What does this really mean?
It has been used until we don't think about the meaning. We don't connect the words to their meaning. There are those who would use this to control where you attend church, your finances, your opinions. You are told God loves you, then subject to a sermon of wrath, hell fire or eye for an eye.
Wrath: Yes, God had wrath alright, especially in the Old Testament. But, if we actually search it out, His wrath was directed at non believers, evil doers, idol worshipers and enemies of His people. Yes, He did punish various of His people but only as a loving father must discipline a child who misbehaves for the good of the child. His people were always restored after the discipline. You ask, "What about the times when Israelites were order to wipe out a people - even their children - even their flocks - and take no plunder?" I answer: Those to be wiped out were idol worshiping enemies of God's people. I did a study of the idol Baal and the Ashera poll. The Ashera poll was a carving of the goddess Ashera and it was not modest (to say the least). What they did to babies and children was an absolute abomination to God. Mass graves have been uncovered with hundreds, even thousands of children's skeletons. They practiced horrific mockery of God with priests and priestesses involved in public intercourse followed by orgies. God is a just God to wipe them from the face of the earth.
Hell fire: It is doctrine. There is hell fire. But, only for non believers. Those who actually believe in Jesus as the Son of God sent for the atonement of human sin, have nothing to fear of a hell fire. Isn't that great? Those of us who believe are already saved through our belief in Jesus Christ. Once you have accepted His sacrifice as your saving grace, you cannot lose it. The rapture will lift all believers from this world before God's wrath comes in the final days. The "Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev.21:27) will be read later; after the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven - after Jesus defeats Satan Rev.19:11 - 21. We will already be with Him, bringing down the new Jerusalem, when the Book of Life is read. If we follow a sequence of events: the rapture of believers, three and one half years of the reign of an anti Christ, his defeat, the New Jerusalem, reading the Book of Life, we see that Christian believers will actually be with Jesus before all this. Jesus cannot re-judge believers He has already taken up into the clouds to be with Him. Is He going to read the Book of Life and say, "Oooops! I didn't know that about you; get out!" I don't think so. Christian believers do not face a judgement. We will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds. God is faithful to His faithful.
Eye for an eye: In Ex.21:24 this first appears as God gives Moses instructions for governing the Israelites. This is the Old Testament - the Old Covenant with the Israelite people. Jesus brought a New Testament and taught in Mt.5:38 & 39 that you are now to turn the other cheek. The old covenant of law has been replaced with the new covenant of grace through Jesus. God's amazing grace.
To be loved by God is to be safe, provided for, at peace, confident, worry free and happy. No one can love like the Creator of time and space, stars and suns, wind and the very atoms that comprise all things.
Story: There was a scientist who came to God and declared, "We can now create life in the laboratory. I am like you." God replies, "Is that so? Let's just prove your claim." The scientist agreed they would each create a human being. When the scientist reached down to gather the dirt to begin his creation, God stopped him and said, "Oh no you don't. Go get your own dirt."
Challenge: I dare you to disprove God or Jesus. Throughout history, every time someone sets out to disprove His existence, they either come to believe in Him or give up in frustration. Go ahead; I dare you - actual proof.
You
ask me for proof of His existence? I point you to the Bible - a
perfect puzzle where all the pieces fit and the old reveals the new and
the new proves the old. I point you to the man of Jesus; perfect,
without sin (Heb.9:14, IPe.1:19). It was very important in the Old
Covenant that all sacrifices be "without blemish". He began a movement
that has lasted 2,000 years and survived wars and persecution all that
time just to flourish stronger than ever. No other movement or religion
in the world has with stood such opposition. I fear I have strayed from the subject of love.
See
God as the perfect father. He loves you so much that He wants to give
you everything that is good for you. Being a good father, who knows you
from your beginning, He knows what is best for you. He knows if you
touch the hot stove, you will get burned. That's why He has rules; just
like you give your kids - because you LOVE them. If you did not grow
up with a concerned father, surrender to God and find out what the
perfect father can be: never leave you, protect you, guide, discipline,
provide every need, teach, listen and care. Experience His perfect
love.Then, consider the ultimate. Having a son that you adore. This perfect being is your absolute joy but to save all of His bad siblings, this child must be punished severely and tortured to death. Oh, how He loves you and me.
Deut.5:10, Jdgs.5:31, Ps.119:132, Jn.14:23
Time demands I move on with my day. Think on these things and come back. We'll share some more.
Amen
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