There are five solemn facts with which
I want to deal - facts of such vital importance, that to ignore them is to
wilfully reject the warning and entreaty of God's infallible Word, and deliberately
disregard the danger signals of divine truth.
First: All Will Not Be Saved
There is no such thing as universal salvation;
some will be saved, others-lost. Make no mistake, let no one deceive you.
A day of separation is surely coming, a separation of the wheat from the tares,
the good from the bad, the sheep from the goats. On one side or the other,
every man and woman will be arraigned. Such is the solemn declaration of
Scripture over and over again; and the question is, will you be among the
saved or the lost?
Second: Multitudes Will Be Lost
"Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Many does not mean
few. Many means many. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it." Few does not mean many. Few means
few. There will be many on the broad way and few on the narrow (Matthew 7:13-14).
Third: Many Will Perish Who Expect To Be Saved
This is the saddest fact of all. Multitudes who
confidently expect to be in heaven, will awaken when it is too late, to find
that they have never been born again. All their lifetime they have been deceived.
Satan has kept the scales on their eyes to the very last, and, finally, when
it is too late, the scales fall off and they realize that they have never
been saved. Oh, awful thought! - to be on a false foundation, unsaved, self-deceived,
and lost eternally. Profession without possession, and the door of mercy closed.
Oh, my friend, can it be possible that this will
be your fatal doom? Has Satan blinded your eyes; are you deceived? You who
have listened to the Gospel all your life; you who have been an active member
of the church-tell me, are you resting on a false foundation; and will you
discover when it is too late that you were never saved at all?
Fourth: There Is No Salvation After Death
We read in God's word of a great gulf. We are told
two things about this gulf. First, it is fixed. That means it can never be
moved. It is permanent. Second, it is impassible. No one can cross from one
side to the other.
This means that there is no second chance, in spite
of what Jehovah's Witnesses have to say about it. If you, my friend, die
unsaved, you will remain unsaved. The Bible does not offer a glimmer of hope
to anyone who rejects Christ in this life. There is no hope beyond the grave,
no second chance.
Fifth: This May Be Someone's Last Opportunity
"Yes, I would like to be a Christian, and intend
to sometime," said a man to his friend one day, "but I want to enjoy the pleasures
of the world first."
"Well, that's all right,' responded his friend.
"Go on and enjoy the world! You can become a Christian afterwards."
"But just when should I become a Christian?" inquired
the other, in a somewhat serious tone of voice.
"Oh, five minutes before you die will be time enough,"
replied his friend.
"But I don't know when I'm going to die," he exclaimed,
"I may not have another five minutes."
"In that case," remarked his friend, "the time
to become a Christian is now."
"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest
not what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:1). You may have another opportunity,
but remember there is a time coming when you will not, when you will have
to make the final choice. And this, my unsaved friend, may be that time. A
sure as God lives, the hour will strike when you will attend your last meeting,
hear your last sermon, and make your last choice. There is no "tomorrow" with
God. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor.
6:2).
Oh, then be warned before it is forever too late,
or you will be lost and lost eternally; for remember, God says "My Spirit
shall not always strive with man" (Gen 6:3). These are the solemn words of
God Himself and you dare not ignore them. If you are going to be saved, now
is the time. Will you then take the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal
Saviour? Will you turn from your life of sin to the only Saviour of sinners?
If you do not, have you considered the destiny that awaits you?
In Matthew 25, the Lord Jesus Christ describes
the multitudes of lost souls going away from the Last Judgment. Going away
from the fair scenes of home and country for ever - away from all the beauty
of this world.
- Away from friends and home and loved ones --
Away from songs of praise to God - Away from the appeals of faithful preachers
- Away from the prayers and tears of Christian friends. Away from Christ.
Away from the Bible with its heavenly truths, and the Gospel invitations-Away
from peace and purity and hope - Away from God forever. Christ said, "These
shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matt. 25:46).
Then you must flee to Christ. You must turn away
from every other hope of heaven-your church, your baptism, your prayers, your
tears, your good works. None of these can remove your sin. O, delay no longer.
Time is fleeting. Eternity looms before you. Seek the Saviour for pardon
now. He will save you.
