WHAT a comprehensive word, dear friend,) the word "whosoever" is. It takes in rich and poor, moral and immoral, honest and dishonest, the temperate and the drunkard, religious and irreligious—all classes of society, all states and conditions of men. In God's Word, however, we find the word "whosoever" connected very specially with two distinct classes of people; and for confirmation of this, we would draw your attention for a few moments to two verses in the Book of Revelation, chaps. 20:15 and 22:17.
In the one case we get the whosoever of judgment, and in the other of life,—what a contrast Every person who has gone off this scene in his sins will receive the portion connected with Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15), and everyone who may yet die in their sins will have the same portion. If you will, dear friend, look all the scripture referred to for yourself, and read the preceding verses, commencing at ver. 11, you will notice, first of all, that a great white throne is set up, a throne of dazzling purity, and One seated on it from whose face the earth and the heaven flee away. What a moment! and what a scene!
Are you, beloved fellow-traveler to eternity, prepared to face it? If you go out of this world in your sins, face it you must, escape it you cannot.
There will be no escape, there will be no hiding, from the face of Him who sits upon that throne.
Further, only the dead are mentioned-no living persons are brought before our notice in this scripture. The sea has to yield up its dead, the grave too; and what a delivering up it will be! And not only is it only the dead who are specially mentioned here, but again we would say only those who have died in their sins. How solemn! Died in their sins, Buried in their sins, Raised in their sins, and now standing in the presence of a Holy Judge in their sins. How awful how terrible!
Oh, beloved! let us warn you, before it be too late, to "flee from the wrath to come," and flee now, flee to the blessed Savior Jesus. If you go on careless and indifferent as to your soul, and you are cut down, how awfully-solemn it will be for you! Not one single person who has died, has been buried, and is then raised in their sins, will have a moment's peace, joy, or happiness hereafter, but one long eternity of misery in that place where there is no ray of hope, no salvation, no gospel, or gospel preaching, and, above all, no precious Savior!
God's Word cannot indeed make it more distinct, more emphatic. It does not require learning to understand it—it is simple, plain, clear, and decisive. "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire;" and such, beloved friend, will be your portion if you die unsaved. But perhaps you say, "Well, I am not irreligious, profane, immoral, dishonest, or a drunkard. I have been piously brought up. I have lived an upright moral life, lived honestly, have sought to do good to my fellow-men, and have done my best to serve God." Now we would say to you, dear friend, that all these things are very good in a way; but all these combined could never save your soul, or fit you for the presence of a holy God.
We find in this scripture that "they were judged every man according to his works." Think for a moment of the whole of your history written down in God's book, and coming up again at a future day for judgment! YOUR SINS, dear friend, YOUR SINS t! God hates sin, He abhors it; and consequently, if the sinner comes up before Him for judgment in his sins, He has not only to remove the sins from His holy presence, but the person who has committed them likewise. The sinner must bear the consequences of his sins forever and ever in the lake of fire.
Gladly we now turn from this "whosoever" of judgment to the other "whosoever" of life and salvation, as presented in Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17). Again we find that it is a comprehensive word. None are too bad to accept it, none are too good not to need it—"the water of life." It is for thirsty, needy souls. And how blessed the terms—"freely"—the privilege of taking what the blessed God presents!
God delights in giving. Here He offers it "freely,” without any terms; it is as free as the air you breathe, which costs you nothing. Before the blessed God could offer you " the water of life freely," it cost Him everything,—the sending down into this world of ruin, sin, and wretchedness, of His only, His well-beloved Son, and delivering Him up to death, and that the death of the cross.
God could not in the love of His heart keep the very best He had back, but freely gave Him in whom His soul delighted. And now He is free—in virtue of the work of atonement wrought by His beloved Son-to offer to you, "without money,” “freely," the water of life. But, you say, “Must I not do something to deserve it?” Certainly not.
God wants you to take on the same terms that He offers "freely." Hold out, then, the empty hand of faith, and take what He is ready and willing to give. It is "whosoever will." Do, then, we beseech you, in this the clay of grace, before it be too late, respond to the gracious invitation of the blessed Lord Jesus Himself. “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)).
He is the "fountain of living waters;" He is the life itself; and in coming to Him in believing on Him, you get everlasting life. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Do not despise God's offer,—" Behold, ye despisers and wonder, and perish " (Acts 13:4141Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. (Acts 13:41)); or neglect God's offer,-" How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)); but accept without delay His gracious, blessed gift, and thank Him for it. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.
It will fill the heart of God with joy, and it will fill yours in accepting God's precious gift.
E. G.