Understanding “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God.”
In Psychology, there has been studies in the part of the human brain referred to as the “pleasure center.” The pleasure center is the section of the brain where many of the records of our life experiences are stored. Amazingly, the pleasure center offers incredible sensations of reward and/or pleasure from past events. While our life experiences help shape a person’s character in a good way, it is unfortunate that some of these recordings can also ensnare an individual into a life of habituation. Habituation is a physiological tolerance to or psychological dependence (such as a drug) that is short of addiction.
Every drug user hates the sickening withdrawals that result from brain chemicals that are trying to recover from the ingested foreign substances. Even though this experience is horrible, the addict’s pleasure center circuit minimizes the negative memories surrounding the downside of addiction. It is able to replace those memories with rewarding feelings of wellbeing that occur after the person takes drugs again. Therefore, the brain’s pleasure center hides the dangers of drug use by diminishing the reality of obvious dangers.
You may have heard that the brain has a pleasure center that lets us know when something is enjoyable and reinforces the desire for us to perform the same pleasurable action again. This is also called the reward circuit, which includes all kinds of pleasure, from sex to laughter to certain types of drug use. http://health.howstuffworks.com/sexual-health/sexuality/brain-during-orgasm2.htm
In the Scriptures, we see God warning His children about the evil inclinations of sin. Yet, generation after generation of Abraham’s family were found repeatedly turning back to immorality.
The question remains: Is it the devil or a predisposition that causes God’s people to ignore the warnings against sin that are in the Bible? The Bible is clear when it says God is a loving Father. Equally important, God is not blind to disobedience nor rebellion. The Scripture states: continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off (Rom 11:22 KJV).
It seems that the Body of Christ scarcely mentions the severity of God’s Holiness. Many Christians talk about His love, but very seldom do we discuss the Righteous responsibility of the believer’s walk. This could result in leaving some of them ill-prepared for the requirements of a Holy God.
This familiar cliché remains today, “God is good and all the time God is good.” I am afraid that many who say this may have missed the points in Romans 11:22.
New Living Translation 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. (Rom 11:20-22 NLT)
Here is a balance for serving God:
Common English Bible Romans 11:22 So look at God’s kindness and harshness. It’s harshness toward those who fell, but it’s God’s kindness for you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise, you could be cut off too. (Rom 11:22 CEB)
Synonyms for the Greek word, “severity” in Romans 11:22, (King James version) “ἀποτομία” are strictness, sternness, rigorousness, harshness.
Strong’s Concordience663 ἀποτομία apotomia {ap-ot-om-ee’-ah} Meaning: 1) severity, roughness, rigour
Rom 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?
Joh 15:2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit
.1Co 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
Heb 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
A favorite scripture of many Christians is found within the prophecy of Jeremiah, where the Lord says.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. (Jer 29:11-12 NLT)
This is a great passage of Scripture: “I know the plans I have for you are good… not for disaster.” But, again we need to read the entire chapter 29, instead of only memorizing verse 11.
I find it remarkable that we can remember the friendly-sounding verses while the chapter was actually talking about a lying prophet. God is telling His people that “It is not God’s will for Israel to be under the bondage of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.” As good as that sounds, the prophet Hananiah assumed that God would be on the side of Israel. Hananiah also assumed that God was going to deliver Israel from King Nebuchadnezzar. He meant well, but his prophecy cost him his life. The book of Jeremiah tells the story of God’s judgement on both Israel and Judah because of their transgressions. The Lord exiled Israel into Babylon for seventy years because of their sins.
11 And Hananiah said again to the crowd that had gathered, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Just as this yoke has been broken, within two years I will break the yoke of oppression from all the nations now subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.'” With that, Jeremiah left the Temple area.
12 Soon after this confrontation with Hananiah, the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah:
13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but you have replaced it with a yoke of iron.
14 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I have put a yoke of iron on the necks of all these nations, forcing them into slavery under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control.'”
“They are plans for good and not for disaster.” This Jeremiah 29:11 blessing was not an automatic guarantee by God. The blessing was only to be a reward if God’s people would start obeying His word.
Jeremiah 29:19 For they refuse to listen to me, though I have spoken to them repeatedly through the prophets I sent. And you who are in exile have not listened either,” says the LORD.
20 Therefore, listen to this message from the LORD, all you captives there in Babylon.
21 This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says about your prophets– Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah– who are telling you lies in my name: “I will turn them over to Nebuchadnezzar for execution before your eyes. (Jer 29:19-21 NLT)
KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1Th 5:8 KJV)