I remember being asked years ago, when I was pastoring a church in NE Texas: “Are you a ‘fire and brimstone’ preacher? (The person who asked me had never heard me preach before) That gave me pause, because I don’t think I ever ‘fit that bill’ when it comes to how a lot of folks perceive what that even means...to be a ‘fire and brimstone’ preacher. And believe me, there are many in the body of Christ, usually older folks these days, who have ‘fond’ memories of growing up and 'appreciating a good fiery message on hell’. To be honest, I’m not sure if I can even fully understand people like that.

I could be wrong, but it’s my understanding that using a lot of volume with borderline ‘theatrics’ to paint a horrifying scene where people are being cast in to an eternal lake of fire where they will be in torment forever, separated from God, may not really be that ‘effective’ ... in the long run. No doubt many have been scared into running to church altars in an emotional response to escape such a horror, but what remains to be seen is how ‘effective’ or lasting is that ‘commitment’ to turn to God after the ‘emotions’ settle back to normal, which they usually do?

Does the name Johnathan Edwards, ring a bell for anyone? (famous sermon titled ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’ was quite the talk back in the 1700’s). No...I don’t see myself as a ‘fire and brimstone’ preacher/teacher trying to scare anyone into doing anything. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the importance of having a ‘healthy’ fear of God which comes from understanding that there really is ‘another side of God’ that many avoid teaching on, which happens to be... His ‘severity’.

Paul wrote...”behold the goodness and the ‘severity’ (or harshness) of God...warning we might experience the latter if we did not continue to walk in His goodness (Rom. 11:19-22). Trust me...there was good reason why ‘great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things’, as mentioned in Acts 5:5,11; 2:43. And there is a little bit more to that aspect of ‘fear’ than the comfortable phrase we  default to using ...‘reverential awe’.

Allow me to share with you how I perceive what my role has been these past 3-4 years with all these daily postings I share here. Yes, I understand many today are still ‘scarred, skewed, and skeptical’ over what transpired during the ‘Covid pandemic’, so it may still be ‘too soon’ to use this example, but it’s the best I got. So... if I worked for the CDC during a time when a deadly pathogen had been released into the general population and was spreading like wildfire, I might be of the mindset that while this ‘virus’ could not be stopped, no matter how hard we tried...but there were steps and actions we could do to protect ourselves...then I would work tirelessly and diligently in trying to educate the public at large as to what steps they needed to take to ‘stay alive’.

Now translate that example into a ‘spiritual’ application where it’s not a deadly ‘bug’ or pathogen at work in the population today that I am working to ‘educate’ you on, but it is the ‘wrath of God’ that is on the earth, primarily because of ‘sin’ that is widespread, and Jesus came to ‘save’ us from that wrath. (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 5:9; John 3:17) Why are so many of God’s people today...still getting their ‘lunch eaten’? (Hosea 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:8; John 5:14)

I do realize that there are ‘experiences’ we can have that might ‘spark’ a genuine ‘fear of God’ in us, that may get our attention, but were you aware that the ‘fear of God ‘ is something we need to be ‘taught’? (Ps. 34:11; Deut. 4:10). Go mark that passage in Deut. 4:10 now, and then follow up with 5:29. And it is through hearing the word of God that we come to understand and appreciate the ‘fear of God’ which... is lacking today (Rom. 3:18).

I would submit to you that the reason we don’t have a ‘heathy’ understanding and appreciation for the ‘fear of God’ is because we’ve not been taught about the ‘wrath of God’, which honestly...most think of it in future terms when we speak of God’s wrath...as being ‘poured out’ during the ‘Great Tribulation’ where countless numbers of souls will end up in the ‘lake of fire’ with Satan and his angels (Matt. 25:41; 7:23; Rev. 21:8) (or maybe all those OT stories that illustrate God's wrath 'way back then'.)

Friends...here’s another *news flash* for us: God’s wrath is already here, on the earth today. In fact, John wrote that whoever does not believe in the Son, the wrath of God remains on him already (John 3:36).

And look what Paul wrote as he opened up with his letter to the Romans. “The wrath of God IS revealed...from heaven...against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...” (1:18). Would you please note that Paul did NOT say this wrath: ‘will be... revealed at some future point in time’. He is writing in the present tense. Please also note...there is no asterisk * next to the word ‘all ungodliness’ with a footnote adding- ‘unless you have accepted Christ as Savior’.

In both of his letters to the church at Ephesus and Colossae, he warns them to let no one ‘deceive them with empty words...but that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience’ who carry on in the fashion of living according to the flesh (Eph. 5:3-6; Col. 3:5-8). Oh, but you are a ‘child of God’ you say...and not a ‘son of disobedience’? Then it’s safe to say you are ‘born of God’ and are abiding in Him and...’no longer sin’, yes? (1 John 3:6-9; 5:18; 1 Pet. 1:14-17; 4:1-2; Gal. 5:24)

It's time to review once again, maybe in more detail...as to what the ‘wrath’ of God actually is. I’ll give you a hint: think in terms of a ‘deadly pathogen’, but ‘spiritual’ in nature.

I’ll meet you here tomorrow, Lord willing.