Where will you spend eternity? Will it be with those who are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, or will it be with those who will spend eternity in the lake of fire because they rejected God’s way of salvation?
Folks, we must all enter eternity, some of us sooner rather than later. If you do not know and trust the Lord as your own personal Saviour, if you have not bowed your knees to Him in repentance for your sins now, you will certainly stand before Him to be judged for your sins at the great white throne. You will bow the knee then, as you come before the holy and righteous Judge of all the earth. You will stand alone before God, in your sins — without a clever defense lawyer to defend you. There will be no reprieve and no escaping the just wrath of God then.
The Bible tells us of a coming day of judgment in very graphic detail. This is the scene that will take place with absolute solemnity and certainty: “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. And 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. And 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-1511And 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. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)).
Speechless
But who are these people who stand before the great white throne in the presence of the One from whom the earth and heaven flee away? They are the rich and poor, the famous and the unknown, the fearful and the self-confident, the just and the unjust, the kind and the cruel, the moral and the immoral, the religious and the infidel, the tolerant and the scoffer, those in authority and those under authority, the intelligent and the simple. Multitudes upon multitudes will stand before the One whom they rejected or neglected to receive as their Lord and Saviour: What excuse could they give to satisfy a righteous and holy God? What excuse would be good enough to save them from the certain doom of the lake of fire?
If you could make your excuses to God, what would you say? Today you might give the excuses I hear rolling smoothly from people’s mouths. In that day we are told, “His voice [is] as the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:1515And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (Revelation 1:15)). No other voice will be heard over that. None will dare to talk back the way they do to their mother, spouse, boss or government. What follows is how we think we will be able to talk to God — and the answers He now gives in His Word. But we know that all will be speechless before the Judge of all the earth. In that day, only the perfect righteousness of what He has to say will be heard in heaven.
Excuse #1: Blame the Hypocrites
“But Lord! But Lord! ... Do you know how hypocritical those Christians, those church people, are? Why, why! Do you know what that pastor did and said, and did you see how those so-called Christians acted? Why ... they thought they were better than everybody else! There was no way I was going to be like them!” Sadly, gravely, I hear the Lord respond, I didn’t say, Believe on the hypocrites. I said, “Believe Me” (John 14:1111Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (John 14:11)). And then the awful pronouncement: “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
Excuse #2: I’m a Good Person
Yet again I hear, “But Lord! I was a good person! I never hurt anyone — in fact, I was known for my many good works of charity — I gave to the poor, I was kind to everyone, I was honest and upright and I never committed any act of immorality! Why, I was known for being a good person— everyone said so!” Friend, I hear the Lord respond, My holy Word said, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)). Again, I hear Him say, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
Excuse #3: I Always Meant To
“But Lord!” I now hear someone say, “But Lord! I meant to. I meant to receive you as my Lord and Saviour, but I just didn’t have enough time! How was I to know, how was I to know! that that car was going to cross over into my lane and hit me head on and I would die in that crash! All I needed was more time!” I hear others join in: “I was in perfect health ... how could I have known that I was going to have a heart attack and suddenly die!” “How could I possibly have known that the pilot of our plane was going to commit suicide and take us all to our deaths with him!” “And I ... I was just minding my own business when I was attacked by a swarm of bees and stung to death ... I had no time to repent of my sins! But I meant to!” Soberly and firmly I hear the Lord reply, I said, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). You knew the way of salvation, yet you chose to put it off until it was too late. Without reprieve, He will say, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
Excuse #4: I Knew in My Head
“Wait a minute now, Lord, wait a minute!” I hear someone else say, “I believed that I was a sinner. I never doubted it! I knew that you died on Calvary’s cross and shed your precious blood for my sins. I knew that you died and rose from the dead and that you are the Saviour of sinners. Why, I had the most reverent feelings towards you, and I never took your name in vain! Isn’t that enough? After all, I’m no worse than any of these others here — in fact, I’m better than most! What more could you have possibly wanted?” Ah, I hear the Lord say, my friend, you were so close, and yet so far from the kingdom of God! You knew the way of salvation in your head, but you never repented of your sins and accepted Me as your personal Saviour. To know a set of facts is not good enough; I wanted the belief of your heart. It is written in My Word, “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” (Romans 10:99That 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. (Romans 10:9)). Again, those solemn words ring out: “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
Excuse #5:
I Never Heard
“But Lord!” I hear yet another protest, “I never even heard the way of salvation! How can you send me to the lake of fire when I never even knew how to be saved in the first place? It’s just not fair!” Solemnly, I hear the Lord reply, You have two witnesses to My existence: creation, and your spirit, for it is written, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly” (Proverbs 20:2727The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. (Proverbs 20:27)). Had you truly wanted to know the way of salvation, I would have revealed Myself to you, for I had promised: “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:1313And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)). Not only that, you had a daily witness in creation, for “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-31<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1‑3)). With finality, I hear Him say, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
Excuse #6:
But Aren’t There Other Ways to God?
In desperation, yet another voice is raised: “But Lord! All my life I’ve heard ‘God is love’ and ‘All paths lead to God’ — do you mean to say that this is false?” Yes, I hear the Lord respond, both statements were used by Satan to deceive a person as to the only way of salvation. It is true that God is love, for it is written, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). God showed His love to mankind by giving His Son to die on Calvary’s cross for your sins. Though it is true that ‘God is love,’ it is also true that ‘God is light,’ for it is written, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:55And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)). Because I am holy, just and pure, I cannot tolerate even one sin in My presence. As to the statement, ‘All paths lead to God,’ what you really meant was, ‘All paths lead to heaven.’ This lie came directly from Satan and has sent countless millions to a lost eternity. It was not for man to choose the way or means by which to enter My heaven, for it is written, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)). Again, I hear the awful verdict, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
But now the protests become even more frantic — “Lord, Lord! Millions of us have been told that Allah was the way!” Other voices join in with — “We were told that Buddha was the way ... Confucius was the way ... Communism was the way ... Mormonism was the way ... Jehovah’s Witness was the way ... the Virgin Mary was the way ... Why, Lord! It was our culture, our lifestyle! We were sincere believers in what we were told, even devoting our lives to it! Some of us even died for our beliefs!” In horror, I hear them exclaim, “You mean to say that all of this is worthless?” With infinite sadness I hear Him respond, As sincere as you were in your beliefs, you were deceived. I never said to come unto Me by any of these ways, for it is written, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). I was not interested in your good works, for it is written, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). Furthermore, I told you clearly how to come unto Me, for it is written, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)). I gave each and every one of you a mind to search out the truth and a heart and spirit to know the truth. With unalterable finality, I hear the words, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
Excuse #7: But I’m a Tolerant
Person in a Tolerant Culture
I hear others attempt to justify themselves with the claim, “But Lord! I lived in a culture where it was not acceptable to speak of religion or of one’s beliefs. We were a tolerant people — we believed that this was the best and only way to live peaceably among ourselves concerning these matters. We accepted everyone, regardless of their religion, practices and behaviors. After all, we couldn’t favor one above another!” Sternly, the reply comes: I know it well. You were tolerant of every religion, belief and evil practice. You rejected the truth because you loved your sins and did not want even the remembrance of God in your thoughts. Truly, it was well written, “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not [suitable]” (Romans 1:2828And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)). Because you rejected Me, I cannot accept you into My holy presence. In truth, My holy Word declared, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man” (Romans 2:11Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (Romans 2:1)). Because their names were NOT written in the book of life, swift and sure sentence was passed: “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
No Excuses
Seriously folks, do these answers really satisfy you? Because God loves you, He offers you a free and full salvation. You now have the opportunity to choose one of two options: bow the knee now in repentance before God and receive eternal life, or bow the knee before God at the great white throne and pass into eternal darkness, without God and without hope. If you receive Him as your Lord and Saviour now, you will spend eternity with Him, where “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)).