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 and respected, but they remained in their sins-unsaved, unpardoned and unblessed.
The wheel of time turns round. They still come, and they still go, unblessed. At last an unwelcome visitor appears: It is death.
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. The ungodly sinners were borne along and laid in their graves.
They had run their course. Their sun had set. And the terrible gloom of that eternal night, which knows no morning, surrounded them. The dark curtain of death had fallen, and their souls had passed away into eternity. They lived, they died, they were buried and they were forgotten.
Solomon could see no further. With all his wisdom he could only leave them in the grave, forgotten by man. It was a sad, sad sight, but the next viewing is incomparably worse!
What the Apostle John Saw!
“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 those books....And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works....And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15,12-1315And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
12And 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. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Revelation 20:12‑13)).
Oh, you who are regular attendees at Christian services, who have come and gone so often, beware! You have remained immovable: Christless, careless and hardened.
For your soul’s sake wait no longer. Time is running out; there is no stopping it. Soon you will hear the “Good News” of God’s free salvation for the last time. God does not want your works, tears, prayers or feelings, but your faith. Believe in Him who has done all at the cross for you, and then His Word to you will be, “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 who are left will not sorrow as those who have no hope. We will know that you are “with Christ, which is far better.”