The first look is David's, the sweet singer of Israel: "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found." Psa. 37:35, 3635I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. (Psalm 37:35‑36).
The third look is John's, the beloved Apostle: "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." Rev. 20:1212And 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. (Revelation 20:12).
There is no question that each sight as it is brought before us becomes more intensely solemn.
To live in your wickedness is bad.
To die in your wickedness is still worse.
But to stand before God in your wickedness is past imagining.
It is bad enough to see an unconverted sinner buried; but it must be an awful sight to see him rise again, to see him stand before God in judgment.
Did you ever think who it is that will pass sentence on a sinner? It is Jesus! There is no more solemn thought in the whole of Scripture than that He who pleaded on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"; that He who wept over Jerusalem and said, "How often would I have gathered my children together, as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings, and yet would not"—that that One will pass sentence on your soul if you die unconverted! Oh, what a thought! What could be more appalling? There is no question but that, of all solemn sights other than dark Calvary, John saw the most solemn.
Just travel in thought over those sights once more, and may the Spirit of God constrain you to believe the message of God's amazing love in Christ. Receiving it into your heart, you will have "joy and peace in believing" on this side of the grave, a bright, bright hope beyond it, and "boldness in the day of judgment."
Far spent thy day; oh why delay
To enter mercy's door?
'Twill soon be night! Then lost thy light,
Yea, lost for evermore!
What bitter grief, without relief,
Will then thy portion be!
No love, no light, no glory bright,
For all ETERNITY!