Morning Sorrow or Joy?

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30: 5)

A new day! New beginnings! New hopes and possibilities! Old things have passed away! Today is "the first day of the rest of your life."

The Lord is not interested so much in where you were yesterday, but where you are right now, "Today."

If you have not received forgiveness of your sins in Christ, the Savior provided for sinners, then the message from heaven is the same as it was yesterday - "Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Hebrews 3: 7,8) Thank God you are still alive this day to hear it! I pray God you will unstop your ears, ask God to give you ears to hear him speak to you! Salvation comes from hearing him speak in Christ.

The promise given in the above word from the Psalmist is not true of everyone. It is not true of those who are under God's wrath, nor of the unforgiven and rebellious sinner, nor of any unbeliever. (John 3: 37) For these "sorrow" will come in the morning, not joy. Jesus said that the "sorrows" of his disciples would, when he comes again, and the night is over, and the new day is dawning, be "turned into joy." But, it will be a time when the "rejoicing" of the wicked will be "turned into sorrow."

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." (John 16: 20)

The prophet wrote:

"Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?" (Amos 5: 18-20)

The day of the Lord and the morning of the resurrection will not be experienced alike by all. To some this time will be a time of terrible judgment, wrath, and tribulation from the Lord, while for others it will be a time of great joy and glory.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13: 12)

It is night now for the believer. The world is a dark place. The day has not yet dawned. This analogy is all through the New Testament. Paul said that the early Christians "shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15) Lights are needed in the dark, at night, not in the day.

Jesus taught his disciples, during the time of his absence, that they should "keep their lamps burning." (Luke 12: 35) Why? Because, while in this world, we are in the dark, in the night. But, the "day" will dawn and will be a glorious day for the righteous but it will be a awful day for the wicked.

"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." (Isaiah 3: 10,11)

Friend, are you ready for the coming day? Will the morning of the new day find you receiving the woes of the wicked or the joys of the righteous?

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3: 19)