4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

There will be people who think they have an excuse for not putting their faith in Christ because they didn’t know. God’s word shows they do not have excuse for even those with little revelation reject the creator. What about those in our country who have a lot of revelation of the kindness and goodness of God? How much more responsible are we to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus?

Paul told the Jewish community they have more than the revelation of creation and inner conscience. They have far more revelation to go on than the pagan communities, yet they are hardened to repentance. The Jews had the Scriptures. They had the stories of how God worked with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They had known the prophecies and ignored them. They had been taught of the temple, sacrifices, and the hope of the coming of the Messiah. Their negative campaigning against those who weren’t just like them made them more accountable, because they had experienced the kindness of  God as a race of people. God loves the Jews. They have had much grace bestowed on them and yet they have hardened their hearts against His kindness. What happened when the people of Israel got manna? They were blessed with miraculous food, but complained. They wanted the delicacies of Egypt. God gave them quail until it ran out of their mouths.

Hypocrites may be able to fool others, but they cannot fool God. The writer of Hebrews declared, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do to whom we have to give an account for all we have done.” Hebrews 4:13. There are many, many blessings Americans have that the rest of the world has not. We cannot say we did not know about the judgment, Most cannot claim they do not know how to get saved. We can never say we have never heard. We have more revelation today with Bibles galore, with blessings galore, with broadcasts, pod casts, and internet, and radio and TV, and books and literature and tracts and videos and movies.

How is it that those who claim to not know the Lord fail to look at all the blessings they have and instead hardened their hearts against God’s goodness? Instead of repenting and blessing the Lord, they complain they don’t know. I’ve never seen more types of food and quantities available in our gluttony, want and waste more than any other nation. Tons are thrown away instead of feeding the poor. Ingratitude of what God provides abounds in the homes of Christians who do not see His blessing. They complain about taxes and decide whether the heat in winter should be 68 degree or 75 degrees or if the air conditioning is just right, and whether their cell phones and computers are the latest to meet their needs.

God is using His goodness to let us see how much He loves us and wants us to turn to Him. When we realize how much we deserve judgment, yet realize the goodness of God to us, it should lead to repentance.           

The very fact that any of us are alive today is due to this great kindness of God. He could have been done with us many years ago and taken us away to judgment. But here we are. This should amaze us and make us bow in awe. The most hardened sinners are not outside the church; they are sitting in the pews. People who do not see their need for salvation keep a closed mind to the importance of confession and submitting to God. Listen for the type of prayers and complaints we give to God. “Lord change this, give me that, I want this, I claim that. I expect this. I want, give me, do this, heal him, bless me.”

In Rom 2:5 it says, "But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God," (NKJV).

We have experienced God’s kindness as individuals. We have experienced Gods love. We have experienced God’s patience. We have experienced God’s tolerance. We have repeatedly experienced God’s warnings. How many times have you known that God has warned again, and again, and then the judgment? So we are without excuse. Jesus said if Sodom and Gomorrah had as much information as you had they would have repented, how much more will you be held accountable for what you have?  Matt 11:23-24 says “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless, I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."  NASB

As a nation we have been greatly blessed with freedom. We have more translations of the Bible than ever before, most people in the world today still cannot even get a Bible. We have churches which appeal to just about any particular whim of anyone with all styles of worship, music, Christian radio. We have high levels; of standards of living, of health, and of education.  God has been good.

Application:  Don’t harden your hearts to the blessings, for you are without excuse.

Prayer:   Father, thank you for all that you provide for us - food, shelter, clothing, freedom to practice our faith.   As I look to you as the provider of all, let me not waste anything, but use all I have to serve those in need.   

Dale