Does God Hate The Wicked ?
Southaven, Ms
By: Mike Upchurch
We live in a world that seems to be filled with vile and wicked people. There are so many in the Media who are consumed with hatred for President Trump and his supporters. Many of them have been caught over and again telling lies in attempts to justify their hatred. We have politicians who are filled with hate as well. We have the Hollywood elite regularly spewing filth with no conscience whatsoever. We have terrorists and terrorist organizations who routinely take the lives of innocent people. We have perverted men and women who sexually abuse children and assist others in doing the same. We have a culture filled with violence, murder, and perversion. It’s more than a heart can stand at times.
Many us of have used the phrase “righteous indignation” in justifying our own anger or disgust concerning the wicked men and women of our day. But does the Lord feel the same way as we do concerning the wicked? Does He hate them? Is He just patiently waiting to destroy them all? Certainly there are some verses that might indicate that in the Old Testament. After all, there was the Great Flood.
But honestly, we live in the Dispensation of Grace. Everything changed when Jesus came. Let’s look at the New Testament and see what has changed since Jesus died for mankind, bringing mercy to all who would receive it. Look first at what Peter wrote…..
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for ALL to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Paul echoed the same sentiment…..
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”1 Timothy 2:3-4
All means ALL! God doesn’t want to send His creation to Hell. It’s not His desire to punish people! As a matter of fact it breaks His heart to see His creation reject His love, thus incurring punishment. He sent Jesus to deliver EVERYONE from sin. In the book of Luke, Jesus stood in the Temple and read from the book of Isaiah explaining why the Father sent Him…..
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord”Luke 4:18-19
When He said “release to the captives”, He meant those who had been held prisoner in their sins by the devil.
Well, if God desires that everyone be saved, then you might ask this question; “Why did God create Hell?” Well actually, it was meant to be a final place of judgement reserved for satan and the fallen angels that followed him. I don’t personally feel God ever wanted to ultimately send His children to that horrible place. That is EXACTLY why He sent His son to die for us. He wanted to give everyone an opportunity to be saved.
There’s a very interesting comment Paul made in his letter to Timothy…..
“For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”1 Timothy 4:10
The Savior of ALL men. Even wicked and vile and perverted men and women can be saved! He doesn’t exclude anyone!
Still, there are people who WILL go to Hell. Anyone who doesn’t except Jesus as there Savior will be sent to an eternal place of torment reserved for satan. And that breaks God’s heart. And it should break ours too.
My prayer is that people who have been the most wicked in our society; serial killers, mass murderers, terrorists, child molesters and others, will hopefully all have an opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved before they pass from this life. But if they don’t accept Jesus, please remember that God didn’t send them to Hell; they sent themselves by rejecting His eternal salvation! And that can even apply to lukewarm Christians who tend to harbor sin unchecked in their lives. Read Jesus’ warning in Revelation…..
“‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”Revelation 3:15-18.
Don’t be among the wicked who end up in eternal torment! Confess your sins and turn back to God!
In summary, no God doesn’t hate the wicked. He loves ALL His creation. Remember John 3:16…..
“For God so loved the WORLD….” that’s ALL of us!
But He DOES hate wickedness and sin though. And it will be punished. Jesus’ death on the cross has satisfied the wrath of God for now, but unconfessed unrepentant sin will still be punished. We must strive to ensure that all people understand this and confess their sins, escaping that punishment!
And that’s the way I see it!
Pastor Mike
