God is more than ...

The love and comfort of God are frequent themes of singing and sermonizing. This is certainly not inappropriate, but the God revealed in Scripture and fleshed out in His Son, Jesus, is much more. For instance, God is also omnipotent, or all powerful; and omniscient, knowing all. His love is balanced with holiness often expressed in acts of justice.

The Israeli hymn book, the Psalms, includes a song (number nine) which begins with, “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Another verse, same Psalm, adds, “The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.”

We might want to consider the impact of a more balanced understanding of God which includes His justice. Because he is just and acts justly –
• We might look for his wonders expressed in acts of justice. It is curious that as Western culture has moved away from a Judeo-Christian ethos, we have removed “acts of God” from insurance policies and replaced the phrase with “natural disasters.” Does God still chasten nations who arrogantly pursue selfish ambitions? Does he act similarly with individuals and families?
• As his agents in this world, we could explore how to practically balance the inequities between the “haves” and “have-nots.” Typically, Evangelicals do this by giving money and deputizing others. We call those sent, “missionaries.” To this noble practice, we can choose to strategically live in dark places, or hospitably open our homes to those who have no way to repay us, make time to listen to lonely folks, or become a foster parent for a child who is practically orphaned by incarcerated or addicted parents.
The justice of God is hauntingly present in Matthew 25 where the, “Son of Man comes in his glory ... and sits on his throne.”

I was formed spiritually and culturally by the Pentecostal church. We sang and heard sermons about the love of God. We also sang another song –

There's a great day coming, a great day coming,
There's a great day coming by and by;
When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?

Chorus
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready for that day to come?

There's a bright day coming, a bright day coming,
There's a bright day coming by and by;
But its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord,
Are you ready for that day to come?

There's a sad day coming, a sad day coming,
There's a sad coming by and by;
When the sinner shall hear his doom, "Depart, I know ye not,"
Are you ready for that day to come?