2 Thessalonians 1:5-10: All this is evidence that God's judgment is
right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God,
for which you are suffering.  God is just: He will pay back trouble to
those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us
as well.  This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in
blazing fire with his powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not
know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be
punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of
the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be
glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who
have believed.  This includes you, because you believed our testimony to
you.

Who said being a Christian was easy?  Now if by that statement the person
who said it simply meant to imply that as a Christian getting to heaven
and eternal life was easy, I would whole heartily agree.  Getting to
heaven is easy because the Lord has done it all for us.  But if by such a
statement a person is intending to say that life in this world is easier
or better for the Christian, I would clearly disagree.  I would say that
because of what God's Word has to say.
Take the first clear example that being a Christian isn't easy.  That's
the history of Joseph, the son of Jacob.  Joseph went from being the son
of a rich man to being sold into slavery, by his brothers.  Joseph,
though Scripture tells us, "God was with him and blessed everything he
did" ended up in prison for many years.  If you remember Joe ended up in
prison because he refused to commit adultery and chose to obey God
instead.  Joseph clearly went through many trials and tribulations just
because he was a believer in God.  We are told that all of this happened
to Joseph that the Lord's plans might be met and fulfilled.
Or we could look at the life of the Apostles of Jesus.  To our knowledge
all but one of them died a martyrs death.  Take Jesus himself.  That
cross and his crucifixion is not exactly the picture of triumph one would
expect from God's son.   No, being a Christian is not easy in this world
but rather is difficult and fraught with problems.
So what's the point then?  The point is found in the larger picture of
life.  The point is found in Jesus and the wonder and marvel that He is.
The point and the truth of faith is found in the grace and mercy of God
and in the horror of sin overcome.  It is these things we need to
contemplate for today.  Our theme will be: GOD IS JUST.  1st. He will
reward.  2nd. He will punish.  3rd. He will be glorified.
The first thing to do is to make sure we have a grasp and understanding
of the context of these verses.  Paul has just complimented the
Thessalonians for their perseverance and faith in all the persecutions
and trials they were undergoing.  In other words the Thessalonian
congregation was suffering for the name of Jesus.  They were facing
hardship, persecution and tremendous difficulty just because they were
believers in Jesus.  They faced loss of life, home and livelihood.  All
because they believed in a God who had done it all for them in Jesus.
What encouragement does Paul give to these Christians?  Look at our
opening words. "All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as
a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you
are suffering."  Here is a twist from normal human thinking.  Here is the
view of a godly person, a person who sees the ways of the Lord.
What is that view?  It is rather simple.  It says that my difficulty in
life caused by the name of Jesus is an honor.  It says that the suffering
I endure for the faith is a privilege because God has counted me worthy
to suffer in the same way Jesus has.  It says that my life is one of
service and glory to God, evidence that God's plans and judgments are
right, that yes, I am a child of God.
We sometimes don't get that point of view do we?  Our faith causes us
hardship and we want to up and quit right away, not outwardly but
inwardly.  Our young people often give up and go along with the world.
Our young people face the world's temptations of sex and drugs.  Don't
follow what "everyone else is doing" and you will be an outcast,
considered a misfit of society, a backward and foolish dolt.  You adults,
try and take a stand against those in your family who belittle and trash
your Savior and brace yourself for the barrage of accusations and
punishments you will need to go through.  All of this because you by
faith have determined to stand with the Lord in life.  All of this
because you are a child of God.
We should have known such would be the case.  Jesus told us, "If the
world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to
the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to
the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world
hates you."  That's just one of many passages that reminds you of your
real standing with the world.  The world will hate you and where it can
the world will try and make you pay for your faith in Jesus.
In the epistle of 1 Peter, Peter puts our suffering into perspective in
the same way Paul does.  In chapter 3:8 he starts a whole section that
addresses this.  Let me share some exerts with you.  "Do not repay evil
with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this your
were called so that you may inherit a blessing...But even if you should
suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  'Do not fear what they fear;
do not be frightened.'  But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord....It
is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing
evil...Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also
with the same attitude...Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the painful
trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to
you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so
that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."  There are many
more verses that could be cited in this regard.  It reminds us that as
God's children we will be hard pressed in this world because of Jesus.
It's the same thing Jesus underwent.  You are being considered worthy to
suffer to the glory of God.
How should we deal with those who persecute us?  We simply emulate our
Savior.  As Jesus said nothing before his accusers so it is to be with
us.  We stand for truth and love.  We imitate our Savior and we don't
worry about how to pay persecutors back.  Our text clearly tells us that
God will take care of that.  It said, "He will pay back trouble to those
who trouble you...this will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from
heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.  He will punish those
who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They
will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the
presence of the Lord."  It is not our job to get revenge.  It is not our
job to give trouble for trouble, especially when that trouble has come
because we are God's children.  We stick with Jesus and Jesus will one
day take care of things.  It is what his word promises.
By the way, just a word about how these people are described.  Our text
said, "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the
gospel of our Lord."  Those who "do not know God" is a reference to those
who have rejected the truth and marvel of the true God.  It doesn't
matter why they don't know, because God has made it clear that his
majesty and power can be learned about through the created world.  Those
people who settle for gods that are convenient, gods that fit their human
way of thinking, gods that demand works for their favor deserve the
punishment of the true God.  They have refused to know him.
The other term is worthy of mention too.  "Those who do not obey the
gospel."  Obey is one way to translate the word used here, but it is
really a secondary meaning.  I prefer the idea of "listen to" or "hear."
These are the people who have heard the message of Jesus and his atoning
redemption but they don't believe it.  They prefer to look at their own
works and to reject salvation by grace through faith.  The truth of God
is before them in the face of Jesus but they turn from hearing that
truth.  You can see how we might translate with obey and that's fine as
long as you understand that obey here is not a reference to what you must
do but rather a reference to believing that Jesus has done it all for
you.  That's the message of the gospel and what is heard when the gospel
is truly preached.
Please note that this text clearly states that God will punish them with
everlasting destruction.  There is a hell.  It is eternal.  No one has to
go there because of Jesus and if you end up there it is because you have
rejected God and his truth in Jesus.
 Finally, one last thing!  Please note what this text says will be for
his children.  It says, "On the day he comes to be glorified in his holy
people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed."  These
are really awesome words of hope.
We are going to be glorified with Jesus.  We are going to be in a place
of marvel and complete awe.  These words take us to the pictures found in
Revelation concerning heaven.  Pictures of God's eternal Jerusalem with
streets of pure gold, foundations of precious gems and beautiful gates of
pearl.  Pictures of God's goodness flowing from the throne of God and of
a myriad of angels joining us in His praise and glory.  It is a place
void of anything bad or evil.  It is a place of pure joy and happiness.
This is our hope and confidence in Jesus.  Heaven is our home because
Jesus has won the victory for us.  That's the reference to glory and
marvel in these words.
On the Day of Judgment God's eternal kingdom and gift of everlasting life
will be revealed.  Those who have believed with be with the Lord forever
and ever.  On that day the Lord will show his justice by granting his
mercy to those with Jesus in their hearts.  It will be a wonderful day.
A day of glory and awe.  A day that will make any troubles we have faced
in this world seem like nothing.  A day when Jesus and his children will
take on forever the clothing of eternal glory to the glory of God.  It
will be such a wonderful day!
This is such and interesting text.  Interesting because it speaks to us
of the trial and tribulation we will face as the children of God.
Following Jesus is not easy.  Being a Christian doesn't mean that your
world will be great and without difficulty and problems.  Yet, as God's
children we confidently place our lives into the hand of the Lord.  He
will guide us with His Word and truth to stay the course of faith.  He
will lead us to grasp how faithful and just he is, to understand that God
forgives us in Jesus because of his mercy.  Yet He also leads us to grasp
his justice because those who reject his mercy in Jesus will face eternal
punishment.
How awesome to know and understand that because of Jesus and what he has
done it is not punishment we face but rather the glory and majesty of
God's eternal kingdom.  We don't get this because of anything we have
done but rather because God has done it all in Jesus.  In other words, it
is Jesus that counts.  May your faith be in Jesus and His salvation.
Amen.