Behold, the Day is Coming!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Malachi 4:1-2

With the elections over and leaders chosen, we might wonder what is ahead for this nation and our people. We know, through the study of the Scriptures, that judgment for our nation's rebellion against the LORD God and sins against Him is going to come. We don't know the when or the how. And, perhaps, if our nation's rulers and people humble themselves and turn back to the LORD and the truth of His Word, that judgment may be delayed a little longer.

Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (chapter 21), tells of God's judgment upon His own people for their rejection of the Messiah and of the Christ's return and His judgment upon all people (cf. Luke 19:41ff.; Matt. 24:1ff.; Mark 13:1ff.). The Bible teaches us that those who humble themselves before the LORD God and repent of their sinful ways, looking to Christ Jesus and His cross for forgiveness and life, will be saved; and those who remain proud and continue on in their sinful and rebellious ways will be condemned to the everlasting fires of hell.

Malachi, too, tells us of God's coming judgment. He compares it to the fires of an oven, and those who are proud and do wickedly -- the impenitent -- to stubble which is burned up in the flames. In fact, the fires of God's judgment will burn so hotly that the wicked and unbelieving will be burned up completely, not even leaving a root or a branch to grow back again.

But on that day when Christ comes to judge this world, those who fear and honor God's name by repenting of their sinful ways and looking to Christ Jesus and His blood, shed upon the cross for the sins of the world, for forgiveness and life will be healed. Malachi says: "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall."

When Christ returns, all who trust in Him will be changed, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:52-53). Believers will be raised up and changed. They will be without sin and free from the curse to live in God's presence forevermore. Malachi describes it like calves of the stall (cf. 1 Thess. 5:1ff.; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Luke 1:67ff.).

While that day will be a day of dread for the impenitent and unbelieving, it will be a day of rejoicing for those who trust in Christ Jesus. As Jesus said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28).

O Lord Jesus Christ, You soon return to judge the living and the dead and even now Your judgments come upon the wickedness of this world. Have mercy upon me and forgive my sins and grant to me life in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Editorial on 11/16/2016