Charles Spurgeon, known as the “Prince of Preachers”, was pastor of the New Park Street Chapel (later the great Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. Every Saturday is Spurgeon Saturday on our church’s Facebook page. The following true story, however, is one where Spurgeon missed the valuable message.
One day Charles Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, Spurgeon noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE.
Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. “Weather vanes are changeable,” Spurgeon said, “but God’s love is constant.”
Spurgeon’s friend replied: “I don’t agree with you about those words. You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating truth. Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love.”
Malachi 4:1 describes the coming terrible Day of the Lord. “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.” Verse 5 identifies it as the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.” His wrath will be poured out on the world in judgment. Hebrews 10:30-31 declares, “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’” says the Lord. And again, “‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Thankfully, the Lord is not only a God of wrath and judgment, but also of love and grace and mercy. In Malachi 3-4 He declares, “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him” (3:17). “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves” (4:2).
Truly the Lord’s love is great. If He was only a God of justice, His wrath would consume us. But His grace, mercy, and lovingkindness protect us from destruction.
The Lord’s wrath against sin and His lovingkindness toward us met at Calvary. Even greater than His physical suffering as He lay dying on the cross, Jesus endured the full measure of the Father’s wrath against sin. It was so horrible that, for the first and only time, the Father turned away and Jesus cried out in a loud voice (Matthew 27:46), “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Because of the Father’s love for us (John 3:16), He provided a way of salvation for us. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). I challenge you: Accept the salvation He provided for you and miss the coming Judgment.
God cannot accept sin and condemns it. For the person who rejects the offer of salvation, their sin Will Be judged at the Great White Throne judgment. There is only one verdict that day – Guilty! – and only one judgment – eternal punishment and suffering in Hell. For the person who accepts Christ’s offer of salvation, however, their sin Was judged on the cross. Jesus accepted the verdict, the judgment, and the suffering we deserved. As Horatio Spafford worded it for the third verse of his great hymn, “It is Well with my Soul”: “My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!” Hallelujah!
This Sunday, August 25, we will conclude our teaching series, “Living Right-side Up in an Upside Down World”, with a warning about “The Day of the Lord!” from Malachi 3-4. Please invite someone to join you at 10:35am in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday at 10:35am to both locations and would love to have you join us.
Coming Up: Everyone is invited to a Labor Day Potluck Lunch in the Fellowship Hall right after the 10:35am service on Sunday, September 1. Bring your favorite picnic foods to add to the table. It will be ono-licious!
Women and keiki, reserve Saturday, September 7, 11:30am for a fun time in the Fellowship Hall. Bring something delicious to add to the table. Our next “Drive-through Prayer” outreach in the parking lot is 11a-1p that same day.
Aloha ke Akua!
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