There are occasions when I have to touch on certain topics here, that I find myself hesitant, even reluctant to do so; and it has nothing to do with being concerned how people will perceive me, maybe thinking I’ve started to ‘lose it’. It’s the subject matter itself that I want them to fully understand in a balanced and biblical manner. Then I have to remind myself that I provide understanding to no one; that is the job of the Holy Spirit to do when it comes to God’s word. All I can do is share it with you...So....let’s dive in...

We’ve all heard about those times when well-known celebrities, public figures, or politicians find themselves needing to hire PR experts to come in and assist on ‘repairing their public image’. This usually happens after some unfortunate blunder or moral failing on their part has occurred, which can spread like wildfire in this era of social media. But let’s be clear about one thing:

God has never needed, nor will He ever need to change His image and/or ‘publica persona’, because He is all together perfect and has no need to ‘improve’. Scripture has made this clear in that He is the ‘same yesterday, today, and forever; He simply does not change. (Heb. 13:8; Mal. 3:6) And please note that we are foolish if/when we try and ‘separate’ the God of the OT from the God of the NT (new testament). He is the One and the same.

Now... try convincing untold numbers of preachers of that these days.

Who knew God was in such dire need of a ‘makeover’ in attempt to shed that ‘angry deity’ reputation that followed Him throughout Old Testament history? I mean, really...floods, and fire and brimstone raining down on cities? No wonder we have those 400 ‘silent years’ in-between the last book of the OT and the arrival of Jesus as recorded in the four gospels, which opens up the New Testament. You’d think God had to check Himself into some anger-management rehab clinic, in order to make the message Jesus was to deliver to us more palatable for our souls.

But in today’s marketing mindset culture, if you want to grow a large, thriving church, you have to give the public what they want, or so we are told. I’ve read over the years on more than one occasion where church ‘planters’ will go in and canvas neighborhoods to get a ‘read’ on what people are looking for and needing from a church before they even begin starting one. I’ll just leave it at that...and you can think whatever you want about that practice. (2 Tim. 4:1-5)

I will tell you who has suffered greatly in the process though – God’s people have. (Hosea 4:6; Jer. 13:17) And just what is this missing ‘knowledge’ that Hosea speaks of? I would submit to you it has to do with the ‘wrath of God’ that has been, and continues to be on the earth today, and will only increase in the future. (John 3:36; Rom. 1:18; Matt. 3:7; Eph. 5:6)

So what exactly is...’wrath’? That might be a good place to start. And as we study this from the pages of our Bibles, please keep this helpful ‘hint’ in mind, especially as we look back into the Old Testament. There can be ‘layers’ of understanding and application when we read through these stories that go all the way back to creation in the book of Genesis. When I say ‘layers’, I am referring to the literal application and ‘surface’ meaning to what we read, as well as 'spiritual' and 'personal' applications. This is not about trying to ‘spiritualize’ everything or ‘replace’ anything we read in those OT stories either. For example:

Noah’s ark was not just some metaphor used to portray a dramatic, fictional story where a lesson is to be learned. Noah was real, he built that ark in response to God’s leading and a literal flood destroyed the world at that time, while he, his family, and a ‘boat load’ of animals escaped the judgment brought on the face of the planet...by God Himself. (Gen. 6-9). But...there are ‘spiritual layers’ and/or lessons to be applied when you get over into the New Testament that have relevant application to NT believers today.

Jesus referred to the ‘days of Noah’ when He explained what His imminent return would look like, comparing those days as being similar (Matt. 24:37-40; Luke 17:26-27). And so much of what we come to read in the NT basically says...that those who are ‘In Christ’ (or ‘in the ark’) are the ones who will be ‘saved’, as they have become a ‘new creation’ .... ”IF”... indeed, they are ‘in Christ’. (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 2:3-6; Matt. 7:21). Do you ‘see it’? To ‘be In Christ’...is to be ‘in the ark’, where we find safety and refuge from an imminent ‘flood’ that is coming. What did Jesus teach was going to test our foundations in Matt. 7:24-27?

And when we read in the OT about ‘floods’ being a form of God’s ‘wrath’, keep in mind there is a ‘spiritual layer’ or application to that as well as it relates to us today. Also, we read in the OT how God often used the neighboring ‘enemies’ of His people to bring judgment or ‘punishment’ upon them...because of their disobedience, remember... our ‘enemies’ today are NOT...’flesh and blood’. Both Paul and Peter, make this quite clear as to who/what our ‘enemy’ is- (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:12). So is it not insightful when Isaiah uses the language he does in describing how the ‘enemy comes in like a... flood’? (Isa. 59:19)

You might also jot down and look up Ezek. 13:13, Hosea 5:10, Nahum 1:8 and Rev. 12:15; making note as to ‘who’ the source of this ‘flood’ is in that passage from Revelation. All I am wanting to do is lay out some ‘puzzle pieces’ here before we allow the Holy Spirit to begin ‘constructing’ this picture for anyone who ‘has ears to hear and eyes to see’.

Look at Luke 17:27 now and underline what He said this ‘flood’ did, and ‘will do’. Did your Bible say the flood ‘destroyed’ them all? And in John 10:10, what do we learn the ‘thief comes to do’? Does your Bible say he comes to ‘steal, kill, and...destroy’? Just who do you think the ‘thief’ is that Jesus speaks of there?

Hopefully, we all understand the basic definition of the word ‘wrath’; which means: ‘anger’, with adjectives like ‘intense’ or ‘fervent’ sometimes preceding it. Would you now look up Psalms 78:49-50 and let it be another ‘piece of our puzzle’ here. Tomorrow, we can continue on with this study....Lord willing (James 4:15)