"drink of the wine of the wrath of God without mixture" (Rev. 14:10)
What is that? Whatever it is, it doesn't sound very inviting. I think I'd like God's wrath softened, diluted with just about anything.
Actually, there were 3 other Old Testament verses that came to mind right away when I thought about this, the 1st being a verse that always irritates me. The ending of Jer. 31:20 says, "I will surely have mercy upon him".
God's wrath will be softened with mercy? The second OT verse, Hab. 3:2 says "In wrath remember mercy." Isn't that a good thing? Why, you ask, does that bother me?
Because it's stated that way. The Japanese rendering, "I cannot NOT have mercy, says the LORD." makes the English feel SO lame. I was thrilled to think my God felt an irresistible love-urge to be merciful to me. People who don't know God have to face an unquestionably WRATHFUL warden; I anticipate being pardoned by my MERCIFUL Father.
The third is well-known. The beginning of Ps. 23:6 says: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me" I can see us walking all our lives, intending to please God, but tripping up and getting into all sorts of self-centered mischief and causing unthinkable heartaches.
Even when our faces were not turned in the right direction, and our paths were heading away from God, HIS GOODNESS AND MERCY FOLLOWED US! If we trust in the Blood of the Lamb, we can say with the Psalmist, all we have to do is turn around (heartfelt repentance in Christ's Name) and see our Father's blessing and forgiveness right there following us!
Is it any wonder the child of God, when realizing he's been spared of unmitigated wrath but possesses full fellowship with a Heavenly Father (Who can't refrain from embracing him)...can't "stay cool" about it either?
