Our Misconception of a Loving God

God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious.  The LORD will take vengence on his adversaries, And he reserves wrath for his enemies
Nahum 1:2 NKJV

I've heard this argument far too many times,  how can someone serve a God that would allow tragedy and kill others?  I will agree that God has, at times, brought wrath on the inhabitants of his his wonderful creation, but I don't believe for a minute that God is sitting in heaven just waiting for us to screw up.  Yet that is the prevailing view of some people these days.  So, we work harder in our daily lives in order to pacify an angry and vengful God.  One slip and we could be just another speck of dust that God destroyed.  Well, I have some good news for those who have this view of God.   See, God  ALREADY KNOWS that we're going to screw up and fall short of his holy standard.

For all have sinned and fall short of  the glory of God.
Romans 3:23 NKJV

So, tell me again how any evil we can ever do can surprise God.  For if God already knows that all of humanity is prone to sin and disobey him, why doesn't he simply just wipe us out and start over with a more obedient lot?  It would seem to me that, since God continues to tolerate our disobebience, that he must either truly love his creation or he's  just giving us all enough rope to hang ourselves.  Well, the answer can be found in his word.

But God demonstrates his own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NKJV

Does this sound like an angry God who's just sitting and waiting for us to screw up?  Notice the end of Romans 5:8...Christ died FOR US.  This wasn't  just Gods chosen Isrealites that have this free gift, it's all of us!
The truth is, we do not need to fear that God is lying in wait for us to sin.  He knows we're going to mess up, that's why he sent his son to be a sin offering for us, so that we would be free from the guilt and condemnation of sin.

But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.
John 1:12 NKJV

The free gift of Gods salvation has always been ours, if we receive his offer.  John 1:12  lays out what we need do to receive this gift.  Would a angry God even think of redeeming those he was so angry with?  I think we need to shift our thoughts from God as a angry God to the truth, a God who is waiting for his children to return to him.  Yes, we sin and mess up, but our loving father has provided redemption for us all.  Will you accept his gift?

~Scott~