Daily Devotion #3

Fear the Wrath


"He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him." John 3:36

After the famous John 3:16 is written, and the extent of God's love for us is revealed, we are told what awaits those that do not believe in Christ. Lately, I have heard many people say that you should be leery of demons and the wiles of the devil. I mean, I'm cautious but I have no reason to be afraid. Jesus gave believers the ability to cast out demons in Mark 16:17, so don't fear the devil! Why, you say, because God's wrath is much worse! Do you know what the eternal rest is for those outside of the body of Christ? As with those who accept the mark of the beast, "fire and brimstone". (Revelation 14:10) You can realize some of the extent of God's anger in His dealings with the Israelites and their wickedness. The books of Ezekiel and Jeremiah detail God's plans—the Israelites were taken from their homeland by war, famine, plundering, death and disease, and pillaging all because of their disobedience to God's will. Let's backtrack, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were obliterated because of their disobedience, and the world was flooded, wiping out the entire population because of wickedness! What more will God do against those that do not believe or reject His word and His Son!

But God does not want us to have to endure that fate. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,". God freely gave Himself to free us from the curse, but by rejecting His word, we reject the redemption. There is no need to inherit this as your final recourse. God loves us, and gave of Himself as a sacrifice for our sins to set us free!