God, kind or wicked?
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The Heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth will be laid bare.” (NIV) 2 Peter 3:10
Depending on where you stand on the day of the Lord (judgment day), you could see God as a kind God or a wicked God. When we were growing up as children, whenever, we did something good and we get rewarded, we see our parents as kind, loving and all the sweet words we could think of. However, when we get punished for being naughty, we see the same once sweet parents as wicked or unkind. Similarly, we will have either of these two thoughts on the day of judgment. Those of us who will get rewarded will see God as a kind and loving God while those who will be condemned will see God as wicked.
Some people wonder how a kind God will bring Himself to destroy people He created in His own image someday. They, therefore, think it is not possible. Others also say, it has kept so long and the world is still the same so there will not be any destruction of the world and everything in it. My simple answer to those of us who think this way is that God is not slow to keep His promise but He is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He is kind and He would want everyone to be with Him in glory. Let us give Him no reason to be unkind towards us.
There are several examples in the Bible that man gave God no choice but to destroy man. The destruction of man during Noah’s days through the flood (Genesis 7), the drowning of the Egyptians in the red sea (Exodus 14:26-28), the driving away of man from the garden of Eden and the punishment with death (Genesis 3:16-24), destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) are typical examples for us to learn from.
For us to see God as kind is to be obedient to His word. Obedience to God is rewarded both on this earth as well as in eternity. Deuteronomy 28 spells out the earthly benefits of obedience to God and 2 Peter 3:13 also promises a new home for the righteous. Thus, double kindness awaits the obedient.
Dear reader, you have nothing to lose but so much to gain if you obey God. His kindness you are assured of both on this earth and in heaven. You have a decision to make and you need to make it now. It is far better to be found on the kind and loving side of God than on the wicked side. God bless you.