I am not arguing that good is not rewarded and evil punished on the scale of eternity. I am arguing that Robertson's claim that a specific health problem of Mr. Sharon was God's punishment for one of his policies is remarkably naive.
If you believe that we are all punished or rewarded by God in this life, you are forced to confront the indisputable fact that evil men often seem to thrive. Most religious leaders got around this awkward fact thousands of years ago by moving the reward/punishment to the next life, where nobody could actually check up on whether these expectations were fulfilled.
What if it's not reward or punishment.
What if it a sign that says enough of what you are doing.
So one get a minor stroke and miraculously walks away from it unharmed.
But doesn't get the message. And continues in the same path.
So he needs a stronger message.