41 A Mistake Corrected
A Mistake Corrected
"If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets — they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!" Luke 16:31 The ordinary means by which God converts the soul, is his own word. But many who are not at all affected by the word, imagine that if something uncommon was to take place — they would be converted. This is a mistake, and a mistake which is corrected in the passage before us. The rich man was now in Hell. He had sought relief for himself in vain. He pleads for his five brethren, he desires that Lazarus may be sent to them to warn them. Abraham replies, "they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." He objects, "Nay father Abraham — but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent." He is silenced with this, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets — they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!"
Reader, you have not only Moses and the prophets, you have also Jesus and the apostles; and yet perhaps you imagine that if something extraordinary was to take place, you would be persuaded. Beware of this, it is one of Satan’s delusions, it is a snare in which many souls have perished! Take heed lest you be led away with this error of the wicked One, and rue your folly too late.
Moses and the prophets speak to you. Unto you is the word of God’s salvation sent. The holy messengers, the inspired servants of the Most High, speak to you. They described your state. They tell you . . .
what you are by nature,
that you are depraved, polluted, and under condemnation,
that God is angry with such as you every day,
that your present course is the direct way to Hell.
They warn you of your danger. Most solemnly do they assure you, that the wicked shall be turned into Hell — that the end of these things is death. Most tenderly do they expostulate with you to turn you from your course, and prevent your ruin. They exhort you . . .
to repent,
to think of your folly and criminality,
to be sorry and grieved over your sins,
to turn unto the Lord with full purpose of heart.
Hear them cry to you, "Turn, turn — for why will you die!" "Repent and turn from your evil ways, so iniquity shall not be your ruin."
They invite you to the Savior. They lift him up before you, as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness. They point and cry, "Look unto him and be saved!" "Ho, every one that thirsts — come to the waters; and he who has no money — come; yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price!"
They hold up examples to caution you:
Cain, who slew his brother and perished in his sins.
Esau, who sold his birth-right, and found no place for repentance.
Judas, who sold his Lord, and went to his own place.
Ananias and his wife, who lied to the Holy Spirit, and died at the Apostle’s feet. The whole world of the ungodly, who were destroyed with the flood. The cities of the plain, whose Hell began on earth. The Israelites in the desert, who for unbelief were shut out of Canaan. The Jewish nation, which died of famine, pestilence, and the sword, for their sins against light and against mercy.
They hold up examples also to induce you to reflect, repent, and turn unto the Lord:
Abel, whose sacrifice was accepted.
Joseph, who was delivered and honored.
Manasseh, who humbled himself in his affliction and found mercy — along with a company too numerous to mention.
These things were written for your admonition. They are intended to persuade you. The design of the holy Scriptures is to persuade sinners. Do you look at them in this light? Have you been in the habit of viewing them thus?
They persuade you to be thoughtful — to think of . . .
God, his character, claims, and conduct towards sinners;
the law, its nature, demands, and threatenings;
yourself, your conduct, the state of your heart;
your doom, if you live and die in sin;
time, its brevity, and design;
eternity, its extent and solemnity;
the Savior, and his love;
Satan, and his work;
Heaven, and its glories;
Hell, and its horrors!
They persuade you to shun temptation. Temptation to trifle . . .
with the soul and its salvation,
with Jehovah and his mercy,
with sin and its consequences,
with evil men and their influences,
with error and its effects!
They unite to cry as with one voice. Do not trifle with temptation — avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it.
They persuade you to avoid danger — the danger . . .
of grieving the Holy Spirit, lest he become your enemy,
of provoking God to give you up, as he did Israel of old,
of provoking the Savior to depart from you, as he did from the Gadarenes in his day,
of perishing in your sin.
They persuade you to escape Hell. They tell you . . .
that there is such a place,
that it is unspeakably dreadful,
that nothing on earth can correctly set forth its horrors,
that thousands are there already,
that sin is the direct way to Hell,
that every obstinate sinner must experience it,
that it is your just desert,
that you may sink into it at any moment,
that there is no deliverance from it but by Jesus Christ,
that none will be delivered by Jesus — but those who repent of sin, and believe in his precious name.
They persuade you to enter the way to Heaven. They speak of . . .
the glories of the place,
the happiness of the inhabitants,
the duration of their joys, and
the possibility of your sharing in their bliss.
They tell you there is a way from earth — to Heaven: from the spot where you stand — to God’s glorious high throne. That it is an open way, a free way, a way opened on purpose for sinners, for such sinners as you are. They say, "Enter in at the strait gate. Flee from the wrath to come." And pointing to Jesus they cry, "This is the way — walk in it." They persuade you to rise to the highest honor, as every believer does. For we are all the children of God, by faith in Jesus Christ. And if children, then heirs — heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. What an honor to be God’s beloved child! To be the heir of the infinite Jehovah! To be a joint-heir with the Lord Jesus Christ! But this honor have all his saints!
If you disregard the persuasions of Moses and the prophets, you would disregard the greatest miracle: for you would not be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. This is asserted by one who knows our nature thoroughly, and who has watched the working of miracles upon the mind, in thousands of instances. Besides, the mind is changed by conviction, not by surprise. We are influenced by motives, not by prodigies. There is a suitableness in the holy scriptures — but none in a visit from the dead. The one is God’s ordinance, the other is not.
You have therefore the means of conversion in your hands. That bible which you neglect, has been the means of converting thousands. It has persuaded many to turn . . .
from sin to God,
from self to the Savior,
from the road to Hell, to the path that leads to Heaven. The ministry of the gospel which you neglect, has been a savor of life unto millions. Why should it not be to you? For you the word of God was written, for you it has been translated into your own mother tongue, for you it is now printed and put into your hand! You have been taught to read it — but will you refuse to peruse it, or perusing, refuse to be persuaded by it. For you the ministry of the gospel was instituted. To you the servants of Christ are sent. For you they plead and pray, to you they wish to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, with you they would expostulate and plead: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men!" 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we beg you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20. We beseech you therefore, to read God’s book — it was written for you. Divine providence has put it into your hand, and you are responsible for the use you make of it. That word will judge you at the last day. Consider its contents as able to make you wise unto salvation. This was the apostle’s opinion of it, therefore he said to Timothy, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Beware of thinking that if something uncommon happened, it would persuade you; for if you refuse to hear God speaking to you in his word — then it is not likely that you will listen when he speaks by his works. Surprised you may be — but converted you would not be. You may be filled with wonder — but you would not be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. If those five brethren were inexcusable, because they had Moses and the prophets — then what excuse can there be for you, who have the scriptures of the New as well as the Old testament? If God would not work a miracle to persuade them — is it likely that he will do so for you?