“Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” Isaiah 5:25
God warns sinful mankind to flee the wrath to come. He does this by asserting His righteous judgment against all unrighteousness, while at the same time proclaiming salvation through repentance and faith.
Some interpret God’s will to save sinners as meaning God loves sinners just as they are. HOW ABSURD! If God loved sinners just as they are, then they would not need salvation from their sin. But God’s love is all about saving sinners from what they are, lest they perish.
Apart from coming to God’s salvation, sinners are under condemnation before God due to Adam’s transgression – Romans 5:18. All unsaved sinners still have the wrath of God abiding on them – John 3:36. “God is angry with the wicked every day.” Psalm 7:11 God cannot and will not tolerate sin, even though He is longsuffering towards sinners: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” Habakkuk 1:13
There are two grave errors that man’s thinking can lead to. First, the thinking that a God of love would not send anyone to hell; that a God of love would not discriminate against any because of their lifestyle; that God’s love only allows our sins to make Him sad, but that His love for man is unconditional. But Isaiah 5:25 describes God’s response to the sin of His people: “Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them and hath smitten them.” Make no mistake about it, God will not give sin a free pass!
The second error, is thinking that since God judges sin, that once one has messed their life up in sin, that there is no hope. But with God, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” Isaiah 5:25f Even though His anger is not turned away, even though judgment is on the horizon, yet His hand is stretched out still, not willing that the sinner perish, but rather they come to repentance. This is God’s amazing grace, that lies beyond human comprehension. The reason God can have His hand stretched out to those He is bringing judgment against, is that Christ died for all our sins. For all who repent and turn to Christ, the wrath of God is stayed, through the atoning power of Jesus’ shed blood.
Don’t let Satan convince you not to concern yourself with your sin. Nor, don’t let Satan depress you into thinking there is no hope for you because of sin. Believe God. Repent, return to the Lord, and He will have mercy – Isaiah 55:7.
SHARING
