Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
12/18 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 21; Revelation 9; Zechariah 5; John 8:12-59
2 Chronicles 21:20
And he departed with no one’s regret.
JUDGMENT
It’s a sad commentary upon a man’s life to say he was so wicked that when he died there were no regrets over his death. Yes, Jehoram’s life was that evil and that offensive to a holy God. The statement from our verse, however, has far greater implications as it pertains to eternity. In the Day of Judgment, when the Lord Jesus Christ reveals the glory of His grace and the holiness of His justice, all those who have rebelled against almighty God and rejected His Christ will be seen in all truth for the vile wretches they really are. There will be no regret, no remorse, and no remembrance over their reprobate lives rightly judged since…
“…the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4
This is sobering for us because, apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ, such was our lot for sins committed against a good, holy, and supreme God. Apart from the grace of God in Christ Jesus, such was our judgment for all worship omitted from a gracious and merciful God who deserves every breath of praise and every loving reverence in adoration.
Christ Jesus reminds us through the writing of the apostle,
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
Therefore, you and I are thankful for God’s grace in Christ and rejoice in His salvation. This truth also provokes us to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ to others with a holy zeal— for if God can save us, He can most certainly save others as well. This truth also instills in us temperate behavior before God to honor Him and obey Him. This truth also fills us with tenderness in our interactions with fellow believers because if Christ has saved them, their value is eternally priceless due to the Lamb’s shed blood for them. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The memory of wicked men
Will Jesus wipe away;
God’s truth will be reveal’d to them,
And judg’d in that great Day.
