Just Desserts?
“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”
My Denmark-born maternal grandmother was quite a baker. Danish rolls and cookies, American pies…. I loved coming home to the mouth-watering, sweet aromas wafting from the oven.
Gram Payton even took cake decorating classes to enhance her creations. But the “icing on the cake” wasn’t necessary. Her confections were delicious in themselves.
As we enter 2024 on the western calendar, many are hopeful the year ahead will be full of sweetness. But let’s not sugarcoat it: life has more than its share of the salty, sour, and downright bitter.
When we look at the rising flood of hatred, crime, and terror in our world, we may wish the haters, criminals, and terrorists would get their “just desserts.” And quickly! “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Our screens are filled with images of corruption and violence of the most horrific kind. Even so, our perception of that evil is limited. In how many places in our world today are children trafficked, women abused, dissidents jailed and beaten, or pastors publicly executed but don’t make the evening news?
One can only imagine the weight of sorrow and despair were we to have a glimpse of what God sees universally. The evil done in secret is known to Him. He hears the whispered words of treachery. He knows the very thoughts and intentions of every human heart.
We may think the world has never been this bad. But way back in Noah’s day, “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…. Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth” (Genesis 6:5,11–12).
Moses relates, “The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:6). We know the story. The God who is of purer eyes than to look upon sin has seen enough. But Noah finds grace in the eyes of the Lord; only his family of eight souls is spared the global flood.
Just five generations post-deluge we find Abraham negotiating with God over the impending doom of wicked Sodom. The patriarch bargains down to “10 righteous” as the baseline for sparing the city. God does the math and fire and brimstone rain down from heaven. Only Lot’s immediate family of four is spared (and his wife is “salted away” soon thereafter).
With heavy hearts we acknowledge we too live in a broken world ripening for divine judgment. We enter the new year with a desire for improvement but what is the basis for our hope? Would we be in a better position to bargain than was Abraham?
When I examine my own life under the searchlight of the Holy Spirit, I’m quickly convinced I desire mercy over justice. If I got what I deserve, I’d already be condemned.
And I’m not alone! Scripture instructs us:
“There is no one who does good…there is none righteous, no not one” (Psalm 14:1–3).
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“All we like sheep have gone astray. We’ve turned each one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6a).
Thankfully Isaiah goes on to say, “But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:6b). The God who knows the depths of human depravity also wrapped Himself in human flesh so that the Sinless Son could pay the penalty for our sinful selves and give us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Jesus” (Romans 8:1). What a comforting truth for the repentant sinner who trusts in the God-supplied Savior!
Eating “just dessert” would leave us at a nutritional deficit and subject to disease.
Getting our “just desserts” would mean being eternally separated from our holy Creator.
But being “just-ified” by faith, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1–5).
“Exulting in hope” in contrast to awaiting certain judgment! Now that is a great way to enter 2024. Happy New Year indeed from all of us at Life in Messiah International!
Written by Wes, Life in Messiah Global Ambassador
As you review 2023, where have you seen God’s grace at work in your life?
As you look ahead to 2024, for what are you trusting God?
If you’re not yet “exulting in hope,” perhaps this month you would do well to spend extra time meditating on the Scriptures which speak of our “ever present help in time of trouble” and being reminded of the glorious future promised to all who place their trust in the Lord Jesus.