In today’s reading from Daniel, God’s judgment on Babylon’s King Belshazzar was announced in a very dramatic way. A disjointed man’s hand suddenly appeared and wrote on the wall. History tells us the pronouncement in “the handwriting on the wall” was carried out that very night.
God’s Word may not suddenly appear on the walls of our government. It may not appear on the walls of our homes or businesses, but it’s just as sure in our lives and the world at large.
Today’s New Testament reading warns of God’s judgment, too. This time against false teachers. Their doctrines are man-centered and appeal to the flesh and our selfish nature. No wonder they are still popular today. Yet, because they are often mixed with truth, their lies can seem plausible. But they will pull us away from knowing God as He really is and often shipwreck our faith. So, we need to be able to recognize them.
Every day we read about people who abuse children, traffic in other human beings, sell drugs to teenagers, and desert their families. We see people who destroy the lives and reputations of others to get ahead financially or politically or to acquire power in some area of life. Others become wealthy by preying on the most vulnerable. Why do evil people seem to get away with murder?
Add to that, events like school shootings, terror attacks, and hate crimes and it’s tempting to wonder, “Where is God?” “Why doesn’t He deal with evil people who do such things?”
Do you believe Jesus is coming back soon? If so, what does it mean to live in light of that truth?
When we don’t, we may end up living like the people in Jeremiah’s time who needed God’s rod of judgment, as we will see in our Old Testament reading.
And as we dig deeper into Psalm 119, we will see how knowing and contemplating God’s Word can help us stay clear of sin and grow in our understanding of God and His will.
Have you ever heard someone say, “I might as well live it up, I’m going to hell anyway?” Maybe that’s you. The feeling that our spiritual condition is hopeless and not worth the effort is nothing new. Is there hope for us if we feel like we have gone too far and that our sin is beyond redemption?
Also, read about God’s faithfulness to those who continue to follow Him even in the midst of an evil world, how our hearts can so easily deceive us, and how important it is for all of us to give and receive encouragement.
God through the prophet Isaiah had a lot to say about judgment. And in chapter 3, He spoke directly to the women of Isaiah’s day. He warned them that judgment would come in the areas that were so important to them. What did that mean?
But God didn’t send Isaiah to His people out of meanness. He sent him to warn them so they could repent and turn from evil and going their own way because God cannot be just, holy, and righteous and not judge evil. Something our nation, as a whole, needs to understand.
So, what does all this have to do with tattoos and t-shirts? And what words of encouragement did Isaiah include in his warnings?
Two people will be working together. One will disappear and the other will be left behind. Men and women will be eating and sleeping and going about their business. Some will be gone in an instant and others left behind. How about you? If Jesus came back today, would you go or could you be left behind?
When we looked at Psalm 73 a few days ago, we saw that the psalmist Asaph had been tempted to envy the wicked for their seeming prosperity and lack of problems. That is until he got his focus back onto God and remembered the judgment that awaited them if they didn’t repent. In today’s reading from the Psalms, he revisited that subject and praised God for His righteous judgment.
And at the end of 2 Kings, we see a great example of God’s mercy to His own even in the midst of national judgment.
Do you look around and see wicked people doing fine … even prospering? Have you ever thought, “Why bother doing what is right?!” or “I’ve been good for nothing!” Those were the Psalmist’s thoughts. Psalm 73 has a powerful message for every believer who has ever struggled with those kinds of thoughts and feelings about wicked people.
And speaking of wicked people, we’ll read about a grandmother so evil she had her own grandchildren murdered. We’ll, also, consider the influence wives and mothers can have on their children, grandchildren, and the world around them … for good or for evil.
And read about the foolishness of judging when you only hear one side of the story and the danger we run of taking sides without knowing the facts.
Over the last few years, we have seen more than our share of protests. In fact, as Americans, we have a tradition of protest and, certainly, some protest is healthy.
But many of today’s protests have taken on an ugly, finger-pointing, refusal-to-even-listen-to-the-other-side tone. It’s one thing to protest genuine injustice, especially when it’s in defense of those who are least able to defend themselves, but have many of our protests turned into the kind that God will judge?
Even if we’re on the side of truth, have our attitudes toward those with whom we disagree become displeasing to the Lord? If so, what should we do and how should we respond to those who protest against, even attack, our stand for God and His righteousness?
The Tribulation can be challenging to understand for believers and non-believers alike. But we must remember that though God is a God of mercy and grace, He is also the Righteous Judge and must one day judge evil. While no one knows the day or the time, He will, possibly soon, begin opening the seven seals of Revelation 6 and unleashing final judgment on all who refuse to repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. What will that look like?
