Friday September 20

Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence! Isaiah 64:1-2

Effects of the First and Second Comings of Christ

This prayer of longing desire has already been partially answered, for God indeed has come down from the highest heaven in the Person of His dearly beloved Son. His coming then had wonderful effects, but not in the same way as when He will be manifested in the world, coming in great majesty and power.

The mountains, speaking of exalted world governments, were morally affected by the first coming of Christ. Herod was greatly troubled to hear of the birth of the Messiah, and sought to destroy Him (Mt. 2:1-16). A later Herod sought to humiliate Him (Lk. 23:11). But when the Lord Jesus reigns in great power and glory, all the mountains will shake (or flow down to a common level), and Christ alone will be exalted.

The Lord’s presence in the world had the effect of kindling a fire in precious souls to burn out the brushwood of the works of the flesh—its pride and arrogance, its self-seeking, and other fleshly lusts. At His second coming, this will be seen even more fully in the entire world. The fire also causes water to boil, which tells us of the purifying power of the presence of the Lord Jesus. Water is typical of the Word of God, and its boiling speaks of its being perfectly purified. This has precious application to believers today. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11).

When the Lord comes in glory, then all the nations will be so greatly affected that they will tremble. Our hearts will rejoice. “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 25).

L. M. Grant