Towards the end of his life, John who was earlier branded a son of thunder, became an apostle of love. How did this happen? How could someone known for arrogance and anger become meek and of a tender heart? He spent time with Jesus and was changed!
Those who failed over and over again in life's challenges and stubbornly resisted the disciplines of the Lord in the past must halt and consider now how God's love desires them to be drawn to Him and be saved unto eternal life with Him in glory rather than in eternal judgment in hell.
To purge them of such foolishness, He must bring down His iron hand upon them in order to purge them of their foolish ways; not to destroy them but to save them from themselves. Only acknowledge your iniquity before God and be broken in spirit. Let the restraint of the bit and bridle of the Holy Spirit guide you into the right path! Traversing the old way is futile and deadly.
There is hope therefore for those who find themselves unable to change their character and ways on their own. Run to Jesus! Cry out to Him to be broken of your foolishness, and seek now to be crucified with Christ from a flesh that entangled you from the snares of death for so long now. It is better to be rebuked here on earth and be humbled by the Lord in this life than later in eternity.
Don't look back and be drowned by your failures, turning you into a pillar of salt, but look to Jesus and live! The man who had a bad reputation without Christ in his life, was suddenly transformed and became profitable for the kingdom of heaven. Not only was he purged of a corrupt character, but no longer is he known in eternity as a son of thunder, but is now and forever honored an apostle of love, a designation so conformed to the likeness of Christ.
To Jesus, who alone is able to make us stand pure and blameless before the Father on the day of judgment, be glory and honor and praise forever and ever, amen!
