The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 2:16b,
"In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last."
What this wrath was that came upon those who opposed the gospel message must have been horrific. I have this feeling that God seldom performs "moderate" feats, but appears to me in the Scriptures as one who moves in bright bold colors, high intensity, peak passion. As an example, look what took place when Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:45-54. Just reading it takes my breath away.
In any event, those who opposed the proclamation of the gospel in Thessalonica found there is a terrible price to pay for opposing God. Paul says they heaped up their sins "to the limit" in their efforts to keep Paul from sharing the gospel with their fellow countrymen. Now they have had God's wrath fall upon them.
As we read our Bibles we discover the purpose of this life is to populate God's family for all eternity. New humans are created in this life, not in the next. Those who come into this life are to be evangelized so that as many as will embrace Jesus Christ in faith are welcomed into his family. John 1:12. God is building his family, his kingdom. This life is like the obstetrics ward in a hospital, we are here to bring new life into being. This life's purpose is to build a kingdom, a family for God. This is why all life is sacred. Life has its purpose as found in God's purposes, God's agenda, God's intentions. The taking of human life and the preventing of the proclamation of the gospel are antithetical to why we are here and will certainly invoke God's wrath as Paul speaks of here.
We often think in terms of this life existing for the purposes of what we find important. Nothing could be further from the truth. We didn't put ourselves here, God did. And he did not put us here for what we may find important to us, but for his intentions. Much in this life that we consider important takes a back seat to God's purpose in building his kingdom. If I had become a sports figure, a highly successful business man, an icon in the pop culture, if I earned that degree, etc., all these kinds of things are subordinated to my primary purpose in this life: to build a kingdom for God. I do that by responding to the gospel and helping as many others as I possibly can to do the same.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last."
What this wrath was that came upon those who opposed the gospel message must have been horrific. I have this feeling that God seldom performs "moderate" feats, but appears to me in the Scriptures as one who moves in bright bold colors, high intensity, peak passion. As an example, look what took place when Jesus died on the cross, Matthew 27:45-54. Just reading it takes my breath away.
In any event, those who opposed the proclamation of the gospel in Thessalonica found there is a terrible price to pay for opposing God. Paul says they heaped up their sins "to the limit" in their efforts to keep Paul from sharing the gospel with their fellow countrymen. Now they have had God's wrath fall upon them.
As we read our Bibles we discover the purpose of this life is to populate God's family for all eternity. New humans are created in this life, not in the next. Those who come into this life are to be evangelized so that as many as will embrace Jesus Christ in faith are welcomed into his family. John 1:12. God is building his family, his kingdom. This life is like the obstetrics ward in a hospital, we are here to bring new life into being. This life's purpose is to build a kingdom, a family for God. This is why all life is sacred. Life has its purpose as found in God's purposes, God's agenda, God's intentions. The taking of human life and the preventing of the proclamation of the gospel are antithetical to why we are here and will certainly invoke God's wrath as Paul speaks of here.
We often think in terms of this life existing for the purposes of what we find important. Nothing could be further from the truth. We didn't put ourselves here, God did. And he did not put us here for what we may find important to us, but for his intentions. Much in this life that we consider important takes a back seat to God's purpose in building his kingdom. If I had become a sports figure, a highly successful business man, an icon in the pop culture, if I earned that degree, etc., all these kinds of things are subordinated to my primary purpose in this life: to build a kingdom for God. I do that by responding to the gospel and helping as many others as I possibly can to do the same.
Folks who oppose the purposes of God will pay a horrific price. Positioning oneself as an opponent of God is a foolhardy choice that will certainly bring his wrath. As the writer of Hebrews warns us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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