This theme, “The great day of the Lord,” is used much in the Bible. Why? What is God’s purpose? Man by nature continues on day by day as if his days will never end. We are dependent on the Lord, our Creator, for every breath. Yes, without His strength we cannot move so much as one muscle. Death and judgment stand at the door and should be expected any moment. “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity” (Ps. 39:5). The great day of the Lord could be any day for us! “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. . . . Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them” (Ps. 39:4, 6).

The world goes on as if there is no God. People think they shall live forever, and by nature we are of the world. “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered” (Mal. 3:14–15). Many times God’s Word warns of the great day when Christ will come on the clouds to judge the quick and the dead, but there are other great days spoken of. For God’s people their greatest day is the day of salvation, the day when God reveals Himself unto them in and through Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. This is a resurrection from spiritual death to spiritual life. Perfect holiness, of which they have none, is the requirement for access to God. They are lost sinners before this glorious, holy, and all-knowing Lord.

We are brought to see the need for a righteousness outside of ourselves, Jesus Christ the righteous. The God we have offended is the One we need. God, who is angry with the wicked every day, sent His Son to be the propitiation or sin bearer for His hell-worthy people. This is for them the great day of the Lord. “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 and hasting 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? . . . Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:11–12, 14). What a contrast that great day shall be! Eternal woe for the unrepentant but eternal glory for those who learned here in the world to repent and love the Lord.

The Lord’s right hand is high exalted, Jehovah’s strong and mighty hand;

The vaunting enemy He halted, and made His chosen ones to stand.

I shall not die but live before Him, and all His mighty works declare,

That all may joyfully adore Him who in His lovingkindness share.

Psalter 427:3 (Ps. 118)

Mr. Cornelius VanKempen known as Case, has been married to Susan for fifty-eight blessed years. They attend and are members of Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, MI.