Where's the Good In This Judgment?

# 56 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 3:18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him." (1 Sam 3:18) This is an impressive statement from Eli. God had just announced a horrific judgment against his posterity because Eli had not restrained his sons from their wickedness, and note his reaction. No whining. No complaining. No attempt to strike a deal with God. Just this simple statement, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.” In one sense, this statement serves as his confession for his sin. It is an acknowledgment of his wrongdoing, and an agreement that God has every right to exact this punishment. Furthermore, Eli acknowledges that there is goodness in God's action of judgment. There is goodness in justice. What possible good can come out of a situation where sins are not atoned for? How about the reminder to all who read this portion of Scripture, that there is such a thing as eternal damnation! God is love, and He does not desire to send anyone to hell. 2Pe 3:9 says that He is”longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.' But this incident with Eli reminds us that God is also just, and those who reject His Son will spend eternity in hell with Eli's sons and others who have rejected God's grace. People are sent to hell because their sins still cling to them, and sin cannot remain in the presence of God. And the only reason they cling to them is because they have rejected Jesus. He is the only way to avoid the lot of Eli's sons. Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me Come to Jesus. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior. It is your only hope!