And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Heb. 9:27, 28).
That it is appointed unto human beings once to die is a fact of universal knowledge, and it is universally acknowledged. Unbelievers agree with Christians on this point: Everyone dies. But the next statement, "after this the judgment," we can know only from revelation. After death the next experience of every human being will be the judgment. Are we ready for it? We must face it. Yes, we must face Christ in judgment, for God "hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).
But here is another promise: Christ, who was once offered to bear the sins of humanity, will "appear the second time without sin unto salvation." This is the blessed hope. He who bore our sins upon the cross will again be manifested. He will come in power and glory as "King of kings, and Lord of lords" (Rev. 19:16). Those who have accepted His atoning sacrifice for sin upon the cross will behold Him with joy. They will "be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" (1 Cor. 15:51, 52). They "shall be like him; for...[they] shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). But to those blinded by sin and their own selfishness, He will appear as the judge they cannot bear to see. Sir Walter Scott wrote of that time, that hour, that day:
The day of wrath, that dreadful day,
When heaven and earth shall pass away!
What power shall be the sinner's stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?
The way to meet it is in Christ, in the blessed hope. We must first look to Him, and then we shall look for Him. Life is a preparation for a greater life.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou satest in the throne judging right" (Ps. 9:4).
That it is appointed unto human beings once to die is a fact of universal knowledge, and it is universally acknowledged. Unbelievers agree with Christians on this point: Everyone dies. But the next statement, "after this the judgment," we can know only from revelation. After death the next experience of every human being will be the judgment. Are we ready for it? We must face it. Yes, we must face Christ in judgment, for God "hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).
But here is another promise: Christ, who was once offered to bear the sins of humanity, will "appear the second time without sin unto salvation." This is the blessed hope. He who bore our sins upon the cross will again be manifested. He will come in power and glory as "King of kings, and Lord of lords" (Rev. 19:16). Those who have accepted His atoning sacrifice for sin upon the cross will behold Him with joy. They will "be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" (1 Cor. 15:51, 52). They "shall be like him; for...[they] shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). But to those blinded by sin and their own selfishness, He will appear as the judge they cannot bear to see. Sir Walter Scott wrote of that time, that hour, that day:
The day of wrath, that dreadful day,
When heaven and earth shall pass away!
What power shall be the sinner's stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?
The way to meet it is in Christ, in the blessed hope. We must first look to Him, and then we shall look for Him. Life is a preparation for a greater life.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Thou satest in the throne judging right" (Ps. 9:4).
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