ROWLAND HILL once said that people called him a fanatic when he lifted up his voice to warn perishing sinners. He once saw a gravel pit fall in on some men, burying them alive. He shouted for help till he was heard more than a mile away. No one called him a fanatic then.
Listen to a voice to you today, whoever you are, in your sins, unconverted; in relation to the destiny of your soul, where are you, and whither are you bound―for glory or despair? “Ah,” you say, “I do not know; I am not sure.” What would you think of the mariner who did not know these two essentials, though cruel rocks are in his vessel’s course, dangerous derelicts on her path, a yawning grave beneath her keel, and ravening winds around her hull? He shuts his eyes to the broad daylight, and heeds not the treacherous shoals and shifting sands.
My friend, your danger is eminently greater. There is before you certain death, a fearful judgment, a burning hell, never-ending torment, and endless despair. God’s Word declares it, and “God is not a man that he should lie.” No refinement or culture, no church-going or Sacrament-taking, nothing, in short, will save you from that dread inevitable, nothing but a personal acquaintance with the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the application of His precious blood to your guilty soul. I beseech you to search God’s Word. It plainly declares that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)), “after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)), all culminating in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)). My friend, this matter intimately, intensely concerns you. It is one thing to talk of the last great public calamity so far from your home and hearth, but it is another thing to fall a victim to that stroke of judgment.
Thank God there is a door of mercy. God did not warn a poor sinner like me of the wrath to come without showing me a door of escape. It is open for you, sinner. God invites you to enter; the Saviour’s outstretched arms welcome you; the Spirit and the bride say “Come”; heaven’s festal board is spread for you; your title to the blessing, purchased at the cost of the life-blood of the Lamb of God, is that you are a sinner, ungodly. I once heard that Christ died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)), and I said, “Thank God, I am ungodly, therefore He died for me.” The word “whosoever” includes you, and excludes no one from the water of life. On the one hand there is the devil, burning wrath, and dire judgment; on the other hand there is Christ, a strong tower of safety, eternal satisfaction, joy, and glory: choose ye this day.
Let us follow for one moment the fortunes of a sea captain. He is homeward-bound. The night is dark, and the chart has been neglected. Crash! his vessel strikes a rock. She is foundering, but timely aid is at hand, and that reckless man has the wisdom to avail himself of the boat lowered from that passing ship. You are, as it were, on a doomed and foundering ship. Will your folly exceed that of the captain? Will you reject God’s proffered mercy? If you do, you must perish. Once more I advise you to come to Christ. Time is short and uncertain: eternity is long and sure. The Lord is coming (2 These. 14:15-17). He may be here tonight while you sleep. Will you be found knocking at the outside of mercy’s door tomorrow? G. T.