Read Psalm 97:1-5. 1The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
Psalm 96 ended with the Earth rejoicing over the reign of Christ with singing, exulting, and roaring, but here in Palm 97 the Earth is trembling, burning, melting. Is the return of Christ delight or is it doom?
Yes.
The return of Christ is the return of purity, holiness, justice. For some this will be an invitation to experience these things in Christ as the abundant life he promised. The life of fullness and completion. Of rest and righteousness. Of joy and gladness. But for others the return of Christ will be a great day of sorrow. Of inescapable fire. Of desperation and destruction.
Why such a difference? Well, not because God is different. The psalmist is describing the same event in Psalms 96 and 97. The same Jesus returning to the same Earth with the same holiness and same justice, has two very different effects. What effect will it have on you?
Are you in Christ? If you are then you will welcome the purifying love of Christ to the Earth. Just as his love is inevitably yet painfully removing impurity in you today, it will one day painfully remove all impurity from the entire universe. To live is Christ both welcomes this and warns of this.
Prayer. Jesus, you are perfect in love and holiness. Keep changing me though it is painful. Come change the world in your timing and by your justice. Amen.
To Live is Christ 