God’s GREATEST Wrath…
Originally Published: 11-16-08
Okay, so let’s say God’s really mad and ready to unleash His wrath… How will it come? What will He do? When most people think about the wrath of God they think of hurricanes, plagues, disease, earthquakes and the like. But is that the full definition of God’s wrath? Or better yet is that the worst thing He could do or allow to happen to some one? The Bible tells us otherwise.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. [26] For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. [28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. [29] They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. [32] Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (Rom 1:18-32 ESV)
According to Paul, those who reject God even though He has revealed Himself to them receive the worst thing God could ever do to someone… Give them what they want. They rejected and wanted nothing to do with God, so He gave them over to minds that were completely depraved to do whatever they wanted to do. The worst thing God could do to someone is leave them alone.
A loving father knows what’s best for us and sets up limits, and barriers to keep us safe. After all He created the world and knows how He set it up to operate. In order to keep us within that safety, He brings correction and discipline. Those who repeatedly reject those boundaries over and over again, God will eventually (only He knows when) let them have their way. Their minds become completely darkened and their hearts become completely hardened so they can’t see the mercies of God and His provision for them. Though they claim to be wise, they became fools.