Turned Into Beasts, Birds, Stones, Trees, or Air
The sermon describes the terror and dread that will fall upon the ungodly when they face God's consuming fire, and contrasts it with the salvation and refuge available through Jesus Christ.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the terrifying reality of God's judgment, portraying Him as a consuming fire that will expose the ungodly to their sins and divine justice. He vividly describes the horror and despair that will engulf those who have turned away from God, as they face the consequences of their actions and the reality of hell. The sermon serves as a stark reminder of the urgency for repentance and the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ, contrasting the fate of the ungodly with the promise of salvation for believers.
Text
"Our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29
Chaff and stubble cannot stand before that God, who is
a consuming fire. Oh, how will the ungodly tremble and
quake when the whole frame of heaven and earth shall
break in pieces, and be set in a flame about their ears!
Oh, what trouble of mind,
what horror and terror of conscience,
what weeping and wailing,
what crying and roaring,
what wringing of hands,
what tearing of hair, and
what gnashing of teeth,
will there be among the ungodly in this day--when
they shall see their sins charged upon them on the one
side--and divine justice terrifying them on the other
side! When they shall look upward, and there see an
angry God frowning upon them; and look downward,
and there see hell gaping ready to receive them; and
look inward, and there find conscience accusing and
gnawing of them! When they shall look on their right
hand, and there behold the holy angels standing with
so many flaming swords to keep them out of heaven;
and look on their left hand, and there behold the devil
and his demons ready to drag them down to the lowest
hell! Oh, now how will they wish for the rocks to fall
upon them, and the mountains to cover them! How
will they wish that they had never been born; or that
they might now be unborn! How will they now wish
that their immortal souls were mortal; or that they
might be turned into beasts, birds, stones, trees,
or air--or anything rather than what they are!
Alas! what heart is able to conceive, or what tongue
is able to express--the fear and dread, the horror and
terror, the astonishment and amazement, which will
fall upon all ungodly people in that day!
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to
receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:9
Sermon Outline
- The Consuming Fire of God
- The Terror of Conscience
- The Desire to Escape
- The ungodly will wish to be anything but themselves
- They will wish to be turned into beasts, birds, stones, or air
Key Quotes
“Oh, how will the ungodly tremble and quake when the whole frame of heaven and earth shall break in pieces, and be set in a flame about their ears!” — Thomas Brooks
“When they shall look upward, and there see an angry God frowning upon them; and look downward, and there see hell gaping ready to receive them; and look inward, and there find conscience accusing and gnawing of them!” — Thomas Brooks
“How will they now wish that their immortal souls were mortal; or that they might be turned into beasts, birds, stones, trees, or air--or anything rather than what they are!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognize the terror and dread of facing God's consuming fire, and seek salvation through Jesus Christ to avoid it.
- Understand the consequences of ungodliness and the importance of living a righteous life.
- Seek refuge in Jesus Christ and His salvation to escape the wrath of God and the punishment for sin.