Spared From Wrath
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Colossians 3:6 (NIV)
Paul writes Colossians one solemn line: because of these — immorality, impurity, greed — the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. God's wrath is real, no outdated metaphor: he opposes evil with holy seriousness. Reading this without Christ in the heart breeds terror; reading it with Christ breeds explosive gratitude. For the unavoidable question is: and I, who practiced these things — where do I stand?
Spared from wrath: the Gospel's answer. Paul says God rescued us from darkness's dominion, transferring us into the Son's Kingdom — wrath headed our way, diverted at the cross. Whoever is in Christ awaits no wrath but a meeting. Escapees' gratitude should match the dodged danger: the greater the wrath we left, the louder our praise.
Thank God today like an escapee: remember where he pulled you from, name snapped chains, celebrate redirected course. And live liberated — abandoning wrath's practices, wearing the Kingdom's. Spared from wrath, bound by grace: eternity's most advantageous trade. Escapees sing loudest. Remember the chains, name the darkness left behind, celebrate the transfer papers signed in blood. Then live worthy of rescue: shed old practices, wear Kingdom garments daily. Gratitude proportional to peril produces praise proportional to grace.