THIS is a query of unspeakable importance for every soul of man. Eternity lies before us all. Of that be sure, my reader. Where will you spend it? is the question. Pause a moment, at the end of this year of grace 1908, and quietly, gravely, seriously ponder this momentous subject.
If you regard the subject as distasteful, that only proves that you are the person who of all should not fling it lightly aside. It is too serious, far too important to be thus treated. Another day may find you gone from earth into eternity. Where will you spend it? Say not that no one can tell. Such is not true. God has spoken, and the wise listen to His words. Whether you are among the wise, you know, I do not, but I would fain lead you to be such, if unheeding folly has marked your days until now.
Whatever you may think about eternity, it is certain that you will spend it somewhere, for you are an immortal being. Man has sprung from God (Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)). He is His offspring. Heathen poets truly asserted it, and the Holy Spirit confirmed the truth of their statement. “Certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring,” said Paul to the Athenians. “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:28, 2928For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. (Acts 17:28‑29)), is the clenching testimony of God’s Spirit. Every being partakes of the nature of which it is begotten. Sprung from the “eternal God” (Deut. 33:2727The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (Deuteronomy 33:27)), man possesses a nature that, of necessity, corresponds in duration to its source. That source is “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy” (Isa. 57:1515For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)). Consequently, eternity lies before man. Where in eternity shall he be found? is the question that sin has raised.
Had man not sinned he would have lived in the enjoyment of God on earth, and not died. But “by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). Now you have to face the sin-question, and its consequences. They are very serious, affecting men both for time and eternity, since “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). That verse relates to time and eternity. In times death overtakes man, for he is a sinner, and “the wages of sin is death,” and cut off from earth he passes into eternity. What then? ―the judgment. What does that mean? The second death. What is that? Let us hear God’s answer.
“I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before the throne (R.V); and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hades delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire (R.V),” (Rev. 20:11-1411And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:11‑14)). The judgment of necessity results in the second death, and that God says is the lake of fire, for we further read, “But the fearful (the timid), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)). Appalling future! No grave person can read these words without being deeply impressed thereby. But, you ask, is that the future of all men? No, but it is that of the timid-those afraid to confess Christ―and the unbelieving. Notice, these head the list of the lost. Not the grossly immoral, or openly profane. What a warning to those who have often heard the gospel and been afraid to confess the Saviour whom they know they should believe and acknowledge!
Dear reader, where will you spend eternity? With the pitiful company here described? God forbid! I have good news for you. Though this terrible future is the legitimate and righteous portion of a man who dies in his sins, you need not so die, and, if you are wise, you will not spend eternity after this sort. Though death and judgment be man’s due, God has stepped in, after his sin, and before the final judgment thereof, stepped in marvelously, in the Person of His Son, who has, by His atoning death on the cross, opened a way of escape from judgment for every soul of man that will believe and confess Him.
Listen to this testimony: “Now once in the end of the world hath he (Christ) appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And AS it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to BEAR THE SINS OF MANY” (Heb. 9:26-2826For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:26‑28)). After you and I had sinned and before the day of judgment Christ has borne the sins of many―taken the consequences, both the judgment and the death they deserved―and the one believing in Him is freed from these consequences.
Nothing could be more blessed than God’s way of salvation for lost sinners. This is it: “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his own love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, being now justified by the blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:6-96For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:6‑9)).
Wrath, God’s righteous wrath against sin, is expressed in the judgment of the great white throne. Whoever believes now in Jesus “shall be saved from wrath through him.” Thank God for these tidings! The eternity of Revelation 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8) the believer will never know. His eternity is after a different order. Mark it well. “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we watch or sleep, we should live together with him” (1 Thess. 5:9, 109For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9‑10)).
I once asked a dying lassie in Edinburgh, “Where will you spend eternity, Lizzie?” Her answer was lovely, as she immediately replied, “In heaven, with Jesus!” She had been converted two years before, had never had a doubt as to the Lord’s love to her, since He had died for her, and eternity for her was to be with Him―the right Person―in His home―heaven―the right place. Happy child! She passed away rejoicing in the thought of seeing His blessed face, and being forever with Him.
Again let me ask you, my friend, “Where will you spend eternity?” If you have not yet settled that question, settle it today. Tomorrow may be all too late. Forget not that―
“Where the tree falls, there will it lie,
As a man lives so will he die,
As a man dies so must he be
All through the day of eternity.”
Come to Jesus now, just as you are. Believe on Him simply, and confess Him boldly. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the month confession is made to salvation” (Rom. 10:9, 109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‑10)). You get right with God in your heart by faith, and then right with man by your mouth, in an honest confession of the Lord Jesus Christ. The man who is right with God thus, in time, will spend eternity with Him and His Son, and, vice versa, for “He that believeth on the Son HATH EVERLASTING LIFE; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
May the Lord grant that the reader may assuredly find himself in the top half of this verse. It has no middle. The top half spells ETERNITY WITH CHRIST; the bottom half, ETERNITY WITHOUT CHRIST. Faith secures the top half.
To each believer would I say, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, himself shall (R.V) make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 5:10, 1110But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10‑11)).
W. T. P. W.