It seems to me that many people have an unbalanced view of God. Some picture Him as angry and vengeful, thinking He enjoys our suffering and looks for opportunities to punish us for our failures. Others prefer to view God as a cosmic grandfather figure, sitting up in Heaven in a rocking chair, looking for opportunities to get us out of trouble and waiting to grant our every wish. Neither view is accurate.

Paul told the Romans: "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22). God is capable of both goodness and severity. This should not surprise us, for we are capable of both, and we have been made in God's image.

The reason God can show kindness, patience, and grace to man while also being capable of indignation, anger, and wrath is because God is impartial. He is no respecter of persons. God will always approach man with kindness, patience, and grace. However, if these are rejected and one persists in sin and rebellion against God, he will receive God's wrath.

Earlier in the Roman letter, Paul had described God as rendering "to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Rom. 2:6-11).

It is a dangerous thing to have an unbalanced view of God. God is not out to get you, but He will punish you for your sin. Receive the forgiveness He offers you through the gospel.