It has been many years since I sat in a high school chemistry class, but I vividly remember the warnings from the teacher. The teacher was constantly reminding us that sulfuric acid was highly caustic and that it would burn the clothing, the furniture, the skin, the eyes, and everything it touched. We learned to use caution with the acid.

Hate is something like an acid. It also burns what it comes in contact with. Someone has said, “Hate is so powerful an acid that it destroys the vessel in which it is stored even more than those upon whom it is poured.” Hatred destroys the one who harbors it in his heart. It results in ulcers, ill health, and an absence of peace and contentment in one’s life.

Hate is very common in our world today. We are divided by prejudices, politics, social classes and economic differences. Hate is also seen at times in the church. There are brothers and sisters in Christ who refuse to speak to one another. Others harbor ill will and choose to sit across the auditorium from those they do not like.

Perhaps this problem also existed in the early church. John wrote, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen (I John 4:20).

Christians must learn to love rather than hate if they ever hope to be with God for eternity. An unknown author has written, “There is a God of love in this world of hate. Love is stronger than hate, and this is man’s hope. Hate is darkness and gloom; love is light and good cheer. Hate is foreboding and misery; love is peace and contentment. Hate is of Satan; love is of God. Hate is for time; love is for eternity.”

Acid and hate. They are alike in many ways, but there is one major difference. Acid has a few valuable uses. Hate is absolutely worthless. How many souls will burn because of it?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Larry Gill

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