People in the world seem to be aware of only some of God's attributes-love, mercy, compassion, grace, and longsuffering. Indeed, these certainly are some of His wonderful traits, but men need to be aware of God's other qualities? In particular, I'm thinking of one other trait-His wrath. Let's spend a few moments discussing God's wrath.
He does not tolerate disobedience. "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'" {Genesis 2:16,17} When Adam and Eve, after being deceived by the serpent, disobeyed God, He cast them out of the garden of Eden. On that day, they died spiritually {Genesis 3:24}. When Adam and Eve tried to blame others for their disobedience, God didn't change his mind!
In like manner, Moses warned the children of Israel. "When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed." {Deuteronomy 4:25,26} Sadly, the children of Israel did exactly what Moses told them not to do; they practiced spiritual adultery. God kept His word and turned them over to their enemies-first Israel to Assyria, and then Judah to Babylon. By sending the prophets to call them to national repentance, God gave Israel every opportunity to repent and return to Him-they rejected His prophets.
He will take eternal vengeance. "And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." {2 Thessalonians 1:7-9} There is an approaching day of reckoning when all men will give account of their deeds {Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10}. God desires that none should perish but that all will repent {2 Peter 3:9}. He loved the entire world enough to send His Son to pay the ransom price for our sins {John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8}.
Many are counting on God's love, mercy, and compassion to overlook their sinful lives. Too late , they will discover that God's wrath is as real as His love! Please give prayerful consideration to what God's word says about those who rebelled against Him. He always punished them-despite His love for them. Can we expect any less?