January 24

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”    —EPHESIANS 2:3

The wrath of God is not something we like to talk about or even think about, but Scripture does speak about it, therefore we need to understand it. Contrary to what many believe, the wrath of God is not a kink in His character.   

Most things about God are wonderful. He is love; He is holy; He is righteous; He is kind and compassionate, but He is also angry. The very attributes we worship in God are the attributes that are the source of His wrath. The fact that God is love, that He is pure, holy and righteous is the reason why He is angry at sin. It violates, distorts and destroys what His purpose is. Wrath is inevitable to a God of love otherwise the love would be tenuous and weak. 

We are all born separated from God, and Paul says in Ephesians 2:1 that we are dead in our transgressions. In other words, in our natural state, we are by nature objects of wrath. For those in Christ this is past tense, but for many others it’s present tense, because they remain in a state of separation from God. But does that matter?  You bet it does. Paul doesn’t mince his words – left to yourself, you are doomed by nature – “you are under the wrath of God”.

The consequence of being separated from God is living in dependence upon ourselves, which always results in some form of disobedience, pride and neglect of others. God created us in His image, which is His moral character, but separated from God, we don’t have the ability to portray His moral image or to live the way He intended. Our sin remains with us, separating us from God, but because the very nature of God is love, He provided a way to be reconciled to Him.

Having been conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus was never separated from God, never spiritually dead, and never under the judgment of His Father, until on the cross, He took upon Himself the sin of the world. As the unblemished Lamb, He was the only one who could satisfy the just wrath of a just God. The only place we are sheltered from the wrath of God is in Jesus Christ. The Bible doesn’t cushion our condition outside of Christ, and it’s a desperate position to be in. We have no control beyond this life, but in this life we can choose Christ and in Him be eternally protected, safe and secure.

PRAYER: Dear Precious Lord, thank you for dying in my stead, and for indwelling me now, keeping me safe, protected and secure in You. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Do I realize that in Christ I am eternally secure and protected?