Understanding Wrath

Have you ever felt condemned or that God is angry and disappointed with you? What is the truth about God’s wrath? Does He or does He not get angry? The truth is that God does get angry. We are made in His image and likeness and He feels anger just like we do. As such, it becomes vital to our relationship with Him to understand what His wrath is and when is He angry.

Firstly, remember God loves all mankind, even the most rotten and vilest sinner. Jesus died on that Cross and shed His blood for all of us, without exception. He promised every human being that if they called out to Him for salvation He would save them. This is the ultimate expression of His love for humanity. Neither is it His desire that anyone should be lost and go to hell. Hell, that’s a subject many of us wish to stay away from, but it is a very serious reality.

On the flip side of God’s love is His wrath. When someone continually rejects His offer of salvation, spurns His calls of love and grace, and chooses to resist Him till the end of their lives, they will face His wrath. And the end result of His wrath is an eternity without Him, in a place called Hell. You do not want to face His wrath! Listen, for anyone to condemn someone to such an eternal fate must be very angry. Now, before you get mad at God, think about how easily you get angered when someone does something to offend you, especially when all you have tried to do is be good to them!

John 3:36 And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving towards, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) eternal life, but (instead) the wrath of God abides on him, (God’s displeasure remains on him, His indignation hangs over him continually). Amplified Bible

Romans 11:12 tells us to consider both the kindness and the severity (wrath of God). He is kind towards those who believe, and His wrath is towards those who refuse to believe. Not only so, there is a warning in this to those of us who do believe to not get into a place where we willfully resist Him by behaving like the ungodly. Simply put, if you choose to live a life that is displeasing to God you put yourself in a dangerous place. Paul begged the believers, with tears, to turn away from an ungodly life.

Now, when it comes to the ungodly, Scripture is clear. The unbeliever is under the wrath of God, BUT God is very SLOW to be angry and will pour out His goodness upon them till their dying breath, in the hope that they will turn and accept the salvation He offers through His Son. That is how slow He is! It’s that last, defiant breath, that brings down the hammer which releases God’s wrath. It is His goodness that leads people to salvation, not His wrath! Remember, God is good, He is kind and He is loving to all, in the hope that all will receive the wonderful gift of life that He offers.

But what about us who believe?

Like a pendulum swing, there are those who preach you can do anything you want because God loves you anyway, and those that preach woe to you if you do anything wrong because God will beat you up. Neither of these two views are correct.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 clearly tells us that we, the believers in Jesus Christ, have NOT (NOT! NOT! NOT!) been chosen to experience God’s wrath. We are the objects (or those He has chosen) of His mercy. When we miss it, stuff up, and sin, we have the privilege of coming to Him for His grace, mercy and forgiveness. His delight is to show us mercy, not anger. Over and over Scripture teaches God’s love, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, and favour towards those who believe in and trust in Him. No exception!

However, there is a little thing called “discipline” that none of us are exempt from. Discipline has to do with teaching and training, not wrath and anger. Discipline is uncomfortable and often unpleasant because it requires us to change our ways, to forsake our own thoughts and opinions, and accept the ways, thoughts and opinions of someone else; in this case, God’s.

God uses His Voice and His Word as His “rod of correction”. When we choose to disobey and go our own way, we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. The trouble you are in is not His discipline or punishment, that’s the result of our disobedience. (Note: There is a difference between trouble that comes because of sin (disobedience) and persecution that comes as a result of faith and obedience. I am dealing with trouble in this blog.)

Now, if you are in “trouble” because you are not being obedient, then use the situation to learn how to become obedient. As you turn towards God in your trouble He will speak to you and give you the counsel and wisdom you need to get out of it. He is not going to do it for you. The act of being disciplined and obedient to His Voice/Word is up to you. You have to make the choice to obey, regardless of how you feel. As you practice obedience to his Voice you become skilled in dealing with the trouble you have caused yourself.

There is a consequence to remaining disobedient, but it is not the loss of your salvation and neither is it wrath, condemnation and anger from God towards you. Salvation is your eternal gift from the Father because you believe in Jesus. Your loss will be your eternal rewards, which you lose because of your own stubbornness and the choices you made.

I encourage you to become a “disciple” of the Lord Jesus Christ. Become disciplined in His ways and obey His voice. It will bring you an abundance of life and good things, both in this life and the one that is to come – eternity.

Grace and favour to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love always 😊

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