Whither Bound?

TO a glorious eternity, or to the lake of fire? If in doubt, there is no time to waste. Get the questions settled NOW. On being presented with a little Gospel book during his holiday, a young man expressed much annoyance, and said, “One cannot have an outing without ‘Kingdom Come’ being presented.” He was not a scoffer, but heedlessly drifting—to what? It was the love of God that led His servant to present the booklet, and it is the love of God that leads the writer to address you now. Will you resist? “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)). God is holy-would you have it otherwise if you could? How then are you to meet Him? In all your sins, as He sees them? “From the sole of the foot even unto the head,... wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” If so, what must be the result? Note, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). Prepare then to meet thy God. Flee from the wrath to come! How very inconsistent you have been! How so? In ignoring the claims upon you of One who met God in judgment about sin. “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).)
You ask, possibly, What am I to do? What was the burden of the apostle Paul’s ministry? “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ” (Heb. 20:21). And again, “Or despisest thou the richness of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:4-64Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (Romans 2:4‑6)). What were the Saviour’s words to His disciples? “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name” (Luke 24:4747And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)). Again, “God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)). “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)). “To him that worketh not, but believeth in him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). “This is the work of God, that ye believe in him whom he hath sent” (John 6:2929Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29)). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9, 109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‑10)). E. F. M.