How peculiarly solemn is the above passage of Scripture! One wonders that, in the face of so sure a reality, there can be such manifest indifference among men. Either it is not realized or not believed, it nevertheless remains a positive fact.
If the loving message of God's grace has not touched your heart, let me impress upon you the terrible alternative of falling into the hands of the living God for judgment.
The writer has lately been much in contact with unbelief in its various forms. There is infidelity in its grossest character, and hardened indifference, and righteousness by works, and still another class of people who think they are "too bad to be saved." The times in which we live are manifestly the last days as revealed in 2 Peter 3: "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
There are those who not only deny God's Word, but with the most impudent audacity conceivable deny the existence of God Him-self. Others do not like to go so far as that, but say that the Bible is not inspired, which is equally bad, for "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
To 'approach the Word of God to find discrepancies (so-called) is the grossest presumption. Is God not just in allowing such to be deluded? "And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth." 2 Thess. 2:1111And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:11).
This is a solemn word for the infidel.
To the indifferent we would say: "Prepare to meet thy God!" "God... commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." Can you afford to be indifferent to such commands? No! Repent, then, and be converted, for the time is short!
You say, "I do not want to think of these things yet I want to have my fling." Reader, I implore you not to allow anything to come between your soul and God. All the pleasures, the riches, the positions this world can offer are not to be compared with the value of your soul. The Scripture saith: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 9:36-3736And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:36‑37).
Death may at any moment intrude itself, snapping the link connecting you with this fair and fascinating scene, and the solemn declaration is, "after death, the judgment.” Let me then beseech you, in view of the impending judgment which must inevitably fall upon all unbelievers, to flee to the only refuge, Christ, who is now saying, "Come unto Me" (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)) and, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."
Again, a number of people are attempting to work out a righteousness of their own.
This is all the more extraordinary, as the Word of God is unmistakably clear on this point. Do you not think that, had God required anything from you, He would have made it plain? God has made it clear to the contrary. In fact He tells you, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"
Can you, then, offer anything to God?
No, self-righteous reader, you are included in that universal company of whom God says that they "have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
Get into the presence of God; there you will discover your vileness and your nakedness before Him, and there and there only God can and does offer you righteousness, a righteousness of His providing and worthy of Himself―He offers you Christ.
"Too bad to be saved" is certainly a bad state to be in, but it is caused by unbelief of heart. When we read of the vilest character, the dying thief, and the precious words that fell from the Lord's lips in answer to the thief's request, we cannot think of anyone being "too bad to be saved." The question is not the amount of your sin, but do you believe God? Sin is sin in God's sight, whether we think it to be little or much, and our measure of it can never rise to God's. But, thank God, He has made a way whereby He can righteously forgive sinners in virtue of the mighty work of redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus when He entered into the question of sin once for all and settled every claim to the infinite satisfaction of God.
And now, by simply believing in God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, putting your faith in the person of the blessed Lord Jesus, and in His finished work, you may have the assurance that being justified by faith you have peace with God (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). Do take God at His word.
Let me ask every reader, How does the heading of this paper affect you? If with-out Christ, it should terrify you; but if you possess Christ as your Savior you have the unutterable joy of knowing that "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).