Swift Judgment!

             I think that the story of Ananias and Sapphira is scary.  Maybe it’s because it reminds us that God knows our very thoughts.  That alone is scary.  After all, we can put on a good front with our friends, but we can’t pull the wool over God’s eyes.  Maybe it’s scary because it’s about giving.  We all dread those sermons about money, probably because they are always so convicting.  We don’t want anyone messing with our money—not even God.

            However, I think that the primary reason that this story is so scary is because the verdict and punishment were so swiftly rendered.  We’ve become accustomed to the compassionate, loving Jesus, who told the woman caught in adultery to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11b).  We recall the love and understanding that He showed to those like Mary Magdalene who were possessed with evil spirits.  Perhaps His compassion was best displayed when He spoke from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23: 34). That’s the compassionate, loving God who we have come to expect. 

            Yet, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead immediately.  There was no time to repent or even reflect on what they had done.  God’s judgment against them was swift and final.  That’s scary!  It also seems contrary to the Christ we know and love.

            In the Old Testament, the Jews learned to expect swift judgment from God.  He wiped out the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with barely time for Lot and his family to escape, and He didn’t hesitate to pass judgment on Lot’s wife when she disobeyed (Genesis 19: 15 – 26).  Two of Aaron’s sons were immediately consumed by fire from heaven when they offered unauthorized fire to the Lord (Leviticus 10: 1, 2).  When Korah and his band of Jewish men revolted against Moses, God lost little time in opening the ground and consuming them (Numbers 16: 1 – 3 & 23 – 33).  The Old Testament reveals God as just and righteous.  He does not tolerate sin. 

            We like to consider that as the past.  We live in the love and mercy of the New Testament.  However, God has not changed!  He is the “same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13: 8 NIV84).  The only difference is that because He does not want anyone to perish, He is often more patient with us, seeking our repentance rather than imposing judgment. 

            So, why was He so quick to act with Ananias and Sapphira?  I think it was because this incident occurred very early in the life of the Church.  Like us, the new Christians had seen the love and compassion of Christ.  Without an early display of God’s power, the Church may have too quickly forgotten that He is also a God of wrath. 

            God’s desire is for all to come to repentance (II Peter 3: 9).  For some of us, that takes longer than others.  Be thankful that God is the God of mercy, grace, and compassion, but never forget that He is also a God of wrath and judgment.  Without Christ, none of us will escape His wrath forever.  Accept His free gift of grace before it’s too late.

Acts 5: 1 - 11

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