7 [Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation.
Zephaniah 1:7-10(AMP)
8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who are clothed in [lavish] foreign apparel [instead of the Jewish dress, with its reminders to obey God’s commandments].
9 In the same day also will I punish all those who leap swiftly on or over the threshold [upon entering houses to steal], who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit and fraud.
10 And in that day, says the Lord, there shall be heard the voice of crying from the Fish Gate [in the wall of Jerusalem] and a wailing from the Second Quarter or Lower City and a great crashing and sound of destruction from the hills.
Bottom line: There is a day, appointed by God, for the judgement of the whole world.
Teaching
The bible says in the book of John 1:3 that God is the creator of all things; man, beast, and the whole earth. Without Him was nothing made. So, the whole world is answerable to him.
The scripture in our proof text makes us understand that, there is a day appointed by God for the judgement of everything He has created, man and beast alike. On that day, the Lord will set apart those who walked with Him and obeyed Him in truth and will punish all who are found putting on foreign apparel (iniquity, sin). The Bible says:
they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.
Psalm 96:13
It shall be a judgement of righteousness and only those who are found righteous before the Lord shall rejoice. How then do we obtain this righteousness? By our actions of goodwill? The Bible shows us:
Is the Law then contrary and opposed to the promises of God? Of course not! For if a Law had been given which could confer [spiritual] life, then righteousness and right standing with God would certainly have come by Law.
Galatians 3:21(AMP)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians:5:21(NIV)
Righteousness of God comes only through Jesus. Obtaining this righteousness is by submission to the Lord Jesus. Jesus died to take our sins on himself so that he can give us his righteousness, as such we are accepted before the Father. Everyone who receives the free gift of God obtains righteousness as a gift from Christ Jesus. So, no matter how good you can be towards others and society, you are not considered by God righteous in his sight if you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as Lord over your life. He is the only way to escape the judgment of God that shall come upon the unrighteous.
Anyone who receives the gift of God (Christ), has his name in the book of life. All who do not have their names in the Book of Life shall be cast in the lake of fire:
12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books.
13 And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works].
14 Then death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:12-15 (AMP)
So, give your life to Christ now before it’s too late. If you have already, make sure you remain in God till the end.
Further study
- Hebrew 9:27 [Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment]
Reflection
- Are you ready now to meet with your God if the trumpet sounds?
- If the Lord were to take you now, would he commend you for a job well done on earth?
- Is your name in the “BOOK OF LIFE”?
Prayer
I thank you Lord for the gift of righteousness that comes through your son Jesus. Thank you for making me righteous in your sight through Jesus. Now Lord, grant me the grace to live for you till the end, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
If you haven’t yet given your life to God, pray this prayer with me:
Lord Jesus. I have sinned against you in every way. Forgive me my sins today and wash me with your precious blood. On my own I can’t make it, so I invite you to be Lord over my heart and over my life. I receive the gift of your holy spirit. Now I am transformed. I am a new [wo]man, I am born again. Thank you Lord Jesus.
