“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The last two days we have talked about the love of God! We have recognized some things:
-God is Love!
-If we are His children, we will demonstrate His love.
-We cannot hate others and say we are His.
-He loved us first.
-He loved us so much that He refused to leave us in the grip of sin.
-His love caused Him to die for us although we were sinners.

Today, let's look at the intention of His love. He loves us, not so we can continue doing whatever we so desire, but, rather to call us out of our sin. Many in our time have confused God's love with His acceptance of wickedness. God never accepts wickedness. Yes, he accepts the wicked, but He never accepts their conduct. As a parent, I love my children, but I do not accept bad behavior. To equate God's love with acceptance without repentance is a complete misunderstanding of His love. Without repentance, we trample God's love beneath the dirty feet of our depravity. God's love shouts at us "Adam, Where Are You?" He beckons us to return to Him. To return to Him is to return to righteousness. Should we choose not to heed His loving call, Hell will be our eternal destination. I can hear someone saying " How can a loving God send someone to Hell?" My response is simple. How can a sinful man reject the love of a Holy, Sinless, God? God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11 says “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?” NLT‬‬

If we die and go to hell it will be in spite of the loving call of God. God could have left us in our default condition. Instead, he offers us an alternative: acknowledge our sin, repent (feel remorse and change direction), and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. He has given us all the good things we enjoy. He has been patient and merciful. It is up to us to respond. What is your decision?