So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
Acts 5:11-13

Verse 11 begins with the word, “So.” That connects verse 11 with what happened in verses 1-10. Which was the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. What is the connection? God made an example out of Ananias and Sapphira. The example God made of Ananias and Sapphira caused people to fear.

Ananias and Sapphira were an example of what would happen if God dealt with all our sins with perfect justice: we would all be dead! Thank the Lord that He deals with us according to mercy more often than according to justice!

The example is a sobering reminder that God’s mercy postpones His justice. His mercies, which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), postpone justice until one of two things take place:

Either God’s mercies postpone His justice until the day of our deaths. Once we die, God’s judgment is sure (Hebrews 9:27), and it will be according to His perfect justice. His perfect justice regarding our sin is death (Romans 6:23). And that death is not mere physical death, but the eternal death we read about in Revelation 20:13-15. Justice will be served, severely.

Or God’s mercies postpone His justice until one receives Jesus Christ by faith and repents. Those who belong to Christ will never taste of God’s perfect justice. Why? Because on the cross, Jesus received the justice His people deserve, so He can give us the reward for righteousness that He alone deserves. If you are His, that is your reality.

If you are not one of His, you are in a holding pattern, awaiting either God’s perfect justice when you die, or your surrender to Christ.

Learn from the example God made of Ananias and Sapphira. Fear God and receive Christ by faith.