Seemingly there is irreconcilable conflict here. The Lord is good, and yet He destroys. Many a sinful mind will not have it so. Many would dream of goodness without righteousness, of grace without justice, and of benevolence without holy wrath. Yet upon closer investigation this apparent conflict disappears and dissolves into the most sublime harmony. He will destroy all the wicked because He is good. The destruction of the wicked, God's wrath upon them, is another aspect of His perfect goodness.
The wicked are the vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction. They love iniquity and hate righteousness. God is not in all their thoughts. They say within their hearts, express in their words, and reveal in their ways that there is no God. They are God's enemies and children of their father the devil. They dwell in darkness and love it. They crucify Christ and persecute His people. They make the measure of their iniquity full.
So are all the wicked.
But the Lord is good. And because He is good and there is no evil in Him, because He is a light and there is no darkness in Him, His soul loves the righteous and loathes the wicked. His face beams with tender mercy upon those who love Him, but burns with fierce wrath upon those who love iniquity. He preserves the righteous, but destroys all the wicked.
Jehovah is good. Therefore there are in Him bowels of mercy and consuming fires of holy wrath.
Hallelujah!
Herman Hoeksema
All Glory to the Only Good God, pp. 6-7
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