Read Psalm 76:7-12. 7But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? 8From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, 9when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. 10Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. 11Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, 12who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.
Revelation 6:17 asks this same question, who can stand? The wrath of the Lamb is unleashed. The sky rolls up like a scroll. Mountains are moved. Trees are shaken. Stars are falling. All people everywhere try to hide or beg for death. It is the great day of wrath. A future day so certain that the psalmist speaks of it in the past tense.
Can anyone survive this great and terrible day of the Lord? Yes. The humble. In fact, the reason for God’s judgment is to rescue the humble of the earth. Blessed are the meek, Jesus said, for they will inherit the earth. They will inherit God’s great reversal. A reversal that will see the wrath of man turned into the praise of God. Where is this more true than at the cross? Man’s wrath sent Christ to a vengeful death, but Christ’s death brought with it the praise and glory of God that alone invokes our worship of him and his grace forever.
Will you stand on the day of judgment? On what (or who) will you stand? Has the cross of Christ brought on by the wrath of man humbled you? The final question isn’t will you submit to God, everyone will. But will you submit to him willingly, humbly, in meekness, and to the Lamb that was slain? Or will you submit to him by force, begging for his rock to fall on your head and crush you?
Revelation 6:16-17. 16calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
To live is Christ is stand on his cross on the day of the judgment, trusting in the judgment he received in our place.
You: What images does the day of judgment stir up in you?
You in Christ: On what basis will you stand before God on the day of judgment?
Christ in you: How might you fall on the rock of Christ today rather than risking the Rock falling on you?
Pray: Father, humble me again today before your presence. I stand on Christ alone. Amen.
To Live is Christ 