The Last Days Follow God's Judgment
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 2:12-22
The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty …
Isaiah 2:12
The promise of coming salvation is again combined with the warning of a coming day of judgment.
In an age that has rejected the very possibility of ultimate truth and values, the idea of judgment isn’t popular. But it is a key part of the gospel message. It’s a theme that spans both the Old and New Testaments. Listen as Jesus says, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned” (John 5:24).
But what justice issues will be on the table on judgment day? As Isaiah speaks about the arrogant being brought low, he reminds the people that the worst sin is pride. “The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty …” Pride is singled out as the key concern of the great Judge. Pride was at the heart of the fall of our first parents (Genesis 3). And pride was at the heart of idolatry in Judah. Many believed in their own ability to manipulate idols of gold and silver to get what they wanted for themselves.
Isaiah says that when the day of judgment comes, they “will throw away … their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship.” It would be good to ask ourselves what idols we worship today. Now is the time to throw them away and worship Christ, our true Lord.
Gracious Lord, we are so easily filled with pride, which only separates us from you. Thank you for turning our eyes to Jesus, who became a servant in order to save us. Amen.
About the author — Victor Atallah
Rev. Victor Atallah is the broadcast team leader for The Back to God Hour Arabic ministry and the general director of Middle East Reformed Fellowship. These meditations are based on texts of Arabic broadcasts aired a few years ago and an Arabic commentary on the book of Isaiah prepared for publication. Rev. Atallah and his wife, Lisa, live in Larnaca, Cyprus, where The Back to God Hour Arabic ministry is based. The ministry reaches Arabic-speaking people throughout the Middle East and North Africa, introducing them to Jesus Christ, Savior of the nations.
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