Malachi 3:2

His first coming was without external pomp or show of power, and yet in truth there were few who could endure its testing might. Herod and all Jerusalem with him were stirred at the news of the wondrous birth. Those who supposed themselves to be waiting for Him showed the fallacy of their professions by rejecting Him when He came.

His life on earth was a winnowing fan, which tried the great heap of religious profession, and few enough could endure the process.

But what will His second advent be? What sinner can endure to think of it? He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

When in His humiliation He only said to the soldiers, I am he, they fell backward. What will be the terror of His enemies when He will more fully reveal Himself as the "I am"? His death shook earth and darkened heaven; what will be the dreadful splendor of that day in which, as the living Savior, He will summon the quick and dead before Him?

Oh, that the terrors of the Lord would persuade men to forsake their sins and kiss the Son lest He be angry! Though a Lamb, He is yet the Lion of the tribe of Judah, rending the prey in pieces; and though He does not break the bruised reed, yet He will break His enemies with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

None of His foes will withstand the tempest of His wrath or hide themselves from the sweeping hail of His indignation. But His beloved, blood-washed people look for His appearing with joy and hope to endure it without fear. To them He sits as a refiner even now, and when He has tested them, they will come forth as gold.

Let us search ourselves this morning and make our calling and election sure, so that the coming of the Lord may cause no dark forebodings in our minds. Oh, for grace to cast away all hypocrisy and to be found by Him sincere and without rebuke in the day of His appearing.