October 15, Morning
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"But who may abide the day of his coming?" — Malachi 3:2 · KJV
His first coming was without outward pomp or show of power, and yet in truth few could abide its testing might. Herod and all Jerusalem with him were stirred at the news of the wondrous birth; and those who supposed themselves to be waiting for Him showed the emptiness of their profession by rejecting Him when He came. His life on earth was a winnowing fan that tried the great heap of religious profession, and few enough could abide the process. But what will His second coming be? What sinner can bear to think of it? "He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked." When in His humiliation He merely said to the soldiers, "I am He," they fell backward; what will be the terror of His enemies when He fully reveals Himself as the "I AM"? His death shook the earth and darkened heaven; what shall be the dreadful splendor of that day when, as the living Savior, He summons the living and the dead before Him? Oh, that the terrors of the Lord would persuade men to forsake their sins and kiss the Son, lest He be angry! Though a Lamb, He is yet the Lion of the tribe of Judah, tearing the prey in pieces; and though He breaks not the bruised reed, He will break His enemies with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. None of His foes shall stand before the tempest of His wrath, or hide from the sweeping hail of His indignation; but His beloved, bloodwashed people look for His appearing with joy, and hope to abide it without fear. To them He sits as a refiner even now, and when He has tried them, they shall come forth as gold. Let us search ourselves this morning and make our calling and election sure, so that the coming of the Lord may cause no dark forebodings in our minds. Oh, for grace to cast away all hypocrisy, and to be found of Him sincere and without rebuke in the day of His appearing!