In the city of Detroit there was exhibited a few years ago, a large painting. It depicted with great precision of color and figure, one of the many striking engagements by the opposing forces of the North and South during the Civil War. It was realistic in the extreme, and people who looked at it felt awed and hushed as they gazed on the awful scene of carnage. There stern men were portrayed vividly as they engaged in deadly conflict. As a picture, it was a pronounced success.
One lady who, with her husband, stood looking at it, so far forgot that it was "only a picture," that she pointed excitedly to one of the figures and exclaimed to her husband: "My dear, why doesn't that foolish man get behind that tree? He will certainly be killed!"
And then, smiling through her tears, she said: "It was so real, I forgot it was only a painting."
If the picture was so vivid and real, what must the actual battle have been? What must it have been to stand on some eminence and witness the real battle! The most realistic picture must fall far short of such a scene, and be tame in comparison with it. This you must admit.
And here we are led to think of what many would like to believe is "only a picture" of the future portion of the unconverted. To such a thought we would apply the same test as we have to the relation of a battle scene to the real engagement.
In a conversation held recently on this subject between two men, one of them contended that such terms as "hell," "torments," and "the lake of fire," were but "figurative language," and not to be taken literally. He was hoping thereby to blunt the edge of such portions of scripture as "the wicked shall be turned into hell" (Psalm 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17)); "the rich man died... and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments" (Luke 16:2323And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)); and "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into 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)).
His friend allowed him to explain his theory, and then simply inquired: "IF SUCH BE THE PICTURE, WHAT MUST THE REALITY BE?" Since God uses such expressions in His Word when giving, as you say, a PICTURE of the future punishment of the wicked, what will the reality of the punishment be? Beyond words, it must be; awful; and who but one void of judgment would wantonly brave its stern realities?"
My friend, what is your condition? "Ages to come" are ahead of you, for you are a creature born for eternity; and you will spend those ages amid either the glories of heaven or the woes of hell. All will be very real too. Have you been honest with your soul and thought seriously of this? If not, we beseech you to do it now, and do not rest until you are safe in Christ Jesus from the "wrath to come." For the gospel of God's good news is simply this: that God, who knows the realities of future judgment, and the just deserts of sinners, knew also their inability to save themselves. Therefore, in Christ Jesus, God has PROVIDED A Savior. He "died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3, 43For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4).
Through faith, then, in the Lord Jesus Christ who died, "the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God," you may be saved at once and forever, and know the blessedness of being, like the Thessalonians of old, "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven... even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1 Thess. 1:9, 109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10).