The Bare Bones of Wrath

05.12.12

1 Thessalonians 1.10 10 …and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. NASB

If they are out there, there are three books I’d like to read: a book about God’s glory, a book about hope, and a book about wrath. Glory has to do with the weight, or presence of God – His immenseness and depth, His brilliance and light; His wisdom and power. Hope has to do with expectation of what is to come. And Wrath – well wrath is a concept I don’t understand very well but I think it has something to do with God’s final answer. I think wrath is the only thing left when God’s patience runs out; when after many chances God finally has had enough of His goodness and glory being shunned by the very creatures to which He’s offered them.

Wrath is partially anger but not anger as we understand it. Our anger is selfish and vengeful. God’s anger is perfect and loving. I know that’s hard for some to take but if God is love then everything He does is loving: even destroying those who willfully turn their backs on Him. Wrath often gets a bad rap for being an act of extreme love.

Wrath is a course of action that is irrevocable and irreversible. Once wrath is determined it is the only way to go, there are no other choices and no stopping it. John the Baptist said in John 3.36: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” The wrath of God, or His final answer, lives on the one who rejects God. Psalm 2 says: Do homage to [or, kiss] the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! How un-blessed are those who don’t take refuge in Him. Refuge against what? His anger against mankind’s refusal to believe in and obey Him.

Wrath is what’s left when patience runs out. Wrath is a present and future judgment that finds its home on the wicked until patience runs out and then it consumes the wicked. If there was ever a need for salvation it is when a person comes to that place where they realized they are out of options and destruction is the only solution left for their existence. That’s harsh but it is so true. Today we feast on the patience of God, but soon will come the bare bones of His wrath: our just dessert.

And so Jesus rescues us from such an end. Jesus rescues the believing from the wrath that abides on the unbelieving and from the wrath to come when the river of God’s mercy runs its course. This kind of talk doesn’t sit well with men who fool themselves into believing that somehow they’ll escape God’s judgment – that somehow He’ll overlook their sin and disbelief and willful rejection of His mercy, grace, and offer of friendship.

Paul commended the Thessalonian church for their acceptance of this truth and their devotion to God. They were a shining example of a faith-filled community who benefited from God’s love and kindness. They understood and believed. And God loved them for it…

No one wants an angry God but everyone has to face One if they refuse His offer of grace, mercy and salvation from that dark and irrevocable Day when His patience with mankind runs out.