Where’s the Wrath?

This quarantine isn’t really bothering me. Let’s face it, I’m a stay-at-home mom, author, blogger, and have plenty to do within these walls every day (I do have four kiddos after all). I’ve been feeling a bit left out, though, and it has nothing to do with social distancing. Other than the looks of horror when I cough in the toilet paper isle at the store, my kids having an extended spring break (all the way through summer break), and social media having one topic, I’m not experiencing a big change from my normal day-to-day. I’m more of an introvert anyway, so social distancing is kind of a dream come true!

I pulled out one of my 1000-piece puzzles, just to try to get in the mindset of those getting fidgety with the quarantine, but it didn’t work. Books? I do weekly book reviews, so that wasn’t working either. Nerf gun wars are a regular indoor event (really long winters), so not really anything new. Perhaps I should self-quarantine from Facebook. No one is talking about much of anything except for Covid19, toilet paper, and home school 101 tips. Some of the memes I’ve been seeing on Facebook are pretty funny, or at least chuckle-worthy. Others are politically slanted with a few coming across as downright hateful. Then there are the “religious” posts. Most are to uplift and encourage, but some are posted out of fear and ignorance. I usually just shake my head and keep on scrolling. Other times, enough is enough.

I’m not interested in the comment battles that leave people with “righteous anger” and filled with a feeling that is far from love. That’s not appealing in the least. I once did the the whole Covid19 dance number when it came to a belief that didn’t line up with what I knew to be true from God’s Word: I’d socially distance myself, spray disinfectant, hand-sanitize every inch of skin, and use a hazmat suit when leaving my home. Then something changed. Our family was getting ready to go to a dedication for my nephew and it was being held at a church that we had once attended. We had left because they repeatedly taught that God’s grace wasn’t sufficient and that God was angry with us. My thought was, “Why go? We can send a gift for my nephew; he won’t know the difference.” My husband’s response a bit more mature: “People of grace extend grace and operate in grace.” Wow.

Needless to say, we attended my nephew’s dedication. Instead of being greeted with a “Hey! Great to see you!” we were greeted with a “Wow! What are you doing here?” We could have been snarky with our response (sometimes it seems I can’t help myself), but we responded in grace. God’s grace is what allows us to operate in grace. But what does God’s grace have to do with these memes I was talking about? Well, I’m going to show them as “Exhibit A” and “Exhibit B” to show that a mixed-grace message is pouring through social medias.

When I say “mixed-grace” it means “saved by grace and kept by self-effort.” There are many Christians that have been taught they’re saved by grace through faith: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) No argument from me. But then they’re given a “but”. They’re told they’re saved by God’s grace, but they better not put a toe out of line or they’ll lose their salvation/sanctification/fellowship. Notice there’s not scripture to back that up.

I know that scripture does not contradict scripture, leaving us wondering which is true. That being said, I do not toss out scripture because it doesn’t “fit” or it was intended for a different audience. All scripture has a place and time for being appropriate. Take the book of Hebrews for example. The people that book of the Bible was written for were Hebrews, not Gentiles. Can Gentiles benefit from the wealth of truths found there? Absolutely! “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) Now, let’s get into Exhibit A and Exhibit B.

Exhibit A reflects II Chronicles 7:13-14, a portion of God talking to Solomon upon the completion of the Lord’s temple. There are many truths that we can learn from this passage. This shows God’s message to Solomon was chalk full of “do this or else” or “to avoid my wrath, stay in line.” This is a pretty clear picture of what it was like for God’s people… before Jesus. Not to be too snarky, but aren’t we living in a covenant after Jesus? YES! And what kind of covenant is this? PEACE.

“‘To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you…. ‘If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.” Isaiah 54:9-10 & 15 (NIV)

This prophesy from the book of Isaiah is regarding what it would be like after the sacrifice of Jesus. In the chapters leading up to Isaiah 54, we get a detailed account of what Jesus went through, why He went through it, and what was accomplished. Here’s just a portion, but I urge you to read chapters 52 through 54.

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)

This is, again, a prophesy. The same message, fulfilling the prophesy, is also found throughout the New Testament: He made one sacrifice. For all sin. For the whole world. And there is now peace between us and the Creator.

“Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Hebrews 7:27 (NIV)

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'” John 1:29 (NIV)

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:2 (NIV)

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…” Colossians 1:19-22 (NIV)

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 4:25, 5:1-2 (NIV)

Just to be clear, this means that sin is not an issue between us and God. We are forgiven of all sin! “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NIV) We have peace.

Now for Exhibit B and wrapping up Exhibit A as well (I promise I will not be as long-winded). Notice the quotations that insinuate that God did this – He shut down stadiums, theaters, the economy, and even churches – as if God actually said those words and authored this evil. Show me where I can find it in scripture, because if it’s not in scripture, it should not be written as if it is.

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV)

Remember that Jesus went to the cross and took our place as the condemned so that we could have the fullness of His benefits. “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” John 1:16 (NIV) One blessing after another… Due to recent events, people are afraid, schools are cancelled, people are out of work, and churches and communities suffer. Why would God cause harm to the outreaches that are furthering His kingdom? Furthermore, if we’re in a covenant of peace with God, why would He bring about that which we’ve been told He rescued us from (His wrath)? If we’re under the impression that these current events are brought about by God as judgment/anger/wrath, what was the point of Jesus dying on the cross? Did Jesus die for nothing? Was the sacrifice not enough?

Satan has made it his practice to distort the Word of God. He did it with Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:1-5), and he did it with Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV) We’ve already seen in scripture that the devil will twist words and scriptures in an effort to steal, kill, and destroy that which God loves. As evidenced in Exhibit A and B, that has not changed. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8 (NIV)

God is so over-the-top good that there are no words that can describe it. I challenge you to spend this time of quarantine getting into God’s Word, allow yourself to quiet the noise so you can hear Him talking to you. When you see memes and Facebook posts, view them through the lens of the covenant of peace that Jesus paid dearly for. Listen to the news with the same filter and rest in that which was graciously given. When Jesus died on the cross, paying the debt our sin created, God’s wrath was fully satisfied.

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30 (NIV)