Not everyone could endure it when Jesus came the first time. Though it was extremely good news for every blind, captive, brokenhearted person (Isaiah 61:1-2), those blinded by pride saw His first arrival as a personal affront to their culture and religion. He did not come with judgment and vengeance, yet people inevitably judged themselves by their reaction to Him (John 3:17). It was a day that many could not endure.
When Jesus returns, the separation between those who endure and those who don’t will be much clearer. If not for His grace, no one could stand when He appears, not even the most righteous person on the planet. His purity, power, and presence are overwhelming to mortal flesh, and none will survive unless His Holy Spirit lives and empowers them within. It’s impossible for human beings, once fallen, to abide in the presence of a Holy God. Only by the blood of redemption can anyone live through the experience.
“Who can endure the day of His coming?” (Malachi 3:2)
There’s a strange balance between anticipating the excitement of Jesus’ return and the bracing for the shock of it. Like the early disciples, we can easily say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” And yet we know that His coming will be an awesome, dreadful event. Dreadful as in sovereign for those who are ready, and severe for those who are not. When He returns, there will be no posing to impress, no other purpose to pursue, no pretending to be a follower of His. All will be clear, and we will need to Know Where We Stand so that we can stand. We need to understand the judgment from which we were spared and the grace that spared us.
The Apostle Paul encourages us in Scripture to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). That’s an uncomfortable verse for us because we like the warm, fuzzy feelings that the Spirit of God give us. And while those feelings are legitimate, so are the ones that would drive us face down in His presence.
As we look forward to His return, we need a dual focus in our heart. For the sake of ourselves and for those around us, we need to understand the unspeakable trauma of judgment and the unimaginable depths of grace. We need to know who can endure the day of His coming.
Have a confident weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who are very aware of the “birth-pangs” that are happening in the world, which motivates them to keep their eyes on Him and speak to others about the hope within them.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 