Babylon was overthrown…

“… they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets.” Zechariah 7:11-12