Holy and righteous indignation against sin, that is what the wrath of God is, and it is what rests upon all those who do not call Jesus Christ Lord. (John 3:36)
Give some thought to these words, ponder them as you see those in the world around you that are going about their daily lives, to and from work, attending birthday parties and social gatherings, enjoying meals and companionship with each other, doing things human beings have been doing for thousands of years now, going about the business of life. We expect blessings from the Lord our God, He has promised them to those who call His Son Lord, contentment with what He has blessed us with is one of the greatest challenges the born-again believer faces, for what we have rarely seems to be enough, and many still live in fear that He will take away those items from them. Destitute is not a word that can be applied to the follower of Christ, where we are, if we are following Him, is where He wants us to be, but the lost do not know these blessings, they seek for contentment around every corner, each day brings the opportunity and challenges for them to find happiness and fulfillment, and they fail to look to the One who has provided all for everyone.
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” (Psalm 2:1) Because they are unfulfilled, because they are in a constant state of searching for a purpose, an enduring, lasting reason for their existence. They have learned that when they have attained a goal, when they have reached the satisfaction of experience, when that thing they desired has been provided for them, they want more, and they will realize one day that life in this world has never really provided what they were truly looking for. This is the vain thing in part that they have imagined, the item they have worshipped their entire life was nothing more than a fanciful imagination of what should have been, what could have been, and as they look around at their lives, the accumulation of goods and worldly possessions, the accomplishments of their endeavors, all in this life they have attained to, they will see more, a hunger and thirst that could never be filled, not in a hundred lifetimes. They will become vessels fitted for wrath, (Romans 9:22) and they will realize at that moment that the wrath of God had been upon them their entire lives.
Is it not ironic that those that the wrath of God abides on we are commanded to love, that those our Lord calls wicked (Prov. 24:19) and perverse (Prov. 28:18) we are commanded to love. These go about their lives every day, giving no thought whatsoever to Him whom we ponder and contemplate the entire day through, believing themselves to be the master and designer of their fate, worshipping the creature continually instead of the creator. (Romans 1:25) How does our Lord show these individuals His love, how does He let them know of His great care and concern for those that His wrath abides on, His Holy indignation against their sinful unbelief?
Many times He removes from them those things that they cherish so much, He takes from them what they have strived so long and hard to attain. Almighty God has written eternity into their hearts, in every human being ever born, (Eccl. 3:11) “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20) and since He is merciful beyond all imaginations, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the LORD God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (Eze. 18:23) He will give every single person alive the opportunity to repent and come to Him for salvation. Wars, famines, plagues, pestilence, these are not only the calling cards of Almighty God upon His chosen ones, but they are blessings upon the lost, the opportunities to turn from their sins, to lay aside their rebellious natures, and begin to serve Him whom eventually all will serve.
There is a place of pain, suffering, and hopelessness that has been prepared for the devil and his angels, for those who will not call Jesus Christ Lord of their lives, it is not going to be prepared, it is there now, waiting to be filled and then closed forever. Those who believe and even teach that there is a way of escape from this inevitable conclusion that awaits all the lost are deceived and deceiving many, those who teach and preach that there is another door to heaven besides Jesus Christ are those that the wrath of God abides on, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7) Those who do not believe now, will believe soon, every single soul that has departed this earth, whether they abide in heaven or hell knows one fact for sure, Jesus Christ is Lord, only those here on earth still doubt, still hold to the lie that He does not exist, that if He does they are good enough, that they have lived a life that will allow them entrance into His kingdom.
The lost, both those who do not seek Christ in their daily lives, and those who only profess Him only with their lips, (Matt. 15:8) are those we are commanded to love, these that the wrath of God abides on are those we are to seek out and show the truth to. We are not to differentiate between the murderer and the kindly old gentleman, we are not to withhold the grace, mercy, and truth that we have been given to any, the truth must be spoken, if you do not accept Jesus Christ as Lord, no matter how evil or good you have been, the wrath of God not only abides on you now, but will with great fury for all eternity.
The love of God by the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the born-again believer is the only way this can happen; we do not carry this level of concern and compassion within us for them of ourselves. We know their end, we know the lost state they are in, we are to be ambassadors for God, we are commanded to go, to warn, to love. The obedient servants of Christ are doing this, not just contemplating this command, not spending their lives trying to be “better” for Christ. Does our Lord desire sacrifice or obedience? (1 Sam. 15:22)