Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Summary: When the wrath of God comes, we don’t want to be on the wrong side.
This verse about the “wrath of God” bothers a lot of people. “How could a loving God ever be mad at people?” they ask.
How, indeed.
There are two kinds of people in the world. Simply put, there are those who end up in heaven and those who find themselves spending eternity in the lake of fire. To the best of my knowledge, the Bible doesn’t offer a third option.
In the parable of the “Wheat and the Tares” (KJV), Jesus explains the difference. The wheat is the “good seed,” and the tares are the “weeds.” The weeds look like wheat but have no value. At the conclusion of the parable, God explains how he sorts them out. He says:
“Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” (Matthew 13: 30)
If that sounds too far off for you to worry about, the Bible gives another illustration of God’s wrath that is more imminent. In the Old Testament, there is a story about a man named Korah who stirred up some of the Israelites against Moses (Numbers 16:1-50).
There were two problems with Korah’s approach to the situation.
First, Korah seemed to think that Moses was calling the shots. Even though there was a physical manifestation of God’s presence over the Tabernacle day and night, in Korah’s mind, it was still Moses who was in charge. In fact, nothing was farther from the truth. Moses submitted to God in every way, something Korah was not doing.
Second, Korah had the idea that if he was in charge, he could lead the Israelites wherever he wanted to go. He was done following Moses around the desert. It was time for action! Unfortunately for him, he forgot why they were wandering the desert. After the people rejected God’s gift of Canaan the first time, he condemned them to live out the rest of their lives in the desert (Numbers 14: 26-35).
When Korah rejected God a second time, God demonstrated the consequences of rejecting him by having the earth open up under Korah and his tents. He and all his family were swallowed up by the earth (Numbers 16: 31-33).
“God’s wrath” is another way of saying there are consequences for rejecting God. Human wrath is about “getting even.” That is not how God thinks. God’s wrath is simply the division of the wheat and the tares. The good ones he keeps; the bad ones he sweeps into the fire.
Application: Take God seriously. He does!
Food for Thought: How does the idea of “God’s wrath” help us understand what it means to fear God?
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Thank you for the devotional today. I appreciate how you have us thinking about the importance of fearing or respecting God in a culture where this truth is often ignored.
God’s wrath is something He uses us to encourage repentance and bring restoration. His kindness leads to repentance. But this means repentance is necessary to avoid His wrath. For the unbeliever this is literally an eternal life or eternal death decision. For the believer, while it doesn’t refer to our eternity if we are saved by faith in Christ, it still has serious ramifications for our relationship with God and our relationships with others here on earth.
Romans 2: 4 – 11 (Coming on the heels of Romans 1, in which God’s wrath is seen by giving people what they want in their sinful desires and the resulting consequences. It fits well with your devotional): Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” a 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.
How does the idea of “God’s wrath” help us understand what it means to fear God?
God gives each knowledge of right and wrong and the freedom to choose how we will live our lives. All will one day give an account for what we have done, our choices during this life determine our eternal destination.
Genesis 2:17, Hebrews 11:4, John 16:8, John 3:16, Romans 10:13
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” Romans 2:5
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” John 3:36
God’s wrath is never displayed to get back at someone, but is a manifestation of His justice. God is Holy and His pouring out wrath is His justice, against evil which cannot ever be in His presence.
We are Gods created beings, fearing Him means having a reverence for Him that greatly impacts the way we live. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride, arrogance, the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27