Lately I have been meditating on Christ's return and how glorious it will be for believers. But I have also been deeply affected by what His return will mean for the rest of the human race - those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior. Because of sin, God is going to destroy the earth with fire, just like He destroyed it once before with water. These are not my words; they are recorded over and over again in the Bible for all to read. The title of Isaiah 24, for instance, is "Judgment on the Whole Earth," and includes such words as, "Behold the Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate, and He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants . . . a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched. " When God brings this judgment, it will be righteous because God is holy and cannot look on sin. In fact, He could have destroyed the human race in the Garden immediately after they had become contaminated with sin, and He would still be completely justified. But He has not done so; not yet. In infinite, incredible patience, He is waiting until His gospel has been preached to all the nations, so that all who desire to be free from their sin can come to Him and receive the gift of Christ's work on the cross. Romans 10:9 says, "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Those who respond to God's call to do this will become part of God's family; will be holy, as He is holy; will be forever set apart from the sin which must be destroyed at the end of the age.
And as I think on this, my heart has also been full of the fact that we, as Children of Light, have an obligation and privilege to shine the light of the glorious gospel into the darkness around us, thereby being ambassadors for Christ and telling others about His awesome, saving power. I think about the elect of God's Kingdom who have yet to come to Christ, and I long to go to them and give them the hope that I so desperately needed - the gospel hope that pulled me from the pit of despair and pain and made me a new creation in Christ.
Father, grant that I may arise and share the treasure that I have been given; that I may, like Paul, "not account my life of any value, nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Amen.
There's a Day of darkness coming -
Long predicted, long proclaimed -
There's a Day when God has promised
Vengeance for His Holy Name.
Fury, wrath, and indignation,
Anger, fully justified,
Raining down; the Righteous Sovereign
Sending flames to purify.
Sin will die, be crushed forever -
Serpent 'neath the heel expires -
Satan, and his dismal followers,
Thrown into the lake of fire.
Oh, you wicked, fallen angel!
Think you could the Seed destroy?
Think again, you foolish devil!
All your plans does God despoil.
Not a one of Heaven's children -
Not a one of Jesus' own -
Will be lost to hell eternal,
For by God, they've been foreknown.
Some of these, like mist, have vanished,
Watching from the world unseen;
Waiting for the Day of Judgment,
Singing praises to their King.
Some, like us, remain to witness -
To God's mercy, testify -
Daily praying in His Spirit,
Gaining boldness, fresh supply.
Not our lives we'll count as precious,
Nothing worth of value, we;
Our heart's cry is, "Jesus, let us
Faithful to our Savior be."
In His strength, we'll brave the mockers,
Those who say our minds are gone,
Knowing that the path we follow
Is the one our Master trod.
We will face complacent masses,
Stand against the worlds demands,
Watchful and alert in battle,
Listening for our Lord's commands.
What He tells us - what a privilege!
What a great commission gives!
Bids us shout from tallest mountain,
"Grace is here! Your soul may live!"
We don't know whose ears will listen,
Who will turn in wondered awe;
But in loving, firm allegiance
We will share the truth He taught.
Somewhere walks a frightened sister,
Walks a brother, trapped in pain;
We will tell them, Holy Father,
Tell them that You've come to save.
We will speak! Proclaim Your power!
Children of the light, arise!
We will share the glorious gospel
'Til the last has trusted Christ.
