08 The Sinner's Prospect!
The Sinner’s Prospect!
"Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest — this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loves righteousness. The upright will see His face!" Psalms 11:6-7
There is something very solemn in this passage. It is one of God’s merciful warnings. It is intended to . . .
awaken thought,
arouse fear,
produce conviction,
lead to the Savior,
and prevent eternal ruin!
It is the voice of the Holy Spirit — he is speaking to us in love, and his word should be carefully regarded. Let us look at the passage for a few moments, and may the Lord bless it to our souls.
Here the object of God’s displeasure is set before us. "The wicked." Let us be careful not to mistake the character. It is not to be confined to the openly profane. It includes . . .
all who are ungodly,
every one whose heart is not right with God,
all who are unrighteous. The whole world is divided into these two classes: the righteous — and the wicked.
Let us then examine our past life. Look at our sins of omission. Have we not restrained prayer before God? The prayerless man is a wicked man. Have we not slighted the bible? It ought to have been the man of our counsel, our daily instructor and guide.
Look at our sins of commission. Intemperance in eating or drinking, or both. Swearing perhaps, or lightness, levity, and frothy conversation. Lying, or the practice of deception in business, in the family, or among our friends. Immorality, a sin very common, fearfully general, among young people in our large towns and cities. Theft, or the taking and appropriating to our own use — what does not really belong to us. But we must forbear.
If you plead ’not guilty’ to some of these charges, can you do so to all? If not, remember it is written, "Whoever shall keep the whole law — and yet offends in one point — he is guilty of all." James 2:10. He cannot be justified by works, or stand accepted of God but through a Savior.
Let us examine our hearts — and compare them with the requirements of God. Are they perfectly holy? Are they full of love to God, and love to our fellow-men? Or, have we faith in Christ? Are we at peace with God through the blood of the cross? Do we worship God in spirit and in truth? Or spiritually and sincerely? Is . . .
sin our burden,
holiness our delight, and
conformity to Christ our constant aim?
If not, we must rank among the wicked! We are God’s enemies — if we have not been reconciled to him by the death of his Son. We are afar off from God — if we have not been brought near by the blood of Christ. We are yet in our sins — if Christ is not formed in our hearts as the hope of glory. Fearful case this! Alarming condition! The passage sets before us the dreadful doom of such. God will treat all such as he did Sodom and Gomorrah. He will rain snares upon them, fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest — this shall be the portion of their cup. The punishment of the wicked is from God. He who now bears with them — will fearfully punish them. The punishment of sinners will be sudden. It will come down upon them unexpectedly. They will perhaps die in a stupor — and leave the world like lambs. But in a moment, the storm of God’s just and holy wrath, will come down upon them! The character of their punishment is terrible! Think . . .
of a storm of fire and brimstone,
of being taken and held fast in a snare, like the wild beast of the forest,
of being eternally exposed to a horrible tempest, without relief,
of a spirit of terror and alarm seizing upon you, taking possession of you, and holding you under its power and influence forever! The designation is fearful. "This shall be the portion of their cup!" This is all they will ever have. This they will suffer forever. This is their just, equitable, and eternal portion!
O what a terrible prospect lies before the sinner! Before every sinner who lives and dies in his sins!
Reader! I beseech you look well to your state. Examine closely into your conduct, and into the state of your heart. Do not trifle with your soul, with eternity, with your God! Your prospect is dreadful — if you die in your sins.
Here is the reason assigned for the punishment of the wicked. "The righteous Lord loves righteousness." He does not love to punish. He finds no pleasure in our sufferings. But he loves to do what is right. Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of his throne. He will not show mercy — unless he can do it justly. He must to render to every one, his right. In Hell, the sinner only receives the due reward of his deeds. There is no passion in God — he only punishes because it is right. There is no fury in the Most High God — he maintains his dignity as much in punishing the offender, as in glorifying the just. He harbors no revenge in his bosom — but he will reward every one according to his works.
Hell is the manifestation of the calm, dignified, holy, righteousness of God. He does not delight in wrath — but he will not acquit the wicked. He will be just to every one of his creatures — and equally just to himself. He will be true to the threatenings of his word — and true to his character as the faithful God. His conduct in punishing the guilty, will be consistent with his nature, his law, and the demands of impartial justice. Every mouth will be stopped. Every complainer will be silenced. Those who are punished most severely — will clearly see that they suffer only what they deserved; and that God would not be just — if he were to punish them less. Whatever a man sows in this world — he shall certainly reap in the next. Those who slight, neglect, or despise God’s mercy in time — shall have judgment without mercy in eternity!
Sinner, is not this dreadful? As you love your soul, as you would escape the wrath to come — I beseech you to consider seriously this solemn subject. Prepare to meet your God! You must soon stand before him. And being thus warned, you cannot justly say that you were taken by surprise. However, pursue whatever course you will, God’s mind is made up. He has said, "The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God." He will not call back his word. His methods are wise and holy. He now gives you space to repent. He spares you at present — but he will not do so always. When once the door of mercy is shut — it is shut forever! In vain then will you knock for entrance, in vain will you cry for pardon!
Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." The Lord warns you now, that he may spare you at the great day; and his word says, "He who takes warning shall deliver his soul." He will certainly fulfill his word:
his promise, if you seek him;
his threatening, if you despise him.
See then, that you refuse not him who speaks; for if they escaped not who refused him who spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from Heaven.