While the promises of God are sure, they are not all positive.  Because He wants us all to go to heaven, God warns us of how not to live, and of the fate of those who live contrary to His will.  Those who disobey God will be punished.  That is God’s promise.

2 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
⁹  Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

This is helpful to know.  God does not indulge in trickery.  He is in no way deceitful.  He has always been straightforward with His people when it comes to blessing and cursing.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (ESV)
²⁶  “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: ²⁷  the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, ²⁸  and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

We are all in charge of our destiny.  Whether we are blessed with a home in heaven or cursed with everlasting destruction, it is all dependent on how we choose to live our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

If one obeys the gospel and lives faithfully, a crown of life will be his to enjoy forever (Revelation 2:10), but if one decides to disobey the will of God, punishment will be his eternal lot.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (KJV)
⁸  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

If you think that God will make an exception with you, you are wrong.  Remember, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18).  As one older preacher used to say, “He means what He says, and says what He means.”  We are reminded of this in various biblical stories.  For example, God told the Jews that if they touched the ark of the covenant, they would die (Numbers 4:15).   When Uzzah reached up to stop the Ark from falling off the unauthorized chart they were transporting it upon, God punished him with death (2 Samuel 6;1-7).  Some might view this as an overreaction on God’s part.  After all, Uzzah simply acted out of instinct to protect something sacred.  However, this illustrates for us that God never breaks His word.  He said anyone who touched the sacred furniture would die, and He simply kept His word.

You might say that the promise to punish those who do not keep His Word is more of a warning than a promise, but whatever you want to call it, we should all know that God will, without exception,  keep His Word and punish those who disobey Him.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.