Luke 3:7, 8a John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance...
Being like these crowds won’t save you from the wrath to come. It is what fruit you produce. It is a change of heart and about becoming receptive to things of the Spirit so your heart is not one turning from God. The wrath is coming. You do need to flee. But there is a way to flee. That way is not self-justifiying self-righteousness. It is not making all the Bible verses referring to those with hope be about you, and making the unhappy verses be about those you despise. Following the Pharisees won’t help you to flee, either. Traditions of elders won’t help you to flee the wrath. Mercy to the poor. Humility towards the ordinary folk. Admission of falling short. Justice for everyone, not just those rich enough to pay for it. Sharing. Making lives of others better. Most of all, seeking and finding and getting to know the real Christ, the real Jesus, about whom these scriptures all speak, trusting him as light of the world sent by God. Holding to his teachings in the way he meant them. Then bearing good fruit by holding to his teachings perpetually. This is how to avert the worst. The wrath will still come, but your life will withstand the storms.
