DailyDevotion Judgment Day Is Coming. What Will Be Your Fate?
Psalm 18 37I chase my enemies and catch up with them and don’t go back until they’re completely defeated. 38I smash them so they can’t get up but fall under my feet. 39You arm me with strength to fight.
We probably should remember here that the LORD had appointed Israel to bring judgment on the nations they were displacing in the Promised Land. Here David is not talking about Saul, whom he let the LORD deal with for him, but the peoples in the Levant who were being punished by the LORD for not repenting and turning to him after the preaching of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was doing God’s will.
You and I as the Church are not called to execute divine judgment and wrath upon those who will not repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Rather, we are in the place of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, preaching to the people of the world to repent, to turn from their sins and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. Our enemies are not in the flesh but the spiritual realm and we put them to flight through prayer in the name of Jesus and preaching Jesus.
However, we should take note, Jesus is coming back as King and Judge of this world and its inhabitants. When Jesus returns he most certainly will do these things to the inhabitants of the world who did not turn and put their trust in him. He will send forth his holy angels and they will root out all who are wicked, who have put their trust in someone or something other than Jesus.
40You enable me to put my feet on the back of my enemies, so I wipe out those who hate me. 41They cry for help, but there’s no one to save them; they cried to the LORD, but He doesn’t answer them. 42I beat them fine like dust flying in the air; like mud on the streets I clear them away.
A terrible description of how it will be on that day of judgment. They will cry out to their governments, kings, rules, their wealth etc. to save them, but those things themselves will be under judgment. There will be no one to save them from the wrath of the Lamb who sought to save them from this end, but they refused. They hate him. They do not love him. They have no place in his kingdom.
43You free me from the quarreling of the people, and make me a leader of nations. 44People I don’t know serve me and obey me as soon as they hear of me. Foreigners cringe before me. 45Foreigners wilt like leaves and come trembling out of their fortifications.
Jesus isn’t putting up with any committees, advisors, or elections. The Father has made him the leader of nations. We were once not known to him. We heard the good news of the kingdom of God and we put our faith in Jesus. We serve him with willing hearts now and in the world to come. Through baptism we are made one with him and are no longer foreigners, strangers to the people of Israel. Yet, there are still those who to the end will not put their trust in Jesus. They remain strangers and foreigners to his kingdom. On the day of judgment they will cringe and wilt like leaves. They will fall before Jesus with trembling but will find no mercy. Those words of judgment in the gospels, “Go away, I never knew you.” will ring in their ears as they are cast away into the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Don’t be one of those people. Jesus came to save you. Put your trust in him and he will not turn you away.
Heavenly Father, grant us faith in your Son Jesus Christ so on the day of judgment we may escape his wrath and enter his kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.