For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Devotional Thoughts
By David Wilkerson
God is calling His people to watch and be sober as the day of destruction nears. "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Paul exhorts the brethren in 1 Thessalonians, saying: "What is to this world a tragic night of darkness and destruction is the dawning of a new day to you who watch and are sober. This day of darkness and fiery judgment has nothing to do with us!" As surely as we are not of this world, we are not destined for darkness and destruction, "for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
As the labor pains increase it means something glorious to Christ's bride! It is one crisis closer to home! It is their countdown to destruction; it is our countdown to glory! It is their appointment with wrath; it is our appointment with resurrection! They will weep and gnash their teeth; we will rejoice and shout for joy!
According to Scripture, God's people are to earnestly desire this fiery day of sudden destruction.
"But the day of the Lord will come as thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for an hasting [longing for] unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, SEEING THAT YE LOOK FOR SUCH THINGS, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness" (2 Peter 3:10-14,17).
We are to earnestly look for that day of burning — because this old sin-cursed earth must be purged to bring on our new heaven and earth, where His righteousness dwells.