Shaken Not Stirred
The Bible reveals that the one true God is unchanging and cannot be moved. For this reason, He is identified as the rock, the fortress. There is no god beside Him, and there is no one who can resist His will. With sovereign will and power, our God reigns in glory.
The sheep of God’s pasture are His people in the presence of His and their enemies. Sheep are helpless and hopeless apart from their shepherd. They are calmed by his rod and his staff and even more importantly…his loving care. God’s people need their Good Shepherd (Ps 23; Jn 10). His Word of promise is their comfort and strength to endure the day of trouble. Sheep thrive in the presence of the one who is for them and who knows each of their names. Christians thrive in hearing the voice of Christ, whose Spirit dwells within each of His own. His people love His Word because they love Him. They love Him because He first loved them (1 Jn 4:19).
Jesus Christ is the perfect man because He is perfect God. He cannot deny Himself or His character would crumble before us. Jesus Christ is the standard revelation of God and what He requires of man. Jesus Messiah was like us in the flesh, yet without sin (Jn 1:14; Heb 4:15). Who can dwell on God’s holy hill? Only Jesus Christ, the God-man, has right standing before the righteous Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25). No one else has this required righteousness that serves as shelter brought in from the storm of God’s wrath against sin and sinners (Rom 1:18; 1 Thess 1:10).
For this reason, from the pillar of truth comes the voice crying in the dark wilderness of Satan’s domain, “Repent and believe!” The unshakeable kingdom is the kingdom of God (Heb 12:25–29), for the kingdom of this world is passing away (1 Jn 2:17). Even now the fags of future destruction have been kindled and await the eyes aflame with just judgment (Rev 1:14; 2:18; 19:2). King Jesus, the dread champion of heaven, is coming to make war with this world, its kings and kingdoms (Rev 19:11–21).
Who can stand before the omnipotent God? Who creates and destroys (Job 41:10; Ps 147:17; Jer 49:19; 50:44; Nahum 1:6; Mal 3:2)? The whole earth shakes in anticipation of the coming sun of righteousness, the just Judge. Men may not tremble, today, at the isolated reports of war, plague, pestilence, and famine. The Day of the Lord is coming when men will wish for death instead of their day in His court. They will demand their own death by stoning (Rev 6:16), but it will not be granted until the full cup of His wrath is ready to be poured out on all flesh.
Whereas the reprobate unbeliever scoffs at our report of these matters, the Christian fears God and desires of himself to be obedient to all God has commanded, for He knows that He who does all that is right will never be shaken (Ps 15:5). The Christian trembles at the reality of his incessant failure to keep the Holy Law of God. He knows He cannot dwell in the presence of the Holy One.
For this reason, He who is wise among us will not lean on His own understanding, but he bears witness that his trust is in the Lord, who performs all our works for us (Is 26:12). It is the Spirit of God who causes the believer to walk in God’s statutes (Ezek 36:27). Who dares claim he walks uprightly, works righteousness, speaks truth, does no evil? Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17; Gal 6:14), who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).
Jesus Christ is the only One who will never be shaken. Our Rock, our Fortress, and Shelter from the storm warrants our trust because He alone has endured the wrath of God directed at all our ungodliness and unrighteousness (Rom 1:18; 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). Christ alone delivers us from God’s wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10), in the melting of the heavens and the earth (2 Pet 3:10–12). Apart from Christ, men can do nothing to save themselves or others from the wrath of the Lamb. You are either with Him, even in Him, or He is against you.
The dichotomy of humanity begs us to see that men either tremble in humility and awe, today, or they will tremble in terror on the day of His eternal wrath, when those weeping and gnashing their teeth will cry from the pangs of fiery torment. “That’s not fair!” cries the reprobate judge of God, who is without God. Woe to you, arrogant man of pride, for you will be found out on the day appointed for your resurrection and sentencing by the just Judge of the living and the dead (Jn 5:28–29; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5).
You speak blasphemies with little thought, today, but on that day, you will be speechless before Him who knows your futile mind, idle words, and filthy works. Yes sir, you will be shaking in your shoes with unclean feet that traveled the earth to sin against God, who knows all things to bring into account (2 Cor 5:10). Friend, tremble now or you will tremble at the judgment seat of Christ who has all authority in heaven and earth to judge the living and the dead (Mt 28:18).
Flee to Christ and the cross that bears witness of eternal salvation. You have done so, or you will do so on the day of salvation appointed for you. It has been appointed that the life giver will come to all who were appointed to life (Jn 6:63; Acts 13:48) by the Author of life. Do not be afraid although you tremble on approach, for all that the Father gives to His Son will come to Him, and He will not cast you out nor leave you or forsake you (Jn 6:37; Heb 13:5). Trust Him who does not change.
Woe to you who refuse His Gospel call. Hell is not hot enough for you, O wretched man. You are a fool to shun God’s mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness, but that is who you are and what you do. Your darkened mind and hardened heart are merely rigor mortis for you soul. You do not shake now, but you will be shaking for eternity. The earthquake, the unbearable summer heat, frigid winter cold, along with the storm, the war, and the strife of every day are telling you the truth. Never rest but be assured that you will be shaken, and ever shaking, if today you are not stirred.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 13, 2022
