Wrath

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:5 KJV)

There are times when we wish the wrath of God would fall on those we deem to have earned it. That’s a judgment call on our part after we’ve done some fruit inspection and found them as wanting of good fruit as the fig tree Jesus passed (Mark 11:12-25)

Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (Romans 2:6-7 KJV)

That’s where we see ourselves, isn’t it?

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (Romans 2:8-9 KJV)

And, isn’t this where we see those who disagree with us?

Careful, then, that we follow the whole counsel of God, as Paul stated:

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:27 KJV)

We also need to remember who is the father of lies:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. (John 8:44-45 KJV)

Satan lied to Eve, using God’s words with evil intent. He did the same to Jesus in the wilderness. He does the same today. Except for that wilderness bit, it has worked well for him. He creates doubt, division and hatred, all built on lies. And, we are excellent co-conspirators in his endeavors.

We jump to defensive postures, tossing words back that are just as untruthful – as Eve did when she added to God’s commands:

But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3:3 KJV)

The Bible does not include “touch” in God’s command not to eat of that tree, but Eve thought it necessary to defend herself against temptation.

What words do we add in righteous indignation when we defend our own beliefs? Do we check the truth of the temptations to wrath that we receive? Do we accept the lie and respond in kind – but not in kindness? Let’s go back to Romans:

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. Romans 2:10-11 KJV)

Are we working for good – or simply thinking the other guy is bad? Let me, once again, encourage all of us to be more noble, as the Bereans:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)

Search to see if things are what they seem. Check the source, verify the author. The father of lies is still at his divisive work.