Maharlikan Times

                                                         By David Casuco

A reader sent me an e-mail over the weekend asking a couple of questions: “Does God punish people? How could a God of love do that?”

My answer: “Because God is just and righteous. His being just and righteous is an integral part of who He is. Yes, He is also a God of wrath.”

I thought that was my best shot. Actually, God’s wrath is not an easy subject to talk about. Even some people who have expanded theological studies find it very uncomfortable discussing God’s wrath. A lot of churches steer clear preaching God’s wrath from the pulpit simply because it is difficult to talk about.

Christian author and exegete Tony Evans thinks it is necessary to also preach this side of God. He said that any discussion of God’s character that does not include his characteristic called wrath is an incomplete study “because one of the very real inescapable truths about our great God is that He is a God of wrath…Of course, God is good, kind, loving and forgiving. But if you put a period there, you haven’t got the complete story.”

We can trace God’s wrath through the pages of biblical history. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were driven away from paradise. And during the days of Noah when the earth was filled with corruption and violence, God destroyed the world with a flood. Then, 101 years later after the flood, the people got together again to build a monument to man at Babel. God’s wrath intervened the plan with confusion of tongues. The wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah vanished from the face of the earth by the fierce wrath of God and Korah and his followers who, rebelled against Moses, were swallowed by the earth in another mighty show of God’s wrath.

And what about the eternal wrath a.k.a. known as hell?

 People dismiss the notion that hell is real; and for good reason. The mere thought of an everlasting torment is horrible enough. A friend was telling me last week that there is one scary video on YouTube that features a person who had a sort of gone "to hell and back" experience. His question for me: IS THIS TRUE?

I thought, "Holy Lord give me the right answer to this wretched fellow."

Then I started by asking, "Who was this guy who went 'to hell and back' again?"
"Parang isang church leader. Nakakatakot talaga ang kwento n'ya. (Like a church leader. His narrative is so scary)
"Do you have a few minutes, I will show you something," I said.
He pulled a chair as I logged in to bible.com
"Now you have to consider that the guy who is onYouTube doing hell-talks is just a human being. Would you believe if the one talking about hell is God himself?"
"Of course," he replied without hesitation.
"You got it. Here let me show you what Jesus our Lord and Savior has to say about hell," I said, as I searched the bible website for Luke 16:19-31 with the Lord lifting the veil of the corners of eternity to allow us to take a peck at both sides.

Here it goes: “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
 “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

“And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (KJV).”

Consider: The man who is in hell also calls Abraham father... 
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 Send your reaction to davidlvnow@l.com

       Submission to God's will can be undermined as we rely on our strength. It is also possible to rely on the other substitutes for God.

       When some people feel depressed, they go shopping for something to make them happy. When they feel inadequate, they pursue fame. When others have difficulties  with their spouse, they look for someone else to give them intimacy and excitement.

       Many of the things we use can relieve the pressure, but they do not necessarily solve the problem nor teach us how to handle the situation better the next time. Only supernatural help from God can do that.

        The problem is that many times we try to depend on substitutes that we may use instead of God himself.

Here are three substitutes that we may use instead of God:

1.Using human logic or past experience when we need divine solution.

2. Blocking problems from our minds when we need divine solution.

3. Escaping reality and avoiding God when we need communion with God for divine power.

       Zechariah helps us to focus on what really matters when we are tempted to use substitutes.  After many years away, the exiles had finally returned from Babylon and immediately began to rebuild the temple.

       But, there was an incredible amount of opposition to this (some background can be found in Ezra 4 - 6). So, Zechariah came with this message of encouragement to Zerubabbbel, who was leading the work.

       God did not prevent the opposition to the temple nor spare Zerubabbel from the street of dealing with it. And God will not always protect us from opposition. But, when opposition comes, God may use it as a crucible to teach us to depend on Him.

        When stress comes, what is your first reaction? Food? Television? Prayer? Submission to God? What does your answer tell you about yourself and the things you need to learn or to change?(SSG) 

To comment on this, send your message by e-mail at prayerline@maharlikantimes.com.