“As
many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as
have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.” Romans 2:12
We’ve
heard the saying, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know”. Well, it
seems St. Paul is turning it around on the Romans: “It’s not who you know; it
is what you know by which you will be judged”. This may be an
oversimplified statement, but it makes the point of righteousness (justice) that
the Lord requires even from those who know nothing of Him. It is more
often referred to as “natural law” which defines certain inherent attributes of
humanity. It is always right to treat others well, it is always right to
feed someone who is hungry, and it is always right to hold others accountable
for their actions; just as we might reasonably expect all these things as well!
Knowledge
of the Lord and being “doers of the word” (James 1:22; Romans 2:13) is
not centrally focused on whether or not we are “saved” (that word has been so
overused to the point of being as vague as the word “love”!) but whether or not
we are willing to live each day in accordance with the Lord’s
requirements. It is as much about taking care of others as it is about
being cared for. Imagine such a world!
Know
this, however. Divine mercy has its place in this, also, because how we
live and work and worship together helps to define the relationship we have
with our Lord. That is, if we forgive those who have hurt us, we will be
forgiven by the One whom we have harmed … over and over again.
Blessings,
Michael
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