When Satan Has Sucked Out All the Marrow
The sermon emphasizes the importance of responding to God's call in youth and the consequences of delaying repentance until old age.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the urgency of seeking God early in life, warning that neglecting to bear fruit in youth often leads to a barren old age. He cautions against the false hope of late repentance, noting that many who delay their spiritual commitment may find themselves unable to truly repent when the time comes. Brooks illustrates that just as ancient warriors rejected old men for service, God may also reject those who have spent their lives serving sin. He stresses the importance of heeding God's calls early, as ignoring them can lead to dire consequences. Ultimately, Brooks urges listeners to dedicate their youth to God rather than waiting until it is too late.
Text
God usually begins with such early in life--whom He has
had thoughts of love and mercy towards, from everlasting.
If, in the spring and morning of your days, you do not bring
forth fruit to God--it is a hundred to one that you never shall
bring forth fruit to God when the days of old age shall overtake
you. It is rare, very rare--that God sows and reaps in old age.
Usually God sows the seed of grace in youth--which yields
the harvest of joy in old age.
Though true repentance is never too late--yet late
repentance is seldom true. Millions are now in hell, who
have flattered themselves with the thought of repenting
in old age! Yes, what can be more just and equal, that such
should seek and not find--who might have found when young,
but would not seek; and that God should shut His ears against
their late prayers--who have stopped their ears against His
early calls?
The ancient warriors would not accept an old man into their
army, as being unfit for service; and do you think that God
will accept of your dry bones--when Satan has sucked
out all the marrow? What king will take into his service
--those who have served his enemies all their days? And
will God? will God?
The Circassians, a kind of mongrel Christians, are said to
divide their life between sin and devotion--dedicating their
youth to rapine, and their old age to repentance. If this is
your case, I would not be in your case for ten thousand worlds!
"But since you rejected Me when I called, and no one gave
heed when I stretched out My hand, since you ignored all
My advice and would not accept My rebuke--I in turn will
laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes
you--when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster
sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble
overwhelm you. Then they will call to Me but I will not answer;
they will look for Me but will not find Me. Since they hated
knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they
would not accept My advice and spurned My rebuke--they
will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit
of their schemes." Proverbs 1:24-31
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Early Call to Repentance
- A. The importance of responding to God's call in youth
- B. The consequences of delaying repentance until old age
- II. The Rarity of Late Repentance
- A. True repentance is never too late, but late repentance is seldom true
- B. The dangers of delaying repentance and seeking God's forgiveness only in old age
- III. The Unfitness of Old Age for Service
- A. The analogy of the ancient warriors and their rejection of old men
- B. The comparison of serving Satan and serving God
- IV. The Dangers of Delayed Repentance
- A. The example of the Circassians and their divided life of sin and devotion
- B. The consequences of rejecting God's call and ignoring His advice
Key Quotes
“What king will take into his service--those who have served his enemies all their days? And will God? will God?” — Thomas Brooks
“Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept My advice and spurned My rebuke--they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.” — Thomas Brooks
“But since you rejected Me when I called, and no one gave heed when I stretched out My hand, since you ignored all My advice and would not accept My rebuke--I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you--when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must respond to God's call in youth and not delay repentance until old age.
- True repentance is a genuine change of heart, while late repentance is often a desperate attempt to avoid punishment.
- Serving God requires a commitment to His service from a young age, not just in old age.