Tag: shaking
Who Can Stand?
Scripture reading for December 8: Revelation 6
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks , “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”” Revelation 6:12-17
John now beheld the opening of the seven seals on the scroll that Jesus Christ, Lion of Judah, had received from God the Father. As He opened each seal in heaven, there were consequences on the earth. This sixth seal brought an earthquake that evidently caused volcanic eruptions that darkened the sun and caused the moon to turn red. The stars began to fall from the sky in an apparent meteor event that shook all on the earth. The sky vanished and every mountain and island was removed from its place! The great shaking of the heavens and earth was now coming to pass. (Haggai 2:21-22, Hebrews 12:26)
These events now happening to those on the earth caused all, small and great to seek shelter. Not only shelter from the shaking and upheaval but shelter from the One seated on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. These left on earth had rejected the Lamb as their ‘door to heaven’ but were now aware that these events were leading to the ‘great Day’ of God’s wrath. Jesus would have born their wrath if only they had humbly repented and called on His Name. Instead they call to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them when the opportunity was there! Who can stand on that great Day?
Jesus is the One revealing to John these coming events that will one day usher in God’s will and kingdom on earth. As you examine your life, are you confident that God has rescued you from the coming wrath? If you really believe this revelation, what is one thing that you need to do or change?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your revelation of these things to come. It is Your love in Jesus Christ that draws me to repentance and faith in these truths. Open doors for me to share Your great love and mercy through Jesus Christ with those still in the darkness of sin and under sentence of death. Amen.
God’s Unshakable Kingdom!
Scripture reading for October 29: Hebrews 12
“See that you do not refuse Him Who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him Who warns from heaven. At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken–that is things that have been made–in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29
The writer of Hebrews continually contrasted the Old Covenant of Law with the New Covenant of Grace. The accounts in Scripture of God speaking with Moses and wanting His people to hear His voice and honor Him as a Father are used here as a warning. Those that heard trembled with fear as Moses went up on the fiery mountain. They did not want to hear God. But those hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ are told to listen and obey. Jesus is the final Word from heaven spoken to shake the earth for the final harvest of souls. (Hebrews 1:2) Those who chose to listen in faith enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who refuse to listen will not escape the final shaking when Jesus returns in that their own ‘kingdom’ will come tumbling down.
All created things will be shaken in heaven and on earth. The purpose of the shaking is to remove those things that can be shaken. All that man has made and depended upon for protection will be shaken out. All sin and human pride will be shaken and exposed. All the schemes of man and Satan will come to naught at the revelation of the One Who shakes not only the heavens but the earth. This calls for reverent worship and holy awe. Our God is Himself a consuming Fire. His holiness and shining presence will cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that He is Lord. Those in faith will not be shaken for their kingdom is forever secure!
Have you received the ‘unshakable kingdom’ promised by God to those living by faith? Could others who know you testify of your life of worship and reverence for God? Are you ready for the shaking of the heavens and the earth that is foretold?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus as Your final Word from heaven. Thank You for opening my ears to hear Your voice and respond in faith, drawing me to Jesus. Help me to live my life daily in such a way that others see You through my obedience, worship and joy of eternal life. Amen.
Give careful thought to your ways!
Scripture reading for September 25: Haggai 1-2
Have you ever struggled with priorities? Mary and I had just about gotten our children through college and the last one was ready to get married. We were enjoying our first senior pastorate in Lacey, Washington and an empty nest. We loved to go antiquing and sight-seeing on my day off. None of those things were sinful and we were having a good time. Then God spoke to us through a missionary and our friends about enlarging our family by adoption. To be honest, that choice did not initially look like something we wanted to do. We wrestled with it for some time, before becoming settled on the Lord’s will and priority for our lives. It was not easy, but has been the most rewarding blessing!
Haggai was speaking to people who had chosen to come back from Babylon and rebuild the temple and Jerusalem. Initially, these people had the right priority but they drifted away from the priorities that once motivated them and began to focus on themselves, their own houses, and family needs. They neglected the house of the Lord! (Haggai 1:2-4) Haggai spoke to them from the Lord: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains, and bring down timber and build a house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, “says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:5-8)
Have you experienced lack of satisfaction and lack of fulfillment? It may be your priorities are out of whack like those who were in Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord’s temple. They had gotten their focus onto themselves and their houses and neglected God’s house! God was gently reminding them of their priorities. If we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, everything we need will be added to us. If we try to grab what we need, even what we have will be lost! (Matthew 6:33)
We need to be about God’s business because a shaking is coming! (Haggai 2:6) God is going to shake the earth, sea, and all the nations of the earth. The ‘Desired of the Nations’ (Jesus Christ) is coming and will fill His house with glory! Jesus Christ did this in human form about 500 years after Haggai’s time. He will do it again during the millennial reign following the rapture of the church. The temple was the place of His first house and we are His temple today! “”The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:9)