2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
This passage of scripture teaches us that we should never confuse God's mercy and kindness with weakness, as if the reluctance to mete out judgment, is a sign of irresolution on His part. God delights in mercy, and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but there comes a time, when after His gracious overtures to save us have been exhausted, and we deliberately choose to go deeper in sin, then His mercies are withdrawn, and the hand that once sustained us becomes strong to destroy. This other side of God's character is often swept under the rug by many contemporary televangelists, who portray God as all-loving and kind, but apparently afraid to administer justice when it becomes due.
A very submissive Jesus is now been depicted in many religious circles, and because of this an arrogant, self-centered attitude has taken deep root in modern Christendom, where Christ is made to follow along humbly where we lead the way. This "Other" Jesus of our own devising is the one who is clamored for by the multitudes, and who is adored in places high and low, for the mere fact that he now allows us to make the rules and change his ordinances, without any remonstrance on his part, for fear of being ridiculed and heckled as being stern and judgmental. And it's for this very same reason that many Christians today reject the Old Testament in favor of the New, for in the minds of many, two very different Gods are thus illustrated.
But the passage above tells us with certainty that the same Christ who died on the cross for our sins, in humility and shame, is the very same Lord who will call all the inhabitants of the earth into judgment one day, and will render to every man according to his works. This sacred truth which has been hidden under a bushel for too very long is soon to be revealed to a world that is now steeped in iniquity, vice, and bloodshed, and when it occurs, nations as well as most individuals are scheduled to experience a rude awakening to the fact that God's mercy never cancels out His justice, but instead, both characteristics dwell within Him as a complete, indivisible whole. This sacred truth is clearly stated in several passages of scripture. Let's read:
Psalms 89:13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. 14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. 15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
In recent years there has been a fearful departure from the path of rectitude by nations and individuals alike, for there have been many beheadings and mass executions in certain parts of the world, together with thousands of kidnappings by terrorist groups in Africa and other places. Added to all this is the violence being done to the marriage institution, with millions of people becoming confused as to God's original social order as it pertains to the family, and pastors, priests, and clergy are now to be found interpreting the Bible to suit their own ends, while the political pressure and majority opinion are steadily gaining the ascendency over reason and scriptural principles.
These developments portend the soon coming of Christ with power and great glory, and a very sobering warning is issued by Christ Himself to all those who insist on living in blatant violation of the plainest truths, and also to those of us who because of popular clamor, are too weak to take sides in standing up for Jesus, at a time when the shadows of night are settling upon our world, but instead choose to sit on the fence in order to preserve self-interests, and to avoid being taunted and despised by the sin loving multitudes. This current and deteriorating state of things will inevitably culminate in a revelation of the other side of Christ's character, which too many Christians have long chosen to ignore. Let's read:
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
The Personage who is portrayed as sitting on the white horse is none other than the same Jesus who gave His life to save us on Calvary, and in lieu of the drastic change that is soon to take place in His dealings with the human family as delineated in the above passage, it then behooves every person to live according to the light and knowledge of the truth God has seen fit to reveal to us, for to whom much is given, much will certainly be required. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us to avoid treading on sacred ground with unholy feet, by attempting to annul the laws that God has firmly established, but rather, we should be aligning ourselves with all of the truths and principles of Christ's kingdom of righteousness. Let's read:
Hebrews 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what The Spirit says to the churches. "Good night" and God bless!