Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 1/16/2010

Question
In Psalms there is much reference to God's love for His people.  There is also references of times that He destroyed or caused much destruction even towards His people.  I understand there are consequences to disobedience and when He chastises us we are blessed.  Does God get angry with us or our sin?  Does God get so angry at us personally that He chooses to destroy one of His people?

Answer
Dear Valerie,
   Thanks for writing.  Verses such as James 1:17, the first chapter of John, and many others, show us that God is the Source of everything good, the Source of Light, Life, and Love.
   To walk away from God is to embrace the opposite, even though there is a mixture of good and evil in this temporary life. (Matt.5:45)
   God sometimes allows evil to go unchecked so people will see the consequences and choose to turn to God, thus receiving eternal salvation (well worth any temporary suffering).  
   Seeing someone we love destroy him/herself can be very frustrating.  One way to "wake" up that loved one is to let him/her hear some righteous anger at the pain they are causing those who love them--pain they will ultimately suffer themselves, even if they won't admit it.  God's wrath is for the folly of people who love the darkness rather than the light, who choose to suffer the consequences of their sins rather than entrust their lives to God (John 3:15-20).  
   God is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9), but He won't force anyone into Heaven.  If a person would rather be free to sin, then they can't live with God.  The absence of God, the Source of life and everything good, would be death and everything bad.  No earthly destruction or suffering compares to how bad the eternal separation from God is.
   It helps me understand God's love and His wrath when I compare it to scientific principles such as: there is no measurement for darkness.  There is only the measurement of light or the absence of light.  There is no measurement for cold.  There is only the measurement of heat or the absence of heat.  There is only God or the absence (rejection) of God to measure love or wrath.
   If we don't accept God's Word (written and in human form, Jesus) that God has provided for us at such great cost, then we reject the true God, even though we may claim to have a "God" of our own making.  Perhaps God gets angry at us because we "cut off our nose to spite our face," we choose to sin even though is it so harmful to ourselves.  He always feels for us instead of ignoring or being disinterested in us.
   Whatever difficulties we may have in understanding God, it should never prevent us from entrusting our lives to Him, asking Him to help us understand what is necessary to fulfill our created purpose of reflecting His image in the uniqueness He fashioned each one of us.
   Have a wonderful forever trusting and following God's leading.
   Priscilla