Every summer drought and heat cause wildfires around the world. Also in this country, fires destroy large parts of our beautiful nature. Even though wildfires cause the ashes of death branches to make the earth fertile again, they also pose a great threat to civilization. Besides the large parts of the forest, they sometimes destroy entire villages. It consumes everything in its path.

That’s why firefighters do everything in their power to stop the fires. As the huge flames rise high above the trees and the stifling heat threatens them like an impenetrable wall, they boldly press on to put out those erratic flames. These are terrifying moments for the firefighters. Every year firefighters are killed. The great heat and the dense smoke suffocate them. They give their lives to protect civilization. The sacrifices these firefighters make allow us to live in safety.

The Bible likens God to such a fire that consumes all that is dead (Isaiah 33:12-14). This sounds terrifying, but it’s good news. We explain why this is good news in this booklet. 

You may have been treated unfairly. Maybe something has been stolen from you, or maybe someone lied about you. You know how hurtful this is and how it can make your life difficult. It just sounded  like a little lie, a few words, but this spark has turned your life to ashes. When you tried to make up for this yourself by giving the person what he deserved, you noticed that this didn’t really relieve. You still hate the one who hurt you. It’s not like it used to be, your trust has been betrayed.

But here’s the good news: God is really angry about these things, He understands you. The Bible calls His anger, wrath. This is holy anger at something unjust. This anger springs from His love. His love ensures that He will take away everything that threatens love for Him and for those around us. With God there is no room for dishonesty, injustice and hatred. And God promises to right all wrongs. God stands up for those who are afflicted (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Just as it is good news when an earthly judge condemns one who has broken the law and does justice to the one who has been robbed, raped, or injured, so it is also glorious news that all injustice and evil that is not condemned here on earth, will eventually be justly punished by God. Although this world so often seems unfair, it is certain that everything will soon be balanced because God will judge and He will judge righteously (Acts 17:30-31).

While God’s holy anger is glorious news to those who are oppressed, it is terrifying to those who are the cause of this injustice. Because no one can stand against God. Yes, God is a fire of love, consuming everything that is not good, holy and pure. And as we long for this world to be rid of evil and for love to reign, so we sign our own verdict. For you and I, are the cause of His holy anger.

Someone may have treated you unfairly, but you have also mistreated others. We are born with a tendency to use other people for our own good, usually at the expense of the other person. The good and honest way of life is summed up in the Bible: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37,39).

While you may think you are doing a good job with te last part, we all miss our mark in the way we live for ourselves and deeply inside hate God, our Maker. Therefore, when we soon stand before God, who is love, he will have to deal with us as haters who have abused others to benefit themselves. Thus He will not be safe for us or stand up for us. No, this loving God will be hell to us. A fire that will consume us forever because He stands up for those we have wronged.

The most terrifying words about this come from the very lips of Jesus himself: “Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:19). That’s why your life is in danger!