Pastor Chuck DeVane
Special to The Sentinel-Record
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. But the word of God increased and multiplied.
-- Acts 12:21-24, ESV
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
-- Romans 12:19, ESV
Acts 12 is a thrilling account of the spread of the gospel involving the providence of God, the prayers of God's people, and the punishment of God's enemies. God is always provident, sovereign, in charge. God's people must always pray and not lose heart. But God's enemies are not always caught and convicted in this life.
Herod Agrippa I is an exception. His punishment from God came full and final. His evil came honest. Not only was his family tree rotten, his best friend growing up was Emperor Caligula, which explains why Herod traveled with a chamberlain. He had murdered the Apostle James and had the same fate planned for Simon Peter. Fearing Simon's death, the church prayed him out. Herod had the guards killed instead. He was an evil, ruthless, egomaniacal man. And God got him, good.
Herod got what he deserved, stricken by an internal ailment the Romans could not explain, but one that God had planned and delivered via an angel. It looks like just punishment for a tyrant and murderer. Should we raise our hands in triumph over the death of the wicked?
Or, should we count it a terrible tragedy? Death is practically the only thing that rules out the opportunity for repentance and faith, salvation by grace, a home in Heaven rather than eternity in Hell. Are we not called upon to love our enemies? Are we not told that God does not delight in the death of the wicked (ref. Ezekiel 18:23)? Are we not told that God would that all come to repentance and faith (ref. 2 Peter 3:9)?
I enjoy revenge fiction. I loved it when the Feds came knocking on Warden Norton's door at Shawshank Prison, when the High Plains Drifter decimated the town that hung him, when we learned it was Boo Radley who put an end to that nasty, racist Walter Ewell. But that's fiction, which offers a way to channel our emotions outside of reality.
In the real world, I have lived long enough to read the obituaries of people who did great harm to churches I have served and to me personally. I wonder what made them the way they were. I wonder if they had faith, but just failed to show it. I wonder if they lacked faith, and now regret it. To see them dead is no triumph whatsoever, only tragedy. I must leave them with God. God is judge, not me.
Therein lies the key to this puzzle of tragedy and triumph in this life. God is judge, not me, not you. God decides, by His providence, who lives and who dies. God determines, in His sovereignty, how to address our prayers, or the lack thereof. And God will punish the wicked, in His own way and in His own time, as surely as He will reward the faithful.
Trust in God and the Gospel, then whether you live life short or long, the main thing is that your life matters, and eternity will envelop all the tragedies offer only triumphs. Trust in God and the gospel, lest you end your life as an enemy of God. I don't think I'll run into any Herods in Heaven. Hitler probably won't be there either. But the kindest, sweetest, most generous unbeliever who ever lived on earth will share their fate, too, if he or she is not saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. Call him at 501-525-8339 or email [email protected].