Awful, indeed, must be the meeting between God and the sinner on the ground of righteousness. When the plumb line is laid to a crooked wall, it does not make it straight, but it shows out all its crookedness. The judgment-seat will prove the sinner’s condition, but it can show him no favor. The day of grace is past then. It is too late to cry for mercy—yes, alas! Too late when the sentence, “Depart from Me” is uttered—too late when the gates of heaven are closed—too late when the gates of hell are opened—too late when he and Satan, whom he has served, are punished together—too late when enclosed within those dark walls, whence none ever escape!
O! what an end for an immortal soul! The very thought of it is overwhelming. The soul shudders in writing it. O! what can be done now to prevent precious souls from being lost? is the first feeling of the heart. And, yet, what can we say? The only thing that can prevent it is done already. Redemption is accomplished. Jesus died and rose again. The sure foundation of grace and glory has been laid, and whosoever believes thereon shall never be confounded.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” are plain words; who can misunderstand their meaning? The gospel is the same today as it was when this was given. He that believeth on the Son of God, has everlasting life.
Lord of the harvest! send more laborers into the gospel-field; and grant, Lord, that Thy preachers may never lose sight of the solemn results of their preaching!
Surely, if preachers themselves were more alive to the awful future of a Christless soul, they would be more in earnest, and more of the careless ones would be awakened by their warning voice. The end is near, the time is short, the coming of the Lord draws nigh; and souls—many souls—are perishing.
Let Thy Word, O Lord, be clothed with power from on high, that it may be more effectual in them that hear it; and fill Thine evangelists, blessed Lord, with a burning desire—a consuming passion—for the salvation of sinners. With the fearful end of their unawakened hearers in view, may they speak plainly, pointedly, boldly, earnestly and affectionately: and may their constant prayer be, “Lord, suffer not even one precious soul to depart unimpressed, unawakened, unsaved!”