Today’s readings: Zephaniah 1:14-18; Revelation 14:14–15:8; Luke 13:1-9
The great day of the Lord is near. Bear fruit—or else—for the end is near. The reaping sickle of God is about to be swung to harvest the earth. The good fruit will be gathered to heaven, while the fruitless will perish. But when the wrath of God is finished, the 144,000 of God—all who believed in the eternal gospel (Rev 14:6) will be found standing before God in his heavenly sanctuary.
What will deliver us from God’s wrath, and cause us to stand before the Lord of heaven? Will our silver or gold deliver us? Will we be spared a sudden, overwhelming, and eternal end because of our fine deeds? Only one thing will exempt us from God’s eternal displeasure. We must bear the good fruit of faith in Christ; we must keep the “great commandment” (Matthew 22:36-40). And “this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us” (1 John 1:23; Deut 6:5).
Prayer: Give me faith to believe in you, Lord. Amen.