All of us have had miserable days. Days when we are sick tend to be miserable. We do not feel good and wish people would just leave us alone to die. Days when we have to do our taxes can be miserable. Getting all of those checks together and seeing how much you spent on tax deductible items, and finding out you have to pay money to the government; not my idea of having fun. Days when you are separated from your family and love ones tend to be miserable. When Regena and the children are gone, I am a different person.

Days can really be miserable with a capital "M." Let me go over some of those days and put them in perspective.

The day you lose a love one is a miserable day. I know those who have lost loved ones can tell you the day of the year it happened. I remember the day my sister-in-law passed away and the following days. It is proper to grieve over the loss of a love one.. We find such grieving at the house of Mary and Martha after the death of their brother, Lazarus. "Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled" (John 11.33). While grieving is normal, excessive grieving is not beneficial to anyone. What is excessive grieving? When we act as if there is nothing to live for and all is lost. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4.13-14). Yes we miss our love ones when they pass on to the other side, but we must also rejoice with those that have the hope of heaven. Our task is not to waste our time, but to redeem it. That is, use it wisely so we can go and be with them. Such was David’s attitude when his child died. "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12.22-23). None were happy and all were miserable.

A day when a loved one dies and is not right with God is a most miserable day. I know we are not to place judgment on the departed, but God’s word tells us who will be lost and we must not try to alter the word of God. 2 Thess 1: 8 "in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' It is a miserable feeling to think that people will be lost for eternity and there is nothing you can now do about it. I will admit there are questions that can be too painful to answer. Among those questions are the ones pertaining to loved ones who passed away, never obeying the Gospel. I have learned to let God be the judge, for there is nothing I can do about their soul. My task is to try and teach those who are still living.

The day one is condemned by their conscience is a miserable day. David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed, 2 Samuel 11. In reading the Psalms, one sees that David was not relieved in attempting to cover up his sin, but in torment. "3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer" (Psalm 32). Sin is a harsh master and heavy burden to carry if one understands its ramifications. It was only when David confessed his sin against God did he have joy. "5 I ^{acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, And You forgave the iniquity of my sin" (Psalm 32)}.

The day you face God in judgment will be the most miserable if you are not ready. Heb 10:30 For we know Him who said, ^{"Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.}

Fortunately, most of our miserable days are over and the next day is better. The misery of this life is temporary. Paul described the persecution he faced as "light affliction" in 2 Corinthians 4.17. A miserable day may seem to last forever, but it soon passes away.

Unfortunately, the Day of Judgment for the lost will result in torment forever. Everlasting punishment is used to describe hell, Matthew 25.46. We have trouble understanding eternity. In eternity, time will not be measured, for it means nothing. To be in torment forever will be a miserable existence. Such is what the Bible promises to those who have not obeyed the Gospel of Christ.

The Day of Judgment will be a great and joyous day for the righteous. That is one reason we want to encourage anyone who is not a Christian to put on Christ in baptism. Have your sins washed away and be added to the body of Christ so as to look forward to eternity with joy instead of dread. D.T.

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