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.