God would not be mocked, what Israel had sown that shall she also reap. Or, as Amos put it, “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” One can imagine that, ‘Prepare to meet your God,' has been a slogan perhaps used by a cartoonist who wishes to ridicule the Christian message, but in reality there are few words which are graver. All men must meet God (Rom 14:10-13, 2 Cor 5:10), how such could be the matter of jesting is a mystery. Jesus warned, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). The New Testament records, “vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:30-31). Moses prayed in Psalm 90:11-12, who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Though given much time and opportunity to repent, we know how well Israel used that time as they failed to number their days. You too have been given time, but how will you use it? On the last day, will you be found to have followed Christ, resting in His full atonement and pleading His mercy and merit as the sole basis of your righteousness and salvation; or will you carelessly go into eternity relying on the merits of your own filthy rags and self-invented righteousness? Are you prepared to meet your God? |
