Devouring Fire, Everlasting Burnings (Isaiah 33:14)

2022-07-05

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:14)

This is the question, isn’t it? There is fear because all people one day will see the mighty God, high and lifted up. The answer to our question is found in the subsequent verses.

He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high... (Isaiah 33:15-16)

The answer does not give comfort. Who is righteous, especially when standing before the Most High, who is the standard for righteousness? Nobody makes that cut.

Will we ever be righteous enough? Do we think we can offer anything to God, and He will be satisfied? Didn’t He make all things? Could He ever lack supply of anything? God cannot be bought with anything.

Do you see why Jesus Christ came? He took the wrath that we would receive. If Christ had not come, everyone would be going there to that lake of fire:

And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. (Isaiah 34:9-10)

But...

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

It is only Christ “that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly.” With Him, He has carried us through the judgment to the other side so that we “shall dwell on high.”

Is this true? In whom do you trust?