Be Ready For His Return!
Today’s text comes to us from Isaiah 2: 12. For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that are proud and lofty. This verse is part of a discourse concerning the Day of the Lord. This is understood to be the day of judgment, that time when God will judge both evil and good. The phrase “the day of the Lord” is used nineteen times in the Old Testament, and four times in the New Testament. The Old Testament passages dealing with the day of the Lord often convey a sense of imminence, nearness, and expectation: (Isaiah 13:6); (Joel 2:1). This is because the Old Testament passages referring to the day of the Lord often speak of both a near and a far fulfillment, as does a lot of Old Testament prophecy. The New Testament calls it a day of “wrath,” a day of “visitation,” and the “great day of God Almighty” The New Testament refers to a still future fulfillment when God’s wrath is poured out on unbelieving Israel and on the unbelieving world. The Scriptures indicate that “the day of the Lord” will come quickly, like a thief in the night (Zephaniah 1:14-15) As Christians we must be watchful and ready for the coming of Christ at any moment. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matt 24: 44.
But the Day of the Lord will not be all bad, or I should say, it will not be bad for everyone. As well as being a time of judgment, it will also be a time of salvation and restoration for the chosen people of God. The final outcome of the day of the Lord will be that “the arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day” Isaiah 2:17. At the end of history, God, with wondrous power, will punish evil, reward good, and fulfill all His promises
Who will be safe from GodÂ’s wrath and who will receive His reward? To answer this, letÂ’s look at some of those in danger of eternal punishment. The text speaks of the proud, the lofty and the exalted. These are persons who are arrogant, conceited, haughty, and self-righteous. Such persons think of themselves as being much more important, or higher than they really are. All human arrogance will be dealt with on that day, whether it be the arrogance of individuals, governments, military might, or commerce. God alone will remain exalted. At that point only those who have been constantly worshipping and honoring the exalted God, will be spared his wrath, only such persons will be free from fear and benefit as recipients of everlasting life.
Friends, there is no doubt that the ‘Day of God’s appointment’ is coming and when it does we will all be better off to be found waiting and not wanting. The best way to begin is to exalt God, and Him alone. Only when we stand in the presence of an exalted God will we see ourselves for the lowly creatures that we really are. We begin to see our own frailty, our own defenselessness, and realize that we have nothing to be proud of, nothing to be boast about, but indeed everything to be thankful for. Compared to God we are nothing. It is only by His grace that he considers us and cares for us. In Job 7: 17, Job asks the question, What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? Similarly, the Psalmist says in Psalm 8: 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Have you stopped to look at yourself lately? To see yourself as God must see you? I assure you, this is a most humbling experience. No matter who or what we are, in the presence of God, we are nothing and stand in danger of the judgment. Thanks be to God however, for the gift of everlasting life that he offers to those who are humble enough to accept it through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is our security as Christians. Yes the day of GodÂ’s wrath is coming, but those who are secure in the presence of our Lord will be spared. As 1 John 2: 17 puts it, And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. When we know that the world and all it contains will not last forever, it should make it much easier for us to choose to deny the temporary things in order that we may gain what God offers for all eternity. I pray today that as we examine ourselves we will ask God to remove all the desires for earthly recognition and greatness and replace this with a desire after righteousness, holy living, and an eternity with God.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
Who will be safe from GodÂ’s wrath and who will receive His reward? To answer this, letÂ’s look at some of those in danger of eternal punishment. The text speaks of the proud, the lofty and the exalted. These are persons who are arrogant, conceited, haughty, and self-righteous. Such persons think of themselves as being much more important, or higher than they really are. All human arrogance will be dealt with on that day, whether it be the arrogance of individuals, governments, military might, or commerce. God alone will remain exalted. At that point only those who have been constantly worshipping and honoring the exalted God, will be spared his wrath, only such persons will be free from fear and benefit as recipients of everlasting life.
Friends, there is no doubt that the ‘Day of God’s appointment’ is coming and when it does we will all be better off to be found waiting and not wanting. The best way to begin is to exalt God, and Him alone. Only when we stand in the presence of an exalted God will we see ourselves for the lowly creatures that we really are. We begin to see our own frailty, our own defenselessness, and realize that we have nothing to be proud of, nothing to be boast about, but indeed everything to be thankful for. Compared to God we are nothing. It is only by His grace that he considers us and cares for us. In Job 7: 17, Job asks the question, What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? Similarly, the Psalmist says in Psalm 8: 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Have you stopped to look at yourself lately? To see yourself as God must see you? I assure you, this is a most humbling experience. No matter who or what we are, in the presence of God, we are nothing and stand in danger of the judgment. Thanks be to God however, for the gift of everlasting life that he offers to those who are humble enough to accept it through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is our security as Christians. Yes the day of GodÂ’s wrath is coming, but those who are secure in the presence of our Lord will be spared. As 1 John 2: 17 puts it, And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. When we know that the world and all it contains will not last forever, it should make it much easier for us to choose to deny the temporary things in order that we may gain what God offers for all eternity. I pray today that as we examine ourselves we will ask God to remove all the desires for earthly recognition and greatness and replace this with a desire after righteousness, holy living, and an eternity with God.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
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