Meet Su Goldenberg

I love to spend time with my six grandchildren. And when they are at our house, I have a tremendous responsibility to keep them safe from harm. Children can be impulsive. My youngest grandson had the need for speed at age four! Not long after he learned to ride his bike, he tore into the street as fast as he could ride. My reaction was instinctive anger at the thought of him being hit by a car, so I screamed his name and was indeed angry! But my anger was directed at his action, not his person. I love that boy and wanted to keep him away from a dangerous situation. I talked to my grandson about the dangers of riding his bike where cars drive. And although he felt the full force of my anger, he learned that I only wanted to protect him from harm. 

God's desire is the same for us, and He has explained His concerns for us through His Word. God's wrath is holy, righteous, and justified. God created us in His own image and wants only the best for us. We are the object of His affection, and His wrath is directed against that which will destroy us. God sees the evil that harms His creation and can devastate the people He loves. It is not people that God hates. He hates their sin that ruins their lives. Human history reveals horrific, tragic results flowing from man's determination to turn his back on God's truth.

The painful reality is that God's wrath is a terrifying thing. But there is a way to be free from experiencing the wrath of God. That way is through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus bore the full weight of our transgressions. As He died upon the cross, He was separated from His Father and felt the full brunt of our sins. Christ suffered unimaginable pain, both physically and emotionally. Because of Christ's sacrifice upon the cross, today God's wrath is fully satisfied for those who are Christ followers. We no longer need to live in fear of His wrath.