To see Christ suffering so terribly “for our sins” is to see God’s great anger at our sins. God is the only Judge who sees all facts, reads all motives, and judges perfectly.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).
The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he (Deuteronomy 32:4).
When God examines us, what does He find? The deadly rot of spiritual disease. “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6). Piling good deed upon good deed never succeeds, since even our best deeds are sin-stained. The Holy One must distance Himself from such moral filth. As Judge, His just anger must burn against all sin and rebellion.
Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? …You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong… (Habakkuk 1:12-13).
…your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear (Isaiah 59:2).
Now I will soon pour out my wrath upon you, and spend my anger against you, and judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity (Ezekiel 7:8-9).
Ask for God’s attention and see what happens! Try to impress God with your fine list of works. Oh, you find yourself at the center – the very target at which He aims His fiery vengeance!
“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day” (Psalm 7:11).
Nothing you can do changes your past record. No amount of pleading or hard work changes your Judge’s mind (Numbers 23:19). He knows you too well, and you fall far short of His perfect standard.
“[For] all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Since you stand in the line of fire, move to safety. Start to depend on God instead of yourself.