The shrill whistle pierces the air and all action on the court comes to an abrupt halt. Pointing to the offending player the referee shouts, “Foul!”

Rules, fouls, and penalties are part of any game. They’re regulated and enforced by referees, umpires, judges, and other officials. Every player knows “in the world of sports” boundaries must be set and behavior monitored, otherwise the game degenerates into chaos.

The same holds true “in the real world.” God, the Supreme “Umpire,” has established righteous rules for living. However, people have a tendency to flaunt God’s holy standards of righteousness regulation.

At times, it seems as though these violations go unpunished? No “whistles” are blown and no “fouls” are called.

Nevertheless, justice will ultimately prevail when God settles all accounts on the day of judgment.

“Behold, I am coming quickly,” warns Jesus, “and My reward is with Me, to render [or repay] to every man according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

God’s judgment may be delayed, but it will never be forgotten.

“Know this first of all,” writes the apostle Peter, “that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’ For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water [Noah’s Flood; see Genesis 6-11). But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:3–10).

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)