Being the enemy of a omnipotent God is not a good idea. But one of the facts of being a man in rebellion against his Creator is that the wrath of God is decreed against him. For some Christians, it’s hard to grasp that God could be anything less than sweet, loving and kind. After all, God has shown us (the elect) His infinite loving kindness in Christ. But outside the circle of protection that is Christ, sinful man has no shield against the wrath of God.

Ezra spoke well to the King Artaxerxes: “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” And Moses told the people Israel: “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.”

For as great as the kindness God has stored for us is the wrath that he has stored for the reprobate. And as full as the love He has extended us now is the measure of HIs hatred towards those who will not repent. Their condemnation is just. How great is the sentence for so vast a crime as rejecting the One so worthy of all praise, adoration, and honor? Infinite. Utter terror. Deep blackness. Complete loneliness–except the presence of a just God who is righteously punishing you. Pain to the point of agony. Horror unspeakable. And no escape. Eternal punishment. All the worst, most terrifying, evilest of earth is no comparison to the infinite wrath of an infinite God over an infinite crime–rejecting His authority. All the horror of the world is God’s wrath held in check for the sake of HIs elect, for the sake of Christ. In hell–eternal damnation–there is no check.

God’s wrath is not a pleasant subject. Nor should it be. But if you are unrepentant, it should strike terror into your soul. And that terror is the beginning of wisdom. Though God has sovereignly chosen some to be vessels of honor and some to dishonor, He does not desire that any should perish. God will glorify Himself in His victory over His enemies. But His wrath is also of a secondary purpose–through discipline and the rod, to guide those whom He has called to Himself. The wrath of God calls you to repent. The King Himself guarantees the way–you have the opportunity to repent, and God will become at peace with you through Christ.

Take heed that you, Christian, are at peace with God, for He is at peace with you.