How Can a Loving God be Wrathful?

Ran across this today and it fit into what we have been writing about this week so I thought we'd take a look at it.

John 3:36(NKJV)

36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Here is another example of what I have written about recently.  It’s not a simple let bygones be bygones thing if we reject Christ.  The Gospel of John tells us that the wrath of God abides on those that reject Jesus. 

Well that just brings up a whole host of questions.

How can a loving God be like that?  Isn't that petty?  I thought He wants all to be saved?

Let's start with the last question first.  God does want all to be saved, however He doesn't require it.  There's that whole free will thing.  People are totally free to reject Jesus but that doesn't mean that there aren't consequences to that exercise of free will.  What are the consequences?  God's wrath.  Now just so we are all on the same page let's look at the definition of wrath.

wrath

[rath, rahth or, especially Brit., rawth] Show IPA

noun

1. strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire.

2. vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wrath

Fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation.  Keep those words in mind.

Now let's look at one other facet and then I will tie this together.  We are told that we are made in God's image.  The emotions we feel come from God.  The emotions we feel, He feels also.  Scripture tells us that there are things that sadden God, there are things that anger God, God loves us so we know He feels love, and God is also described as a jealous God.   Keep all of that in mind.

How can a loving God be like that?  Isn't that petty?

OK, let's see, God has poured out His heart for mankind.  Mankind keeps rejecting Him.  He perseveres.  He has his son Jesus sitting there.  Jesus is a great kid, the kind of kid any Dad would be proud of.  God needs someone to step up and do something truly heroic.  Jesus steps up "Got it Dad, you can count on me."  And He comes to earth and offers Himself as a sacrifice for all of mankind because Dad needed Him to do that.  Wow!

And after all of that His son Jesus did for mankind, many reject Jesus.  If they did that to your kid, how would you feel? How do you think God feels then?  Do you think fierce anger and deeply resentful indignation are out of line? 

The amazing thing to me is not that we earn His wrath when we reject Jesus.  The amazing thing to me is that He will take us back.  And that's what makes God's love greater than all other in my opinion.  It's almost never too late with God.  As long as your still breathing you can still ask Jesus into your heart.  Have you visited with Jesus today?  He's there waiting to hear from you.  Ask Jesus into your heart today and get away from God's wrath at the same time.  Sounds like a win-win to me.