Jesus wept over Jerusalem because it did not recognize the time when God came to visit. He warned that enemies would surround the city, its children would perish, and its stones would be thrown down. Less than forty years later, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70—events described in horrifying detail by the Jewish historian Josephus.

The destruction of Jerusalem stands as a warning against mistaking God’s patience for His approval. Churches may prosper, religious institutions may endure for centuries, and false teachers may feel secure, but none of these things can save us from the judgment of God. We must not cling to institutions, hirelings, our own goodness, or the promises of false prophets. We cling to Christ alone, to His Word, and to His promises.

Yet Judgment Day is not a terror for those who belo ...