By Toni Ford
As I was thinking of a name for this article, I really didn’t want to use the word “hate,” mainly because it is such a strong word. This generation especially does not like to recognize that God has the capacity to hate. They would rather see Him as a soft-hearted God who excuses and justifies our sins. And although God does not hate people, He does hate sin. Just as a father hates any animal that might threaten the life and safety of his son or daughter, so our God hates the evil and sin in this world that would keep one of His children from a godless eternity.
It is God’s love and compassion for the human race that causes God to hate sin with such a vengeance. As the late, great Billy Graham said, “He gave Heaven’s finest that we might have the best, and He loathes with a holy abhorrence anything that would hinder our being reconciled to Him.”
In the sixth book of Proverbs, Solomon speaks of at least seven things God hates. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” Although God hates all sin, Solomon listed these seven for a reason. I may never fully understand the reason why these seven were listed, but as a child of God, I recognize the need to daily make sure I am aligning myself with the Lord and not the world. Pride, a lying tongue, the shedding of innocent blood, wicked thoughts, a heart that plots evil, one who races to do wrong and a heart that sows discord are sins that can easily lead to habits. Habits lead to bondage, and bondage leads to death. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.”
The good news is that even though we are all guilty of sin, no one has to continue living in sin that results in death. Christ, through His triumphant death on the cross, purchased for you and for me a new lease on life (John 10:10). The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). God can forgive you today because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Yes, God hates the evil in your heart but He loves you, and based off of that love, He offers to each person the free gift of eternal life. God does not force salvation upon anyone but instead it is a gift that must be received.
It is my prayer that if you have never received this gift of salvation that you would open your heart to do so today. Just talk to God, confess your sins and tell Him you are ready to surrender your life to Him today and receive His free gift of salvation.