I love the story about what some guys playing golf one day witnessed.

Ahead of them was a guy having a bad day.  He missed so many shots and just got angrier and angrier the more holes he played.  He had finally had enough, picked up his golf bag, and threw it into a nearby pond, and drove away at top speed.  By the time our next duo reached the area, they saw him coming back.  He stopped by the pond, quickly waded out to his bag, unzipped the side pocket, retrieved his car keys, threw the bag out further into the pond, waded out, climbed into his cart and zoomed off.  What an angry picture that was!

Consider these verses that God has recently brought to my attention:  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…  (Rom.1:18) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (Jn.3:36)  What these verses have in common is God’s “wrath.”

God’s “wrath” is not an angry outburst of emotion — like one who emotionally reacts to a bad golf round.   Instead, His “wrath” is a constant hatred of anything that violates His moral character.

We see here someone who has accepted the righteousness of God in Jesus and “continues to believe” (verb form) in the Son.  That one has eternal life as his present possession (verb tense).  We see another who remains in their unrighteousness, without accepting Jesus’ righteousness, and who “disobeys” or “disbelieves” the Son (who He is / what He requires).  That one does not and will not have life.  Instead they are recipients of the wrath of God.

Let’s all make sure that we are not objects of God’s wrath by our own choice not to follow Jesus.  Instead let’s enjoy the eternal life that is to be our possession right now and live under His righteousness.

Wade