Hebrews 12:25-29 (NKJV) 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
“Yet once more God will shake not only the earth, but heaven also”. These words are not a surprise any follower of Jesus having an ear to hear what the Spirit says through the written Word of God. Having read Matthew 24, Romans 1:18-32, II Thessalonians 1:6-11, II Peter 3:7-12 and the book of Revelation most believers can easily see 1) God’s Kingdom will come with a shaking for the ungodly and wicked who refuse to obey the gospel of God 2) The shaking will carry them to their everlasting and just punishment. Sadly, many Christians erroneously miss the truth that as God begins this shaking the church will be in the midst of it. We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, but that kingdom is not fully realized until Jesus return, so the shaking at the beginning will affect the church.
1 Peter 4:17-18 (NKJV) 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
1 Peter 4:17-18 (NKJV) 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
Some would conjecture that judgment coming to the house of God would be a negative thing, That is simply not the case. The context of the above scripture is that of persecution against the church where the Holy Spirit is encouraging them to endure suffering for the sake of Christ, suffering that will purify their love for God and their faith in the Savior. For all who would call themselves followers of Jesus we ought to consider God’s Word very carefully, for indeed in our nation the church is about to be shaken, and indeed needs to be, for the sake of Jesus. Consider the words of A.W. Tozer in his book, “Preparing for Jesus Return”…
“God is not going to allow His carnal, lustful, money-loving, pleasure-loving children to go rushing pellmell, singing gospel boogie into the presence of the holy God. Something radical must take place to shake them loose from their carnal appetites.
The God who is holy said, “Be ye holy, for I am holy”. I believe that God is going to prepare His people, and He is going to say to them, “Take a bath. Not with soap and detergent and water, but in the blood of Jesus, as of a Lamb without spot and without blemish”.
Throughout the entirety of A.W. Tozer’s ministry he preached, wrote and spoke of the intimacy we can enjoy with God, the power of God’s Word and the danger of the church drifting from God’s purposes for us to being commercialized, complacent, compromised and cold to our first Love. This was not because of any particular genius on his part, but because men of God who stick to the Word of God clearly see the shaking that is about to take place. Make no mistake these events will be judgment coming to the house of God and it is designed to break our white knuckle grip on the things we hold to for security apart from what God intended to give us security. The personal liberty, finances, economy, material provision and implements of rest, relaxation, entertainment and fun we have held on to up to this point, have been leaking away little by little over the last several years. When the shaking begins, they will be a distant memory.
I suppose some may say what I write is doom and gloom, yet my reason for writing to illustrate God’s mercy to those He loves. Consider a small part of Tozer’s above quote…
“God is not going to allow His carnal, lustful, money-loving, pleasure-loving childrento go rushing pellmell, singing gospel boogie into the presence of the holy God. Something radical must take place to shake them loose from their carnal appetites”.
The key word is “children”. God will not allow His children to be involved long term with what is a waste of their time and leads to the depletion of their sanctified soul. Ultimately He does this for love of His only begotten Son, for whom He is preparing a Bride without spot or wrinkle. So here is the conclusion of the matter. Is there anything in your life that you refuse to let go of, anything you hold as absolutely essential outside of God Himself, His Word or His calling in Christ? It is much better to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God than to be humbled by Him. Consider the days which are upon us, release your grip and entrust all of who you are to the the God who is above all.
You must log in to post a comment.