Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 38:23
There are some places we don’t like to go, and some people we don’t like to associate with because of the bad language. Profanity seems to be getting worse and more prevalent these days. It’s embarrassing and awkward for a Christian to hear that, and to know that all most people know about God is how to use His name in vain. The Bible is an unknown Book to most people, and the vast majority of churches are struggling to survive as membership disappears. As far as a growing majority of people are concerned, God is irrelevant to them, just an antiquated concept that has no place in their lives and no impact on their character. In case you haven’t noticed, this attitude rubs off on us Christians, and it’s a struggle to maintain a right appreciation of our Lord.
Our text is describing a day when everyone will acknowledge the Lord. There will be no exceptions. No atheists will stand at the Great White Throne in that day. All of those who ignored, disdained, or outright opposed God while in this world will have changed their minds. They may still curse God as they are flung into the flames, but they won’t deny His existence, His power, or His Lordship. They will know forever how wrong and how foolish they were. Before we shake our head at them, we need to look in a mirror and take note of somebody who was just like them before the Holy Spirit began to work with us. We have nothing to be proud of. We used to be just as bad as the worst blasphemers and rebels we know. The reality that we have been rescued from that terrible path to destruction should keep us humble, thankful, and anxious to help others to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Are we as humble as we should be? Judging you by myself, I can see too much pride, too much looking down on people who have never been given the truth, even on other Christians who don’t know the truths of God’s New Testament Assembly. Shame on us! Are we as thankful as we should be for what God has done for us? I remember the man who God used to bring me to Himself telling me that as many times in the day as I could think of it, to send up a little prayer of thanks for saving my soul. I confess, I don’t say that prayer often enough. Are we as anxious as we should be to see others saved? Few of us can say yes to that. Shame on us.
While it is true that someday all of mankind will acknowledge the Lord, it should encourage us to know that the day will also allow us to appreciate His Lordship as we should. -Jim MacIntosh