God is all mercy and love!

(Charles Simeon)  LISTEN to audio!  Download Audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

"The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
 the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
 The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and
 maintains His wrath against his enemies!" Nahum 1:2

"Who can withstand His indignation?
 Who can endure His fierce anger?
 His wrath is poured out like fire;
 the rocks are shattered before Him." Nahum 1:6

Most unbelievers depend on the foolish notion that God is all mercy and love! They imagine that He will allow their iniquities to pass unpunished. They simply do not believe that He will ever execute the judgment which He Himself has threatened on impenitent transgressors. In their pride, they mock and defy all of the threats and warnings that the holy and just God has made in His Word.

"In his pride the wicked does not seek Him;
 in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
 He says to himself, 'Nothing will shake me;
 I will always be happy and never have trouble.'
 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
 trouble and evil are under his tongue!" Psalm 10

In fact, it is the hope of God's mercy, which encourages men to go on in their sins. For if once they believed that they shall soon become monuments of God's righteous indignation--they would consider their ways, and labor by all possible means to avert God's righteous wrath.

Many other unbelievers console themselves with the thought that they shall do as well as others when in Hell. But if they could for one moment descend to Hell, and see the agonies, and hear the cries, of a damned soul--it would be little consolation to think that they shall do as well as others.

"The proud may not stand in Your presence,
 for You hate all who do evil!" Psalm 5:5

Truly, "it will be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!"
God is indeed "a consuming fire!" Hebrews 12:29, Hebrews 10:31

The wrath of an offended God must be endured to all eternity!

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.
 Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him,
 and to our God, for He will freely pardon!" Isaiah 55:7