The Law of Retribution is sometimes described as “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Exodus 21:24. It has been stated as simply letting the punishment fit the crime. It precludes disproportional revenge. Another, perhaps better, way of expressing this law is found in Galatians 6:7, which warns, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” 

It is certainly true that every Christian (sincere believer who has trusted Christ) will go to heaven the moment of death. “Gospel” means good news, but it is actually great and wonderful news because it tells us that the sins of all believers, past, present, and future, are washed away by the blood of Christ. Knowing this, I’ve heard people claim that after being “saved,” they can live as they please and still go to heaven. It is true that what we do before and after we are saved will not prevent our heavenly ascent when we die. But what uninformed people don’t know is that true salvation involves conversion, which mean one becomes a “new creation” in Christ. Christians no longer want to “live like hell.” Real Christians now love God and want to please Him.

God works in the lives of all Christians (His children). He engineers situations and occurrences for our training and improvement. God wants to make us more like His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And some of us require discipline and sometimes it is very unpleasant. God uses His law of retribution. Scripture illustrates this process as being like that of a potter. If the potter does not like the vessel he is making, he is free to squash it and begin again. God can and does do this at times. Some may question this process, as Job did. But the Apostle Paul asks in Romans 9:20, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

The Lord God Almighty is the sovereign Creator of the universe. This includes you, me, and everyone and everything in the entire universe. This world belongs to Him, not to us. He owns us, especially Christians, to whom Paul replied, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Heaven is a tremendous reward for trusting Christ on earth; but all believers will be judged (evaluated) by the Lord to determine their other rewards in heaven. By contrast, unbelievers will also be judged and sent away to the Lake of Fire. This is fact, and it should greatly bother and even grieve Christians, who have been charged with the duty of witnessing for the Lord (telling the good news that Jesus saves). So the burden is on us believers to explain to everyone the way to qualify for heaven. We must not delay in performing our duty. Souls can depend on our witness. And sadly, all opportunity ends with death; and no one knows when that will occur.

However, never think that you are responsible for anyone’s being saved, regardless how eloquent or knowledgeable you are. The results are always due to the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who gets results. He alone deserves all the credit.