The Coming of God: A Time of Judgment or Peace?

The Coming of God: A Time of Judgment or a Time of Peace?

Micah 1-4

“For Behold, the Lord is coming forth from His high place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.  The mountains will melt under Him and the Valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, like water poured down a steep place.”

                  Throughout the Bible, we find the theme of God’s return to the earth woven throughout its message. A central message of the Bible is that the times and events of the world are not cyclical but linear. It is often stated that history repeats itself. But it is also true that history is not just a series of arbitrary events that happen to particular people. History is directed by God and moving toward the conclusion that he has established. History began with the creation of humanity and their placement in the Garden. It concludes in the book of Revelation with the return of Christ, when he will judge all people and establish his kingdom. With these two historical bookends, the story of the Bible is how God is moving us from the Garden to the Kingdom of Christ. Events that happen today in our world are part of that continuous story, guided by God’s unseen hand, moving events toward his established conclusion. But this story is one that brings both a warning and a promise.  

                  Woven throughout the writings of the prophets is the warning that God will bring judgment upon sin. Sin does not go on unabated forever, for there will come a time when God will intervene to bring judgment. In the book of Micah, we find both the promise of God’s grace and the warning of his judgment. The first part of the book begins with a warning and a pronouncement of judgment. Micah, guided by the Spirit of God, warns that there will come a time when God will visit the world to bring judgment upon those who have pursued idolatry. An idol is anything or anyone who becomes the object of our worship. It is that which replaces God at the center of our lives. Many today want to affirm that all religions lead to God. It does not matter what you believe or whom or what religion you affirm and worship. God will still accept us. However, Micah in chapter one dispels this notion. When God comes and brings a conclusion to the history of humanity, one of his first acts is to bring swift and terrible judgment upon any false religion. He will destroy the idols we create and bring judgment upon those who followed and worshiped them (1:4-7). Perhaps the greatest idol of all is the one most prevalent in our society, the idol of materialism and the worship of things. In chapter 2, God denounces those who worship wealth and who rob and mistreat others in their unquenching desire to attain it. The one truth about the pursuit of wealth is that no matter how much we have, it is never enough. There is always more we desire, so we are willing to step on others to obtain it. In chapter three, we see another great idol of our times, the idol of power. Power is an insatiable drug. Those who fall prey to its allure are forever seeking positions of power, even at the cost of others. Instead of using power for good, they use it for their own gain. 

                  However, Micah does not leave us without hope, for in chapter 4 he also reminds us that there is another way. When God comes, he not only brings judgment but also brings peace and salvation to those who seek him. He comes to teach his followers to walk in his path and to follow his word.  

                  This confronts us with a choice. Do we pursue the idols of our world, or do we pursue obedience to God? The one leads to judgment; the other leads to peace. How we choose will determine our eternal destiny.