They had come and gone from the place of the holy. They had mingled with the people of God, possibly had taken part in the same religious observances, but their condition remained unchanged. Maybe they were looked up to, respected, favored, courted. But they remained in their sins, unsaved, unpardoned, and unblest.
The wheel of time turns round. They still come, and they still go, unblest. At last an unwelcome visitor appears; they start, they shrink back, terror lays hold on them as he makes himself known and felt. It is DEATH. Then he stretches out his cold icy hand, clutches them with his iron grasp, and stills the throbbings of their hearts forever. Solomon says, "I saw them buried." The long mournful procession moved along. Every tribute of respect and honor was paid to the departed, but it was the burial of the wicked, and the ungodly sinners were borne along and laid in their braves.
They had run their course. Their sun had set. And the terrible gloom of that eternal night, which knows no morning, had thrown its thick heavy pall around them. The dark curtain of death had fallen, and their guilty souls had passed away into eternity. The last office was performed, and their bodies were deposited in the silent tomb, to await that moment when the voice of the Son of God shall call them forth to the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28, 2928Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28‑29)).
Poor, godless, careless souls Their time history is soon told. They lived, they died, they were buried, and they were forgotten.
Can we follow them farther? Yes, indeed The Spirit of God draws the curtain aside, and gives us a glimpse into the other world, and shows us what Solomon with all his wisdom could never make known. Solomon leaves them in the grave, forgotten by man. The hand of God sweeps aside the veil for a moment, when, to our horror, we see them forsaken, by God, and suffering in hell (Luke 16).
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before the throne; 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.”
Alas! alas! alas for the Christless souls! The sea, and death, and hell can no longer retain their captives, when the voice of the Son of God calls them forth to the resurrection of judgment. They rise to face Him whom they once despised. Their wasted, misspent lives are fully manifested. Every act is brought out. Nothing can be covered up. All, all is manifested by the dazzling brightness of that great white throne. The book of life is opened, but their names are not written there. Maybe they were written in church registers, class books, or communion rolls here, but not in the book of life up there. And at the word of the Judge they are seized and cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.
O ye who are regular attenders at meetings, who have come and gone so often, who have heard thrilling addresses, but remain in your sins, BEWARE!
Showers of blessing have fallen, but you have never participated in it. Neighbors, relatives, friends have received mercy, but you have refused it. Wave upon wave of blessing has rolled over the land, and carried thousands of precious souls into liberty and peace. But like a rock you have remained immovable in your sins, Christless, careless, and hardened.
For your soul's sake trifle no longer. The wheel of time is turning; there is no stopping it. Your life is shortening as each breath passes your lips. Your opportunities for blessing are getting fewer. Soon you will attend the meeting for the last time. Oh, listen to the truth, and believe it, while you have the chance. "It has pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:2121For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)). And, "Faith cometh by hearing" (Rom. 10:1717So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)).
God sends out a message of peace and blessing to you. He is crying out, "Deliver him from going down to the pit, for I have found a ransom" (Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24)). What a ransom! None other than His own well-beloved Son. And, thank God, the work that saves your soul is done. Done by Jesus long ago at the cross. No works of yours are needed now that Jesus has cried out, "It is finished.” God does not want your works, tears, prayers, or feelings, but your faith. “By grace are ye saved, through faith" (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)). Believe in Him who has done all at the cross, then His word to you is, “Thy, faith hath saved thee, go in peace" (Luke 7:5050And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50)). Then should you pass away to be with Christ, we shall not sorrow as those who have 'no hope, knowing you shall have part in the first resurrection, and that on such the second death hath no power (Rev. 20:66Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)).
W. E.