We hear a lot today about the God of Love. Certainly, this is a marvelous truth and one that we as Christians can truly rejoice in. When I try to think of God’s infinite love that He bestowed on a wretched sinner like me, it truly boggles my mind. The love of God surpasses the depth of the worst of man’s depravity. May we never underestimate God’s love in any way!
However, as much as God is love, He also is equally just and holy. To promote his love at the expense of His justice and holiness is to take a most dangerous path that will surely lead to eternal destruction.
In Isaiah 57:15, we read, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place," Throughout the Bible, God’s holiness is often placed even above His infinite love. Read such passages as Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." The seraphims declare his Holiness throughout heaven – not His love.
In Psalms 22:1, David (speaking prophetically for Jesus Christ) wrote, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Then in verse 3, the answer comes back why God had forsaken His only begotten Son. "But thou art holy, …"
The reason Jesus Christ suffered and died was to satisfy God’s holiness. When Jesus took upon Himself the form of a man, He took our sins upon Himself. He became sin in our stead. When He became sin, God’s holiness demanded that Jesus Christ pay the penalty for those sins. That penalty was to suffer the equivalent of the eternal hell for everyone who would repent of their sins and believe on Him as their Lord and Saviour. Part of that penalty was to be forsaken by His own Father.
We live in a time when many religions like to preach a religion of love, love, love. Some churches will not preach anything that might upset a person. We want people to "feel good" when they come to church. We don’t want to "bother" them with the matter of any sin. To preach against any kind of sin (other than a very generic sin) might upset people so we tell them about God’s love and how "God has a plan for their lives" if they will just follow it.
While it certainly is true that God does have a plan for their lives, that plan is that if they don’t sincerely repent of their sin before a holy and just God and they die without believing on Him as their personal Lord and Saviour, they most certainly will spend eternity in an eternal lake of fire. This does not destroy God’s love by any means. It does place His love in the right perspective. God’s love will be shown after His holiness and justice have been satisfied. That was accomplished on Calvary for those who will receive it.
People may ignore God’s holiness but that won’t change the facts.
