“WRATH OF GOD”
- a Daily Devotional by Rev. Don Schink, © 2010
- a Daily Devotional by Rev. Don Schink, © 2010
Romans 1:18:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” (NIV)
There is a point where God say, “Enough is enough.” In His loving-kindness and patience, He gives lots of room, overall, for man to confess, to repent and to turn, or return, to God. Yet there is a point where, due to the hardening of one’s heart against the truth, that their own continued sinful actions and rebellion seal their own fates.
We live in a day and time where the subject of God’s wrath is often avoided from many pulpits. It doesn’t give people that warm and fuzzy feeling that most feel that they deserve. Just for showing up, people feel that they have certain rights, such as having a pastor not teach or preach anything that they might deem as being offensive.
After just a few weeks at one of my pastorates, a lady who was part of the church board came to me with special instructions that she expected me to obey. She instructed me that I was to preach and teach the Word. No problem there. However then she went on to say that I was not only to visit the sick but that I was not to get too close to people or meddle in their business. She went on to say that previous pastors had done just that, having their own favorite people, while butting in the business of others.
That church had gone through over twenty pastors in the less than twenty years since their parents had resigned due to age, turning responsibilities over to the younger ones in the church. That was a major turning point for that church, spiritually. Finally, when she finished, I reminded her that before I accepted their call to pastor that church that I had made it very clear as to exactly what my ministry style was and that hadn’t changed.
I realized that she, and others, wanted things their way and didn’t like it when pastors shared the word and rebuked sinful lifestyles. In short, I reminded her that I am a “people-person,” do a lot of visitation, one-on-one ministry, counsel as needed, and definitely do my best to teach and preach the Word. I have always tried to be faithful so that the Holy Spirit is not hindered from working in and through me, as only He can do. That cannot happen when pastors pick and choose only the more comfortable or popular portions of the Word of God. Like it or not, a pastor that is true to His call will teach and preach on such things as hell, Sodom and Gomorrah, the wrath of God, and so on.
The wrath of God is very real. Wrath is the judgment of the Holy One (God) upon sin in every form. It is an essential part of the biblical picture of God. Man’s fallen condition is an existence under “the wrath of God” which is “revealed from heaven.”
Because of Who He is, God’s wrath is a terrible reality. However, wrath is not hate. Hate is unjust. Wrath is just. Hate seeks to destroy. Wrath forgives. So when Paul says that God’s wrath is being revealed along with His righteousness, He is saying that God is offering acquittal, but that those who refuse to accept it are condemned. So we see the reality of God’s wrath.
Man is always responsible to God. Consequently everyone experiences either God’s righteousness or God’s wrath. Everyone experiences either God’s love or His displeasure. The reason for God’s wrath is because fallen man refuses to acknowledge God. This goes against God’s Word and His will for each of us.
In 1 Corinthians 1:34, Paul admonishes, “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame.” In Ephesians 6:14, we are challenged in the Word, where we read, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”
The reason for the wrath of God, as given is today’s Scripture passage is because of the “wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” The lady that I told you about, and some others in that church, knew better. However, they chose to do things their way, not God’s, and forbid anyone to get in their way. As the Holy Spirit convicts, if a person continues to refuse to obey, hardening their hearts against the truth, they choose sinful behavior over holiness of heart and lifestyle. They choose their way rather than God’s way.
If you find that you are guilty of this, I urge you to repent, turn away from such things that might hinder a right relationship with God, and be determined to go His way, not yours. To fail to do so is to invite the wrath of God. To allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, staying away from willful, sinful actions, is to invite the love of God. It is to invite a right heart and spirit within you that will help you to grow and to mature in His love and grace. Read His Word and pray daily, allowing Him to be everything in and through you that He is so willing to do for those who allow Him to do so.
For questions or comments, please email me at: PastorDonNM@gmail.com
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