Who Can Stand?

“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.” Psalm 130:3-4

“Who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.” Malachi 3:2-3a

“He who handles the bow shall not stand,
    and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
    nor shall he who rides the horse save his life.” Amos 2:15

“Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.” Nahum 1:6

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'” Revelation 6:12-17

Under the weight of our sin, and before God’s judgment, none can stand. Before His holiness, we are all crippled, bowed down- guilty, vile, and helpless. Every deed is polluted, every pulse unclean, every effort tainted and self-serving. Yet Jesus broke through to atone for our pitiful state, the spotless Lamb for marred sheep gone astray. He alone makes the sin-disabled to stand erect and walk. (Psalm 14:2-3; Isaiah 64:5-7; Jeremiah 17:9)

It is vital that we recognize our impossible posture before Christ Jesus, our marred stature that is unable to approach apart from His astounding grace. He alone handles the refiner’s fire, and the judgments we deserve fell on Him at Calvary. Only in His atoning blood is our forgiveness, only when we are clad in Christ’s righteousness can we stand before Him, and victoriously withstand the onslaught of the enemy in this life. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; 1 Peter 3:18)

“Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:13

Do we rely on self-effort to propel us into daily activities, or humbly trust the Lord’s guidance and help? When troubles or doubts threaten and blow, our only true stability is in the Lord, our confidence to stand unshaken is in His sovereign mercy. Would we boldly approach and courageously stand? (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Lord, help me stand firm in awe of You, and boldly withstand the devil in Your victory and grace.