September 8

Ezekiel 38
Someone just e-mailed me some pictures from WWII of the death, destruction and mayhem. How could war ever magnify God? How could it ever sanctify Him? How could it ever make people know that He is God? Yet God describes His battle with Gog in this way, “ Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” Who is this Gog? Who is this chief prince of Meshech and Tubal? The identification is not entirely clear. The characters appear again in Revelation 20. There are some differences though. Here in Ezekiel, God gathers these foes together in what appears to be the Messianic age. In Revelation Satan gathers them together after the Millennium is over. With both the number is beyond calculating and their destruction is by supernatural means; God does it! His judgment magnifies His name. Many around me are headed for His judgment. Without Jesus, they have no hope. Jesus will be glorified, either by the way He judges them or by the way He pours His compassion upon them. Like the pictures of death and destruction from WWII, the judgment will not be pretty, but it must be done. Or He will not be just. It should motivate me to take the offer of mercy to those around me who have not heard. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john