Monday, Matt’s devotional reflected on Jonah’s frustration with our compassionate God whom he knows is gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. This merciful God gives numerous warnings, having provided over 2,000 years of warning about the final judgment. A day will come when He pours out all His wrath and completes judgment on sinful humanity.
Revelation 15:5-8 5 After this I
looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant
law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the
temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were
dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their
chests. 7 Then one of the four living
creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the
wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And
the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power,
and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven
angels were completed.
As a holy and just God, He
must punish sin. Yet, He is also compassionate and gracious, offering people ample
opportunities to repent before it’s too late. The number seven, symbolizing
completeness, appears here again in Revelation, signifying the thorough and
complete judgment that will take place. This event is so significant that no
one will be able to enter the temple until all seven plagues from the seven
bowls of God’s wrath have been emptied.
In the chapters that follow,
we will see God’s people rejoicing and feasting with Him at the wedding feast
of Jesus. No more tears. Everything will be made new. Jesus awaits His
followers on the other side.
Are you and I ready to meet
Jesus face-to-face today? What about those around us? How can we be used to
help those around us prepare to meet Jesus?
