See today the invitation of our God, portrayed in Scripture as the creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. He calls us people to come to him in joy. He calls all people to trust him and enter into the fellowship which he has prepared for his people. He invites us to walk along with him, safe from all harm in his protective hand. He welcomes us despite our weakness, despite our sin and shame. And as we see in 1 Peter, God himself has sent his son to bear the penalty for our sin and shame so we don't have to bear that penalty. With what a huge price has our Lord bought us!
What of those who determine they will reject the offer the Lord extends? In the final day they will face the wrath and judgment of the Lord. He is God over the believing and the unbelieving alike. He has welcomed people to be his people, to walk as his friends. Those who refuse are stating that they are able to run their own lives, to care for themselves, to stand in the final day as their own judges, their own lawgivers, their own wise, good and kind rulers.
We see in today's reading that only those who are perfect can stand in that final day. And there is only one who is perfect, the one true God. If we think we can stand in our own righteousness we need to look again at the standard which God has proclaimed. It is not a standard we can uphold. It is a standard only he can fulfill. Let us not deceive ourselves. Let us not think we can prove ourselves good enough. Let us not lean on our own wisdom, twisted as it is. Let us cast ourselves rather on the perfect righteousness of Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died a shameful death taking our sin upon himself, and lives again because he himself is the resurrection and the life. Let us look to his coming and celebrate him in all we do and say.
No comments:
Post a Comment