Why Do We Think God is the Punisher?

So if God is love, then why do we think He is the PUNISHER? Isn't this idea messed up? Doesn't sin separate us from God if we turn our backs, but we are never out of his love. And so many people think if they do something wrong, God is going to strike them or cause calamity on them. Is this what God does? No, sin has it's consequences; we reap what we sow. Sin has its pleasures for a season, but it does catch up with people eventually. Yes, we need to live our lives right, but we do this in love towards a God who loves us and we love him back, not because if we don't He will hurt us. This is not the true heavenly father that we read about and hopefully know. God is not the punisher; He is the lover of our souls!