Ground to Powder

Last night before bed I read the passage in Revelation when the sixth seal is opened, one of many judgments which are coming upon the earth.  God's wrath with be released upon people who have rejected Jesus Christ as it is written in Revelation 6:15-17:  "And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

When I think of lambs, I picture a soft woolly creature feeding on grass or bouncing around a green meadow--not anything capable of wrath and destruction.  Jesus Christ is the Lamb without blemish referred to here, for He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  The first time Jesus walked the earth (as was supposed) the son of Joseph and Mary He came as a gentle and meek Saviour, and when He returns He shall return as a conquering KING OF KINGS.  He is the same Saviour and LORD on both occasions without contradiction.  When we were children the same dad who protected and brought comfort to us with his strength struck fear into our hearts when angered at our lies or disobedience:  the same is true with Jesus.  He came as the Lamb of God, but having been rejected and scorned the manner of His return will be with wrath.

It is a harrowing situation when men plead for the rocks to fall on them to hide them from the face of God and His great wrath.  Yet there is no hiding from the God who sees all, the One who predicted this very thing.  Jesus made an allusion to the "stone rejected by the builders" which God had chosen and made the chief cornerstone.  The builders in the metaphor were the Jewish religious leaders, and Jesus was the stone they rejected.  Jesus said in Matthew 21:44, "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Those who lament the judgment of God and seek refuge in caves, pits, or under rocks that fall upon them have no hope, for their only hope would be to fall on the stone in repentance, faith, and brokenness rather than having the Stone fall on them.  It is ironic to ask for what can only grind to dust.

Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."  It is true none can stand before a holy God, for His wrath is poured out on the unrighteous.  Since Jesus Christ is our only hope we are called to run to Him, to joyfully accept His invitation to draw near in faith.  If we reject our only salvation, caves and rocks will provide no protection whatsoever from the wrath which is surely coming.  He is fierce and terrible, and the wise tremble before Him in reverent fear.  His power to save is matched only by His wrath against the ungodly, and our righteousness comes only by grace through faith in Him.  Jesus Christ is a sure foundation, our Rock of Salvation, the stone rejected by builders which God has made the Chief Cornerstone.  In Him is forgiveness and salvation today, but those who reject Him will face the full measure of God's wrath someday.  Better to be broken in contrition than ground to powder!