by David Brenneman
Last night's conversation with someone prompted me to explain a person's behavior as evil. That THAT type of person is the kind to lift a fist at God in anger at not getting what they wanted out of life, at their way of living not being acceptable to God.
God knows our hearts.
The Scriptures say that it's the Lord Jesus Christ who searches the hearts of mankind.
I often wonder where my dreams come from that I dream at night. Wonder where daydreams come from and why they are the way they are.
People who rage at God don't consider the truth of God because their anger at not getting their way is in the way.
We read "You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20 NASB
We read in Revelation that people would rather the mountains fall on them than to repent and turn to the living God.
Those who live with rage in their hearts are indeed never going to like standing before Jesus to kneel and confess that He is Lord and they are not.
Many, every single day, wake up in Hell in shock and surprise. Many are crying because they thought their lives were good enough. Many are enraged at God because they lived a life of denial at His truth.
All who are there are paying for their own sins. It's painful torment awaiting those who go there. We read in what Jesus described of it that it certainly is NOT some form of paradise for those who have rejected Him. That's in Luke 16:19-31 NASB "“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, enjoying himself in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed from the scraps which fell from the rich man’s table; not only that, the dogs also were coming and licking his sores. Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set, so that those who want to go over from here to you will not be able, nor will any people cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I request of you, father, that you send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not come to this place of torment as well.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”"
This man had it all. He pursued success as the world saw it. He had no care for those beneath him. He also thought his life had amounted to something significant. He also never expected to end up where he was. Think long and hard about that point. Millions show up in Hell every day never expecting to wake up there. While those in Heaven wake up to see Jesus's face for the first time.
It's a no-win scenario between our will and God's Will. Jesus said in teaching His Disciples how to pray "thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven".
People will try excuses with Jesus as to why they shouldn't be in Hell. They will blame circumstances and blame others. Will blame the time period they were born in. Blame will go everywhere but themselves. Jesus is sovereign. Jesus is King. Jesus is Lord of all creation. Jesus calls the shots. It's His Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven to the glory of God the Father. He went through what He did to obey His Father. He went through it to save people FROM the wrath of God. FROM the evil of self. FROM Hell. FROM all that sin entices us to do. Salvation is in no other name given to men under Heaven.
By being obedient, even to the point of death, Jesus Christ has the right given by His Father to rule and reign. He has the power and all authority. At the end of the age when all His enemies are dealt with He will give it all to His Father.
Raging at God gets you nothing.
Raging at Jesus gets you nothing.
There IS a plan for humanity.
In Christ Jesus we who are saved by Jesus have a role and responsibility in that plan.
He is returning. Until that day people will still, albeit sadly, reject Jesus. After He returns and removes the Church of God, the wrath of God will come by way of a series of judgments. Yet most of mankind that will go through it will still rage at God. They will still not turn and repent.
You find raging people easily enough on social media. In the news. News outlets love capturing people in the throws of rage and anger. To say it like they believe: if it bleeds it leads. The more gruesome the better for ratings. They care not at the truth, it's as said in a famous movie, it's the truth with a twist.
Satan lost at the cross.
Satan will still try to fight every single word written in the Bible.
Satan cares not for who ends up in Hell. He knows He will never see Hell. He's never been there. He knows what it is.
Satan doesn't want a single soul to enter into Heaven.
Satan doesn't want a soul to turn to Jesus Christ and be saved.
Satan wants those who have come to Christ to be silent and be self-serving.
Satan wants to keep those who are Believers to keep to themselves.
He wants rage to take place because those who stay enraged do not think clearly.
Ever notice that when God stops a raging person in their tracks that clarity of mind happens?
People rage at God all the time, often just not out loud. They get mad at God for taking someone from them. For ending relationships. For allowing hardship.
My Friend don't do that. We are all here for a reason. Believers who remain have a purpose in life to still reach someone else for Christ. Those taken from this world are removed because Jesus said so. Their contributions to mankind are no longer needed for His will to be done or those people have no chance at salvation because He knows they will never accept Him. Their rage and or hardened heart won't allow Jesus's gift of salvation to be accepted.
Raging at God gets nobody anywhere.
There's a time and place for righteous anger. It's for a specific reason for a specific duration. It's not to persist.
Be sure it's right for you to engage in it before you go there. We aren't to even let the sun set while we are still angry.
Pray and turn over situations to Jesus.
You who are in Christ are to be lights in the world. But remember that THE Light is Jesus Christ. The world hated His exposing their deeds with His Light for their deeds were evil. The world isn't going to like having their evil exposed by you either.
If you've come this far in reading and are struggling with being angry at God...Dear Reader...please stop and ask Jesus to help you. To come to Christ to be saved and turn that anger over to Him to deal with.
You were meant for more in this life.
You were created for a loving relationship with Jesus.
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