For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.   Romans 1:19 HCSB

Yesterday we spoke of John 3:16 and how God loves us so much He sent His Son to die on a cross to save us from our sins. If we believe John 3:16 then we must also understand what Paul is saying in Romans 1:19-24. Our Scripture passage tells us that God reveals Himself to us and that we will experience His wrath if we live as though we don’t believe. This means living sinful lives as though God doesn’t exist. It means living as though we don’t believe there is a God or a heaven or a hell. When we live our lives in sin, it’s as if we don’t truly believe in Him. If we believe He loves us then we must also understand that He will discipline us.

We must understand that the same God that loves us and shows mercy and grace is the same God that can have the type of wrath that destroys. We must understand a few things. First of all, the Bible tells us God is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6, Psalm 86:15, Numbers 14:18). 2 Peter 3:9 tells us the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. So, we know that God is slow to anger but not slow to keep His promise. We know that He wants everyone to repent and be saved. He wants everyone to spend eternity in heaven with Him.

With all that being said, we need to understand that evil does not go unpunished. Exodus 34:6 tells us that God is slow to anger and forgives wrongdoing, rebellion and sin. But it also tells us that He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the father’s wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. I have had it explained to me in this way. It’s not that God punishes your children for your sin, it’s that our children tend to do the things we do. If you teach your children to disobey God, then they will. They will also teach their children to disobey God and it will continue through the generations until somebody wises up.

The other thing we need to understand is that God has a breaking point. There will come a time when all bets are off and we will be given over to our sin. Romans 1:20-24 tells us that if we continue sinning, God will give us over to the cravings of our hearts. I often hear people speak of stories in the news and ask how someone could do such terrible things? Well, the answer is simple when we ignore God, the devil can come in and take over. If God gives us over to our sin, we are in the devil’s hands. It will be the devil who is in control, not God. This is how people do such heinous things to other people. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us how important it is that we go to church. Hebrews 10:26 tells us that if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins just a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

We serve a loving and merciful God who is slow to anger. He sent HIs Son to die for me and you. But He will not tolerate our continued disobedience. If you can comprehend the great love He has for you, you will want to reciprocate that love by trusting in Him and obeying Him. You will never want to be on HIs bad side and experience His wrath.

Have a great day!