“Now I will arise,” says the LORD “now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted. You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you. And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire. Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might.” vs10-13

We must acknowledge the might of Jesus Christ, if we are wise. He is the mighty God with power to destroy. He is the only Savior. He is the Judge on the last day, as Peter preached, “And He commands us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” On the last day, He will resurrect men - some for everlasting shame, contempt, and destruction… others for eternal paradise. Some will shine bright like the sun, others will be tormented in hell.

It is only right to fear God. We are not mighty enough to withstand Him. We are puny and small. Judgment ought to terrorize us to the cross; it should prove the need of Jesus and obtaining mercy. We must take seriously the command to come to Christ. He says, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [exactly who He says], you will die in your sins.”

The wages of sin are eternal death, and the gift of God is life through Christ! By faith in Him - a living union - we escape from death into life! Our sins are pardoned, and we are forgiven of all transgressions. We are fully justified. Paul says, “And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” There’s no way to be good enough for God, but you can obtain mercy.

God gives faith: it is not something that we can stir up ourselves, so let us be wise and believe now, while we can. While we have light, we must walk in the light, lest He hides Himself, and we can’t believe later. “‘While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.” Take seriously the grace of God.

Some preach a gospel that has no warfare and no overcoming sin; it is pretty on the outside with polished words and isolated Scriptures, but it is not the gospel that leads to holiness! This is a fight of faith and a war. Without Christ, we can do nothing. We have no comfort, no joy, and no peace, because NOTHING in the world satisfies. Take Him seriously with godly fear. Call upon Him in repentance. Go to Him with sincerity of heart, asking for help with besetting sin, help walking uprightly, and help will come. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Repent wholeheartedly and make your chest bare. Confess your faults to one another, so that we can be healed [James 5:16]. Be zealous of good works!