iChristian

Tomorrow comes, and they are in Hell! 

(Samuel Davies, “The Objects, Grounds, and Evidences of the HOPE of the Righteous”)

“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness;
 but the righteous has hope in his death.” Proverbs 14:32

“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness.”
That is, the wicked man dies–just as he lived.
He lived in wickedness, and in wickedness he dies. 

His wickedness sticks fast upon him–when his earthly enjoyments, his friends, and all created comforts leave him forever.

The guilt of his wickedness lies heavy upon him–like a mountain of lead, ready to sink him into the depths of eternal misery!

And the principles of wickedness, which he indulged all his life, still live within him, even after the agonies of death; nay, they now arrive at a dreadful immortality, and produce an eternal Hell in his heart!

He leaves behind him not only all his earthly comforts–but all the little remains of goodness which he seemed to have, while under the restraints of divine grace; and he carries nothing but his wickedness along with him into eternity! With this dreadful attendant–his wickedness–he must stand before the tribunal of his holy Judge! To leave his earthly all behind him, and die in the agonies of dissolving nature–this is terrible. But to die in his wickedness–this is infinitely the most terrible of all!

He once flattered himself that though he lived in wickedness–that he would not die in it. He adopted many resolutions to amend, and forsake his wickedness toward the close of life, or upon a death-bed. But Oh! how sorely is he disappointed! After all his promising purposes and hopes, he died as he lived–in wickedness!

This is generally the fate of veterans in sin. They are resolving and re-resolving to reform all their lives; but after all, they die the same as they lived. They intend to prepare for death and eternity, but just not today. They have always something else to do today; and therefore they put off this work until tomorrow. Tomorrow comes, and instead of reforming, they die in their wickedness. Tomorrow comes, and they are in Hell!

“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness.” 
He is driven away, in spite of all his reluctance. 
Let him cling to life ever so strongly, yet he must go! 
All his struggles are vain, and cannot add one moment to his life.

Indeed, the wicked have so little taste for Heaven, and are so much in love with this world–that if they leave it at all, they must be driven out of it–driven out of it, whether they want or not!

When they hope for Heaven, they do in reality consider it but a shift, or a refuge, when they can no longer live in this, their favorite world. They do not at all desire Heaven–in comparison with this world. They would live forever in this present world, if they could have their choice. But let them grasp ever so hard, they must let go their hold. They must be driven away, like chaff before a whirlwind–driven away into the regions of misery. Into the regions of misery, I say; for certainly the happiness of Heaven was never intended for such as are so averse to it; and who prefer this wretched world, with all its cares and sorrows–before Heaven itself!

“But the wicked will lose hope. They have no escape. Their hope becomes despair.” Job 11:20

“When the wicked die, their hopes all perish!” Proverbs 11:7

“The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath!” Proverbs 11:23

Who is regulating affairs on this earth today–God, or the Devil? 

(Arthur Pink, “The Sovereignty of God”)

Who is regulating affairs on this earth today–God, or the Devil?

That God reigns supreme in Heaven, is generally conceded; but that He reigns supreme over this earth, is almost universally denied–if not directly, then indirectly. More and more men are relegating God to the background in their philosophizing and theorizing. 

Take the material realm. Not only is it denied that God created everything, by personal and direct action–but few believe that He has any immediate concern in regulating the works of His own hands. Everything is supposed to be ordered according to the (impersonal and abstract) “laws of Nature”. Thus is the Creator banished from His own creation! Therefore we need not be surprised that men, in their degrading conceptions, exclude Him from the realm of human affairs. 

Throughout Christendom, with an almost negligible exception, the theory is held that man is “a free agent”, and therefore, man is the master of his fortunes and the determiner of his destiny. 

Who is regulating affairs on this earth today–God, or the Devil? 

What do the Scriptures say? If we believe their plain and positive declarations, no room is left for uncertainty. They affirm, again and again . . .
  that God is on the throne of His universe;
  that the scepter is in His hands;
  that He is directing all things “after the counsel of His own will”. Ephesians 1:11

The Scriptures affirm, not only that God created all things, but also that God is ruling and reigning over all the works of His hands. They affirm . . .
  that God is the Almighty,
  that His will is irreversible,
  that He is absolute sovereign in every realm of all His vast dominions. 

And surely it must be so. Only two alternatives are possible:
  God must either rule–or be ruled;
  God must either sway–or be swayed;
  God must either accomplish His own will–or be thwarted by His creatures. 

Accepting the fact that He is the “Most High God”, the only Potentate and King of kings, vested with perfect wisdom and illimitable power–the conclusion is irresistible, that He must be God in fact–as well as in name!

It is in view of what we have briefly referred to above, that we say, present-day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God’s omnipotence, God’s sufficiency, and God’s sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth–that God still reigns! What is needed now, as never before, is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhood of God. Drastic diseases call for drastic remedies. We know of nothing which is more calculated to infuse spiritual vigor into our souls, than a scriptural apprehension of the full character of God!

“Our God is in Heaven! He does whatever He pleases!” Psalm 115:3 

“The LORD does whatever pleases Him throughout all Heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths!” Psalm 135:6

“All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have you done?” Daniel 4:35 

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!” Revelation 19:6 

I am the object of God’s tender, paternal, and ceaseless care!

(“Comfort for the Desponding–Words to Soothe and Cheer Troubled Hearts!” 1864)

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!” 1 Peter 5:7 

The Christian’s life is very much made up of cares and comforts.
Cares spring from earth–comfort comes from Heaven.
Cares prove him a sinner–holy comforts prove him a saint.
Cares flow in from a variety of quarters–true comfort from only one quarter.
Cares come naturally–but comforts come supernaturally. 

Cares must be cast on our God–or they will prove a burden too heavy for us. They will depress us, bewilder us, and make us wretched. But here is our comfort–we have always ONE to care for us, and the very One which of all others we would wish to do so, “The Lord cares for you!”

God cares for whom? 
For you, who are born again by the Spirit. 
For you, who are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 
For you, who are placed in humble circumstances, being numbered with the poor of this world. 
For you, who are compassed about with so many cares, and who enjoy so few comforts.
For you, who are surprised at your many fiery trials, as though some strange thing had happened unto you.
For you, who are worried and harassed by Satan, who, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour. 
For you, who are persecuted by the world, and hated by men for your Savior’s sake. 
For you, to whom Christ is precious–as He is to every one who truly believes in Him. 

God’s care extends to every Christian . . .
  the young and the aged,
  the weak and the strong,
  the poor and the wealthy,
  the doubting and the confident. 
Believer, He cares for you!

Who is it that cares for us?
It is the Lord, the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy;
who is so great–that we have no adequate conception of His greatness;
who is so good–that it is impossible fully to set forth His goodness;
who is so glorious–that no sinner can see His face and live. 
It is He . . .
   who created all things with His word,
   who governs all by His wisdom, 
   and upholds all by His power. 
His resources are infinite, 
His compassion is exquisite, and 
His patience is astonishingly great. 
He enters into all the circumstances of His redeemed people, is ever present with them, and rejoices over them to do them good. 

The angels obey Him, 
the seraphim adore Him, 
and all creation glorifies Him! 

But though He is so exalted, so holy, and so unspeakably great . . .
  He cares for you–as vile as you are.
  He cares for you–as sinful as you are.
  He cares for you–as depressed and discouraged as you are. 
He cares for you. He cares for you individually, and according to the circumstances in which you are placed.

What does He do? 
He cares for you!
He thinks of you!
He watches over you!
He sympathizes with you!
He feels the deepest interest in you!
He ever seeks your welfare!
He infallibly secures your good!

Your misery touches His heart,
your needs lie open to His view,
and your cries enter into His ears!

He cares for you more than for the proudest monarch on his throne! 

He cares for you–and His care is CONSTANT! 
It is not fitful or occasional–but ever the same. 

He cares for you–and His care is PATERNAL! 
It is the care of a father for his child–the child whom he tenderly loves, and for whose welfare he feels the deepest concern. 

He cares for you, and His care is PERPETUAL! 
He will never care for you less than He does at present. 
When old age weakens you, 
when poverty pinches you, 
when death appears just before you–
He will care for you as much as He does at this moment. 

He cares for you–and His care is BENEFICIAL! 
It prevents innumerable evils–and secures the greatest possible amount of good. His care is more advantageous than the care of the kindest father, though that father were monarch of the mightiest empire, and possessed unbounded wealth. The care of God is of more value than the care of all His creatures combined. 

He cares for you–but His care is MYSTERIOUSLY EXERCISED! 
It benefits us certainly–but secretly. It conceals itself behind the blessings it brings, and the evils it prevents. 

He cares for you–and His care is SPECIAL! 
It is not the care which He has for the beasts which perish, or the unbelieving sinners who die under His frown. 

He cares for you–and His care is PARTICULAR. 
It is care which extends to the very hairs of your heads, which, are all numbered–and to all the events and occurrences of your life, however minute or commonplace!

Beloved, here is our comfort. We may lose the care of an earthly relative or dear friend by death–but the Lord ever lives; and while He lives, He . . .
  ever loves us,
  thoroughly knows us, and
  never ceases to care for us!

Here is the ground of our confidence for the future. We know not where we shall be, nor what we shall be–for we know not what a day may bring forth. But this we know, that God will care for us, and, caring for us–He will fulfill His precious promises to us. 

If God cares for us, then . . .
   let us cast all our cares upon Him; 
   let us live in daily fellowship with Him; 
   let us seek all our supplies from Him. 

If God cares for us, then let us not dishonor Him by nursing our doubts, or encouraging our fears–but let us trust in Him at all times, for . . .
  His love is true, 
  His care is constant, and 
  His knowledge is perfect. 

We shall never be without a divine friend–however trying our circumstances may be. We shall never be without a divine guide–however perplexing or difficult our path may be. The care of God is more than the care of all the angelic hosts. If the care of God is not sufficient to preserve, supply, and satisfy us–then nothing is.

May the Lord help me to believe this precious truth, to realize it daily, and to pass through the present world under the impression, “I am the object of God’s tender, paternal, and ceaseless care!“

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall!” Psalm 55:22