The writer to the Hebrews tells us, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). So are you afraid? Do you tremble before the holy and just God? Just who is this God we are to fear? Let us take a look at what the Scriptures have to say.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10). Revelation 6:16, "and [they] said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!". David warns, "Kiss the Son lest He be angry and you perish in the way. When His wrath is kindled but a little" (Psalm 2:12). Matthew 13:41 - 42, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Actually, there are seven New Testament Jesus quotes about wailing and teeth gnashing. According to John 5:27, authority to execute judgement has been given to Yeshua, Jesus, because He is the Son of Man. It seems the God of wrath, anger, and Judgment is the Lord Jesus.
| Let us compare Him with the God of the Old Testament. Psalm 136:12 says we are delivered, "With a strong hand, and with an outstretch arm, For His mercy endures forever". In fact Jeremiah proclaims the Old Testament God's mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23), great is His faithfulness. In case you missed it, Psalm 136 tells us twenty-six times that God's lovingkindness is everlasting. "God of our salvation" pops up 114 times in the Old Testament compared to 42 in the New. The God of the Old Testament shows mercy and compassion. He offers deliverance and salvation. He is a God of grace who extended that grace to Noah. He forgave David even after the sins of adultery and murder. He is slow to anger and full of compassion. We should be grateful for the tender and loving God of the Old Testament and fear the New Testament Jesus who would cast someone into outer darkness for wearing the wrong wedding cloths and might even cast out those who did great things in His name. Very scary God, this Jesus, Son of Man. |
What is my point? I get tired of the supposed contrast of the Old Testament God of wrath and judgment and the tender Jesus of the New. As Americans and those of Western/Greek thought, we divide and subdivide everything. We compartmentalize and make proclamations that fit our preconceived world view. It seems many determine that the Old Testament is barely valid and out of date. I see signs and advertisements declaring that this group gathering is a "New Testament" church. As if the Old Testament has nothing to do with faith and life today. Do they ever consider how gutted their New Testament Scriptures would be if they removed every Old Testament reference? Is it possible we really only have one revelation from God? One book that is about the One true God? You know, the One Jesus who said He was One with the Father. Pastors, teachers, theologians along with so many believers make it known that we believe that God is three in one. But the emphasis is on the "three" not the "One". Father, Son and Spirit each with His own purpose and responsibility. Check out any Bible College or seminary where you study Theology (God the Father), Christology (God the Son), and Pneumatology (God the Spirit), but not God the "One". They don't need to. After all, they have God all figured out and compartmentalized. Yet, if we are honest, the distinctions we see in Scripture are more like a chalk drawing in the rain. No clear edges and lots of blurry lines in the "one" picture. God is a God of compassion, mercy, love, deliverance and salvation. He is also the God of anger, justice, judgment, and wrath. You can find verses about all "three" involved in all aspects of these realities. Maybe you need to make your God box without all those compartments. Just One big compartment. On second thought, never mind. Even if He is only "One" He will never fit into any box you make anyway. Though, I have to admit, like most people, I occasionally try to make Him fit into my own personal "God box". How about you? | ||
