Romans 1:18 (CSB) For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,

God's wrath is something the modern day church does not want to talk about. We want the redemption of Jesus. We love that Jesus came to give men a second chance and a third and a fourth. But at some point God's mercy runs out and He has to punish sin. His punishment can be beneficial for growth (Hebrews 12:5-13). Or it can be eternal punishment. God does not send innocent people to Hell. They choose to disobey God and the end result of disobedience is eternal separation from God. But to choose to obey God results in eternal fellowship with God. The world my hate us. The devil will do all that is in his limited power to stop us, but God will comfort and welcome us home when step into eternity. God has to punish sin, but for the christian who is trying to serve God their punishment was taken up by Jesus on that Friday afternoon before His resurrection the next Sunday.

All too often we take the christian life as a sprint when our perspective needs to change to an endurance race. Yes life will get hard, but over this obstacle is a reward.

 Galatians 6:9 (CSB) Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up.

Let us consider all the things God promises to the person who is victorious to the end.

Revelation 2:7 (HCSB) 7 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God's paradise.

Revelation 2:11 (HCSB) 11 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.

Revelation 2:17 (HCSB) 17 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Revelation 2:26 (HCSB) 26 The one who is victorious and keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations --

Revelation 2:27-28 (HCSB) 27 and he will shepherd them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery -- just as I have received this from My Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star.

Revelation 3:5 (HCSB) 5 In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:12 (HCSB) 12 The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God -- the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God -- and My new name.

Revelation 3:21 (HCSB) 21 The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne.

We may question why we don't see the judgement of God sooner. God wants all people to come into repentance through Jesus (2 Peter 3:8-18), but remember God's wrath will come down on the unrighteous who suppresses the truth.

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