A Day of Reckoning
Thursday, January 5, 2023
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I both agree and disagree with Dr. King’s quote above. To me, it all comes down to timing.
If Dr. King was saying that truth and love will have the final word in the “here and now,” I think he was overly optimistic. At age 63, I have experienced enough of life to know that goodness and godliness aren’t always rewarded in this sin-stained world. Sometimes, at least from an earthly perspective, liars aren’t confronted, and thieves don’t get caught. Instead, they are often rewarded with promotions at work and even seats in Congress.
However, and I think this is what Dr. King was alluding to, there will come a Day of Reckoning. On that day, Jesus Christ will return to earth with His heavenly armies to defeat Satan’s forces, and to reign and rule for 1,000 years. After he is loosened for a short season, Satan will then be cast into the Lake of Fire forever and ever. Best of all, a New Jerusalem will descend from heaven in which God will live amongst His people for all eternity.
No more tears… no more death… no more sorrow, or crying, or pain. The former things – such as the aforementioned lies and hate – will have all passed away and be but a distant memory, if that.
It’s no wonder that the Apostle John, in exile on the Island of Patmos, ended the Book of Revelation with the following words: “Even so, come Lord Jesus,” after which he added a final salutation and blessing to his readers.
He, like you and me, was anxiously waiting for Jesus to return and set things straight… to usher in a perfect kingdom where truth and love would reign supreme because Jesus is the epitome and personification of both.
When will that “great day of the LORD” occur? Only God knows the answer to that question. However, we can say with absolute certainty that it is closer now than when Zephaniah penned the phrase above… or John wrote Revelation… or Dr. King uttered those words.
“The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly.” Zephaniah 1:14 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
