Once Enemies (#158 of 365+)

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him” (John 3:36)


Some people have the mistaken view of God as a silly Greek god in the clouds, with nothing better to do with his time than throw a temper tantrum of lightning bolts. But God isn’t petty or vengeful like that. He is holy and just—which is a frightening combination because it means he hates sin and has to punish it. As Joni said, “We humans have no idea how offensive our sin is against a holy God”.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18)

Christians talk about God’s love but downplay his wrath towards sin. This shouldn’t be. Only when we explain how sin affected mankind and our relationship with God (the ugly truth) can we truly communicate how monumental was God’s undertaking to reconcile us back to himself!

There was a movie I saw once in which a woman tried to save two boys who were falling over a cliff. She had to choose between them because she couldn’t hold on to them both. One boy was naughty—some would say he was psychotic and evil—and the other was her son who was a very good child. She made the heart wrenching choice to release her own son to save the other boy. That scene was only a snapshot of what it took for God to save me.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17)

Lord, from a grateful heart that overflows with your praises—thank you for choosing to save me! Amen.