When my kids are caught doing something wrong, they usually respond in one of two ways – in anger towards us for catching them or in tearful grief over their sin. People respond similarly to God, as we will see in this week’s passage.
Last week, we explored the
first 3 angels pour out their plagues from God’s bowls of wrath. This week, we’ll
examine the next 2 angels and plagues. Once again, God offers opportunities for
people to repent. Notice how they react.
Revelation 16:8-11 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the
sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They
were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had
control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the
beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their
tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of
heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to
repent of what they had done.
It surprises me to see people
continue to rebel against God, curse him and fail to recognize their rightful
place before a Holy God. The only right response is sincere repentance. How do
you and I respond to conviction of sin? With grief that leads to repentance?
II Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and
leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Are
you continuing in defiance against God, like the people in Revelation 16, or have
you humbly submitted to the Holy God who has all authority? If the latter, then
you have personal access to God through Jesus and eternal salvation!
