Getting What We Asked For

      I heard a father tell about his son pitching a fit in a store because he wanted a particular toy. The boy whined and then cried and then hollered. A second father asked, “Did you give him what he wanted?” The first father replied, “I didn’t give him what he wanted, but I gave him what he asked for.”

      This illustrates the concept of God’s punishment of sinners. One of the struggles many have is how a good God can send people to hell. We humans might punish someone for a crime, but we won’t do it eternally. Further, we wouldn’t make them suffer to the extreme. Why would God? Perhaps we can understand that punishment for the truly evil Son of Sam, BTK or men like Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. But, why would he do that to a person who got drunk, took the Lord’s name in vain or decided to eat from the wrong tree?

      Does God give some horrendously out of proportion punishment? No. He only gives us what we asked for. Consider the first sin as an example.

      In Genesis 2:17, God told Adam and Eve if they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would die. That death was spiritual. Consider Isaiah 59:1-2. Sin separates us from God, which is spiritual death (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3).

      Adam and Eve sinned, eating from the tree. God cast them from the garden cursing them with hardship in their roles (Genesis 3:16-19). That was a bit harsh? Did Adam and Eve really want that? Of course not, but they did ask for it. Look at what they did when God entered the garden in Genesis 3:9-10. The man who once walked with God in fellowship, hid from Him. Though he wanted the blessing of the garden, he asked to be separate from God.

      He couldn’t have both. He may not have truly wanted it. But God gave him what he asked for. He removed Adam and Eve from the garden severing their fellowship. However, He initiated a plan whereby that separation could be healed. But we have to come to Him on His terms.

      For what are we asking when we sin? Are we not asking to be separated from God? If we continue to ask through our impenitent sin no matter how big or small to be separated from God, He will eventually grant our request. II Thessalonians 1:9 says Jesus will return one day to punish those who do not know God and did not obey His gospel. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord. They have asked for it and God will give it to them.

      Separation from God is truly a dreadful state to endure. But rest assured, the only ones who will face it are those who have asked for it. Those who have decided they prefer to be separated from God rather than be in fellowship with Him on His terms will eventually get all they have asked for. But it will certainly be more than they bargained for. Let us not be one of those.

Edwin L. Crozier