Love and hate are very powerful. I believe that these two expressions influence the movement of our daily lives more than maybe we realize. Beyond the simple love of the sweet scent of a flower that we stop to smell going for a walk or the hate of the gooey mess left from the gum stepped on during that same trek; I’m speaking of the powerful emotions between love and hate that we feel as people that stir us into action — one way or another. 

What about God?

God is love. The Bible literally tells us this truth in 1 John 4:8. Have you ever thought about the fact that God also feels hatred. I think we would all agree that He does not hate people, though, right?  Well there are, in fact, “types” of people and actions that God hates:

• “The Lord detests the perverse” (Proverbs 3:32, NIV).
• “The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked” (Proverbs 3:33, NIV).
• “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19, NIV).
• “The Lord detests lying lips” (Proverbs 12:22, NIV).
• “The Lord detests all the proud of heart” Proverbs 16:5, NIV).
• “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent — the Lord detests them both” (Proverbs 17:15, NIV).
• “…those who love violence, [God] hates with a passion” (Psalm 11:5, NIV).

The reason that God hates sin so strongly is because it separates us from Him. God’s ultimate love for all mankind is so great that He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment of each and every sin that he hates, so that those who believe in Him will have eternal life with Him. (I suppose this would be a sort of paraphrase of John 3:16.) Furthermore, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV, italics mine).

What about Satan?

On the underside, there is Satan. I don’t know about you, but when I think of Satan, I think of the epitome of hate. Have you ever thought about the fact, though, that Satan also loves? Goodness gracious! No way! He does though — he loves sin. The enemy of our soul loves sin because he knows sin is what separates us from God. He wants nothing more than to keep us from experiencing all that Christ has to offer us. John 10:10, (NIV) states that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; [Jesus has] come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

So, these powerful, action provoking emotions of love and hate that also reside within us need careful stewarding. “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9, NIV). These two expressions that influence the movement of our daily lives will also impact our eternity. So, remember this: “the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people (Titus 2:11, NIV, bold mine). We have a choice. Will you accept this gift of salvation?