He Faced The Wrath

Scripture:
Revelation: 6:12-17 (ESV)

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, andthe 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?”

Devotional:

Are there days when it seems that the earth just shakes against you?  If feels as if someone’s wrath is being poured out against you.  You think that God himself must hate you.  Everything out there is against you.  I am fairly certain we have all felt that way at some point in our lives.  There are times when nothing seems to go right.  You’ve heard the saying “kick a dog when he’s down.”  You know that it is you society keeps kicking.

The truth is that when the 6^th seal is broken there will be a great earthquake.  The sun will become dark and the moon will look like blood.  When that day comes nobody will be exempt from God’s wrath.  Well to be honest we deserve God’s wrath.  After all we are all sinners.  Romans 3:23 (ESV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” that means each and every one of us.

However, there is good news.  Romans 3:24 (ESV) “and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  Through Grace freely given to those who accept is given a free get out of hell card.  Christ paid the price.  He bought and redeemed us.  He faced God’s wrath for us. 

So the next time there is an earthquake or an eclipse just remember that Jesus paid your price and He faced the wrath for you…

God's Wrath, His Justice

Scripture

Revelation 6:9-11 (ESV)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Devotional:

Justice, everyone wants it.  The problem is that we do not always want God’s justice.  Instead we really desire vengeance.  As I think about this passage I reflect upon all those who have died because of their faith, what about those who will die for their faith.  I recall several years ago a teenage girl at school was shot and killed because of her faith.  She refused to renounce Jesus.  There people today all over the world who are murdered and martyred because of their faith in Jesus.

We wonder where the Justice is.  We ask where God is.  Some even believe that God isn’t real or doesn’t care.  However, the truth is God is there and He does care.  In the end God will deal out His justice.  Truth be told, we all deserve the wrath of His justice.  The only difference between a Christian whose belief is in Jesus and everyone else is, Jesus.  Jesus stepped in our place and took on the punishment of God’s justice for us. 

In the end we will all face God and give an account of our lives.  For us Jesus stands before us because He already paid the price.  For those who do not believe, they stand alone condemned.  They will bear the full force of God’s justice and the punishment that goes with it.  It is God’s desire that we all come to Christ.  God wishes that each and every one of us will accept and believe.  He will not push or force His way into our hearts.  He will wait upon us and let us decide.  The only catch is that once this life is over it is too late.

Which Road

Scripture:

Revelation 6:7-8 (ESV)

 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”  And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

Devotional:

I am sure you have heard it said there are only two things in life you have to do.  One of them is breath and the other is pay taxes.  There is also one event that we cannot escape no matter how hard we try.  It doesn’t what medical marvels man comes up with.  Sooner or later death comes knocking on each of our doors.  When the fourth seal is broken Death will come riding forth upon a pale horse.
 

It is hard to imagine at that time one quarter of the earth’s population will die.  Those days will be difficult.  We think we have it rough now.  For most of us we pick out something to wear, have breakfast, then it is off to work.  We come home eat dinner eventually go to bed.  We wake up in the morning and repeat the process.  The most difficult task might be trying to pay bills or fight rush hour traffic.  If we are not ready Revelation will catch us unaware.  Jesus tells us to be prepared.  We need to live each day like it will be our last.  Because eventually you will have a last day life as we know it.

The real question isn’t if we die, or even when we die.  What we need to be asking is where am I going after death?  When death does knock and you have to answer it will you be ready?  There are two roads to choose after we die.  Both roads lead to life, the question is where.  One road leads to heaven.  The other road leads to Hell.  The trick is you have to choose which road you want to take now before you die.  After Death’s knock it is too late.  Are you prepared?

Justice, Whose Justice

Scripture:
Revelation 6:9-11 (ESV)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Devotional:

The martyrs are ready for justice.  In the end God’s justice will prevail.  How is your heart?  Do you cry out for revenge?  Do you cry out for justice?  Whose justice are you seeking?  Is it your own or God’s?

It is normal to want justice served when we are wronged.  We just have to be careful not to cross the line into revenge.  The Bible states in Romans 12:19 (ESV), “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”  Wanting to extract your own “justice” or revenge you can eat at you.  The best thing to do is to let it go and give it to God.  Let him take care of it.  Instead of seeking revenge give forgiveness.  Your burdens will be a lot more manageable.  Jesus also tells us to forgive.  Forgiveness is as much for us as for the offending person.

The next time you want your justice or revenge give forgiveness instead.  It can be hard but keep in mind if you wrong someone you want them to forgive you.