What Makes God Grieve?

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart." 

Genesis 6:5-6

In the days of Noah men and women were so wicked that God was sorry He had created us, and His heart grieved. When I read these words I wonder that humans can believe that God is unloving, unjust and unkind. And even more so when I consider that God gave His only Son to rescue us from destruction. That's how much He loves us. "The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works." (Psalm 145:8-9) God's holiness will not allow Him to ignore sin, but He doesn't delight in the death of the wicked. "'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.'" (Ezekiel 33:11) God hates sin, but loves the sinner. He doesn't send anyone to hell. Man sends himself when he refuses to receive the free gift of salvation. The gift that God paid for with His own life. "No doubt God will pity sinners in hell forever. He has given the highest evidence that He loves sinners. Think how long He spares them to live in their sins; at how great a sacrifice He sent His Son to die for them, even while they were yet enemies. What proof of love can be greater that this?" -- Finney

Death Pardon

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1

Jesus came to earth to receive sinners and to change them. To change them from dead men walking to freed men living. This could only happen through His sacrifice on the cross. My sin and yours condemn us to death -- eternal separation from God. Jesus stepped in and took our place on death row. He died in our place and God said, "By His blood you are pardoned." Now if we reject this great gift of salvation -- God's pardon through the shed blood of Christ -- then we remain condemned and dead in our transgressions. For there is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). But everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus Christ will be saved (Acts 2:21). We are justified before a Holy God by faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). When we place our faith in Him, we are no longer condemned. Eternal life is ours.

Amazing Grace

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

"Was blind, but now I see." Those familiar words from John Newton's hymn "Amazing Grace" describe the before and after state of the believer. Before we come to Christ, accepting Him as our personal Savior, we are blinded by the "god of this world", Satan. He puts a veil over our eyes, convincing us that we do not need to be saved. We're fine just as we are. We're so accustomed to sin's darkness, that the light of the gospel seems uncomfortable. Sometimes we even make jokes about our lost condition, saying such things as "Well, all my friends are bound for Hell, too, so I'll have lots of company when I go there." How tragic. Hell is real, indeed, but it is not a country club. It is an evil place of isolation and separation from God for all of eternity (Luke 16:19-31). Until we receive Gods' amazing grace, coming to Him in repentance and receiving His forgiveness, we are perishing.  But what glory we see when our eyes are opened to Jesus Christ, the image of God! Amazing grace, how sweet the sound."

The Real Problem

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." 

John 3:36

Few people want to talk about the wrath of God.  It’s just not a very popular subject.  Even in our pulpits today there are preachers who steer away from it in their sermons.  Not wanting to offend people, they leave out the judgment aspect of God’s character.  But if there is no wrath of God to be reckoned with, then Jesus Christ did not need to come to earth and give His life.  Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)  Saved from what? From condemnation (Romans 8:1-3).  The world is already under condemnation for its rebellion against God. But God out of His great love for the rebellious sent the Son He also loves to save the world from what it deserves -- hell. Are we so self-centered and prideful that we believe God sent His beloved son to suffer a torturous and horrifying death on a cross because we’re so good we deserve it? Heaven forbid!  We're so bad we would die without it!

"I would pay any price to be able to say truthfully ‘All will be saved’. But my reason retorts, ‘Without their will, or with it’? In fact, God has paid the price, and herein lies the real problem: so much mercy, yet still there is hell." -- C.S. Lewis