The Intense Love and Hate of the Cross

... and if He reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes and condemned them to ruin, making them an example to those who were going to be ungodly.... - 2 Peter 2:6

I think it was Billy Graham who once said that if America escaped judgment, then God would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.

These two ancient cities are forever etched in most people's minds as the epitome of wickedness. In our English vocabulary, we even took the name "Sodom" and created a word that describes a particular form of sexual depravity. Many, if not all, states once had laws against it, but most of them have been erased, because they were seen as intolerant. Now, the only thing that is seemingly not tolerated in our country is godly behavior.

Let the history of these two cities (or lack thereof) serve as a reminder to us all of God's opinion of sin. He hates it and that will never change. It can also be forgiven, and that will also never change. For us much as He hates sin, He also loves us, and the Cross of Christ proves the intensity of both.

Forgiveness is always free. But that doesn't mean that confession is always easy. Sometimes it is hard. Incredibly hard. It is painful to admit our sins and entrust ourselves to God's care. - Erwin W. Lutzer