Is God Angry at Me?

Q: I grew up believing that it didn’t take much to make God angry at me, and that I always needed to be on my best behavior or He’d punish me. But my friend says I’m wrong, and that God loves us and treats us gently and with kindness no matter what we do. Who is right? — Mrs. L.T.

A: In reality you both are partly right — and you both are also partly wrong! Let me explain.

On one hand, you have understood a very important truth about God: He is absolutely holy and perfect, and sin is an offense to Him. The reason is because when we sin, we are actually rebelling against Him and telling Him we don’t want anything to do with Him — and nothing could be more serious. When the prophet Isaiah was given a vision of God’s holiness, the Bible says he cried out, “Woe to me! … I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5).

But your friend is also right when she says that God loves us — for He does! The proof is that He sent His Son into the world to give His life for our sins. Would He have done that if He didn’t love us? Of course not.

Listen: God isn’t a vengeful, angry God (as you seem to picture Him). Nor is He so kind and gentle that He never intervenes when we sin or hurt others (as your friend seems to believe). Instead, He loves us and wants to come into our lives, to cleanse us of our sins and make us more like Jesus. By faith ask Christ to come into your life today. Then begin seeing God as He really is, by making the truth of His Word, the Bible, part of your life every day.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.