Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
After this, the Judgment
The Lord Jesus has appeared once to put away sin, by making an atonement for
it; and he will come again a second time, not to put away sin, as before —
but to punish the impenitent sinner, and complete the salvation of his own
people. And so, "it is appointed unto men once to die — but after this,
the judgment!" Hebrews 9:27. Then the great white throne will be set, the books will be opened, and the dead will be judged out of those things which are written
in the books, according to their works. Let us meditate on this solemn
subject for a short time.
The Event is the most momentous possible; nothing
that concerns us can be more so. The judge of all will appear in his
majesty and glory, invested with the highest authority, to reward every one
according to his works. All must appear before him, either as justified — to
be rewarded; or as criminal — to be condemned and punished.
What multitudes will be there! The writer and the reader will be there, and each one will feel that he is there on his own account, not as a spectator — but as a party intensely interested in the consequences of the day. All will be tried, "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due
him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." Then, every
one of us will give account of himself to God. Oh, solemn situation in which
to be placed, after a life like ours!
A just sentence will be past on each, on all.
Eternal life — or eternal death. Endless joys — or interminable woes. How
momentous, how solemn, that day! How fearful the results to many! Let us
keep that day before us. Let us devoutly meditate upon it, and as we cannot
avoid or escape it; let us prepare for it, that all may he well with us at
last.
The Prospect should influence our conduct. Do what we
may, be where we may, we should remember, "after this the judgment!"
After this folly, be it what it may — after this evil practice — after
this course of crime — comes the judgment, when I must give an account to
God! After this painful affliction, in which God speaks to me, and by
which God warns me — comes the judgment. After death, which may be
sudden — soon — after death — comes the judgment!
Think of this, young man, when invited to the theater, the races, the card party, the tavern, the alehouse, the ball — you may be inclined to go, you may follow your inclination — but remember, "after this the judgment!"
Think of this, young woman, when tempted to waste
your time in reading novels, in paying frivolous visits; or to waste money
in unnecessary finery, or to give up your company to mirthful young men; you
may do so — but remember, "after this the judgment!"
Think of this, man of business, when about to
indulge in dangerous speculations, or to take advantage of the ignorance of
your customers, or to practice any of the tricks of trade. You may
appear to succeed, all may go well for a time — but there is the account,
the reckoning, "after this, the judgment!"
Think of this, inconsistent professor, when
yielding to temptation, when giving way to loose conduct, when neglecting
the means of grace, or when privately indulging in any sin, "after this, the
judgment."
Let every one of us keep the thought of the coming
judgment daily before our minds!
It will prevent many sins,
it will preserve us from many snares,
and will be a stimulus to many duties.
When tempted . . .
to be idle, or selfish, or worldly;
to indulge in finery, frivolity, or folly;
to go into questionable society, or engage in questionable amusements
— let us think before we give way: what reason can I assign for it, how I
can justify it before God, for "after this, the judgment."
Disease will probably seize us soon;
death is certain, and may be very near;
retribution is inevitable, in this world or the next.
The judgment is at hand.
The day is fixed.
The preparations are nearly ready.
The judge is appointed.
The books are nearly full.
The last indictment will soon be made out.
The heavens and the earth will soon roll away like a
scroll.
The graves will open.
The dead will rise.
The separation between the sheep and the goats,
the chaff and the wheat, will soon take place.
Each one will know his doom — his eternal doom!
Each one wiil stand alone, and hear the sentence:
"Come, you who are blessed of my Father — inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from before the foundation of the world!" Or, and oh, how terrible the
supposition! "Depart, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels! And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment — but the righteous into life eternal!"
Reader, you are now solemnly warned, you are now
affectionately cautioned, you are now earnestly exhorted to prepare
for that day. You must be born again — or you cannot see the kingdom
of God. See to it that you are. Do not put away the thought, or stifle
the conviction, or trifle with the impression — for remember
however you may act, you cannot escape the judgment. "After this, after
this, after this — the Judgment!"
From James Smith, posted at Grace Gems
it; and he will come again a second time, not to put away sin, as before —
but to punish the impenitent sinner, and complete the salvation of his own
people. And so, "it is appointed unto men once to die — but after this,
the judgment!" Hebrews 9:27. Then the great white throne will be set, the books will be opened, and the dead will be judged out of those things which are written
in the books, according to their works. Let us meditate on this solemn
subject for a short time.
The Event is the most momentous possible; nothing
that concerns us can be more so. The judge of all will appear in his
majesty and glory, invested with the highest authority, to reward every one
according to his works. All must appear before him, either as justified — to
be rewarded; or as criminal — to be condemned and punished.
What multitudes will be there! The writer and the reader will be there, and each one will feel that he is there on his own account, not as a spectator — but as a party intensely interested in the consequences of the day. All will be tried, "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due
him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." Then, every
one of us will give account of himself to God. Oh, solemn situation in which
to be placed, after a life like ours!
A just sentence will be past on each, on all.
Eternal life — or eternal death. Endless joys — or interminable woes. How
momentous, how solemn, that day! How fearful the results to many! Let us
keep that day before us. Let us devoutly meditate upon it, and as we cannot
avoid or escape it; let us prepare for it, that all may he well with us at
last.
The Prospect should influence our conduct. Do what we
may, be where we may, we should remember, "after this the judgment!"
After this folly, be it what it may — after this evil practice — after
this course of crime — comes the judgment, when I must give an account to
God! After this painful affliction, in which God speaks to me, and by
which God warns me — comes the judgment. After death, which may be
sudden — soon — after death — comes the judgment!
Think of this, young man, when invited to the theater, the races, the card party, the tavern, the alehouse, the ball — you may be inclined to go, you may follow your inclination — but remember, "after this the judgment!"
Think of this, young woman, when tempted to waste
your time in reading novels, in paying frivolous visits; or to waste money
in unnecessary finery, or to give up your company to mirthful young men; you
may do so — but remember, "after this the judgment!"
Think of this, man of business, when about to
indulge in dangerous speculations, or to take advantage of the ignorance of
your customers, or to practice any of the tricks of trade. You may
appear to succeed, all may go well for a time — but there is the account,
the reckoning, "after this, the judgment!"
Think of this, inconsistent professor, when
yielding to temptation, when giving way to loose conduct, when neglecting
the means of grace, or when privately indulging in any sin, "after this, the
judgment."
Let every one of us keep the thought of the coming
judgment daily before our minds!
It will prevent many sins,
it will preserve us from many snares,
and will be a stimulus to many duties.
When tempted . . .
to be idle, or selfish, or worldly;
to indulge in finery, frivolity, or folly;
to go into questionable society, or engage in questionable amusements
— let us think before we give way: what reason can I assign for it, how I
can justify it before God, for "after this, the judgment."
Disease will probably seize us soon;
death is certain, and may be very near;
retribution is inevitable, in this world or the next.
The judgment is at hand.
The day is fixed.
The preparations are nearly ready.
The judge is appointed.
The books are nearly full.
The last indictment will soon be made out.
The heavens and the earth will soon roll away like a
scroll.
The graves will open.
The dead will rise.
The separation between the sheep and the goats,
the chaff and the wheat, will soon take place.
Each one will know his doom — his eternal doom!
Each one wiil stand alone, and hear the sentence:
"Come, you who are blessed of my Father — inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from before the foundation of the world!" Or, and oh, how terrible the
supposition! "Depart, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels! And these shall go away into everlasting
punishment — but the righteous into life eternal!"
Reader, you are now solemnly warned, you are now
affectionately cautioned, you are now earnestly exhorted to prepare
for that day. You must be born again — or you cannot see the kingdom
of God. See to it that you are. Do not put away the thought, or stifle
the conviction, or trifle with the impression — for remember
however you may act, you cannot escape the judgment. "After this, after
this, after this — the Judgment!"
From James Smith, posted at Grace Gems
It's about tolerance and unity
The visible church is continually sliding into apostasy, embracing sin for the sake of unity.
As I read this piece from 'watchman on the wall' I was compelled to share...
I thought it odd that while listening to the rain pelting the windows of my study, the wind howling outside, a question came to mind: 'Why is the church in America dying?' And then I heard His still small voice:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25
You can read on here
As I read this piece from 'watchman on the wall' I was compelled to share...
I thought it odd that while listening to the rain pelting the windows of my study, the wind howling outside, a question came to mind: 'Why is the church in America dying?' And then I heard His still small voice:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25
You can read on here
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Perilous Times
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." "Men shall be lovers of their own selves"—2 Timothy 3
The average church-member/attender is as greedy and grasping as the world, while pastors, shepherds and televangelists fare no better.
"Boasters"—laying claim to the possession of a wisdom and scholarship they do not have. Televangelist - Word of Faith preachers promise financial prosperity and abundance to all believers; best selling books teach there is no hell and all roads lead to heaven, prophets prophecy falsely with seemingly neither remorse, repentance nor reproach. All fuel the fire of the discontent.
Continue reading here...
The average church-member/attender is as greedy and grasping as the world, while pastors, shepherds and televangelists fare no better.
"Boasters"—laying claim to the possession of a wisdom and scholarship they do not have. Televangelist - Word of Faith preachers promise financial prosperity and abundance to all believers; best selling books teach there is no hell and all roads lead to heaven, prophets prophecy falsely with seemingly neither remorse, repentance nor reproach. All fuel the fire of the discontent.
Continue reading here...
Monday, May 2, 2011
should it be according to your mind?
Should it be according to your mind?" Job 34:33
We are prone to be fretful, to complain of the
dispensations of Divine Providence, and to reflect harshly
upon the Lord's dealings with us.
We want our own way.
We wish to carve for ourselves.
We would be treated as God's favorites.
We want our ease, and prosperity, and pleasure, consulted
in all things. And if this does not appear to be done--if our
wills are crossed, if our schemes are
frustrated, if our purposes are broken off--then we
stumble, think ourselves badly treated, and look for everybody
to sympathize with us.
Under these circumstances, God comes to us--as we sit
among our broken cisterns, surrounded by our dethroned
idols--and puts this question to us: "Should it be according
to your mind?"
Are you wiser than God?
Are you kinder than God?
Are you holier than God?
Are you more just than God?
Are you better informed than God?
May not your mind be dark, or selfish, or foolish?
Should it then be according to your mind?
Should you reign--or God?
Remember that God acts in the highest wisdom; His motives
are grace and justice; and all His purposes are worthy of
Himself.
The least the Christian can do is to submit--and to prefer
God's wisdom, way, and work--to his own. Seeing God has so
arranged all events, that all things must work together for
the good of His people--they, at least, should daily say,
"Father, may Your will be done!"
O my soul, seek grace from God, not only to submit and be
resigned to the dispensations of Divine Providence--but to
acquiesce in them, and be pleased with the whole of them! Your
good is consulted--your best interests are secured; and soon,
very soon, it will be seen that infinite wisdom and mercy,
grace and goodness, have marked out every step of your road!
"Jesus replied: You do not understand what I am now
doing--but someday you will." John 13:7
From gracegems.org
We are prone to be fretful, to complain of the
dispensations of Divine Providence, and to reflect harshly
upon the Lord's dealings with us.
We want our own way.
We wish to carve for ourselves.
We would be treated as God's favorites.
We want our ease, and prosperity, and pleasure, consulted
in all things. And if this does not appear to be done--if our
wills are crossed, if our schemes are
frustrated, if our purposes are broken off--then we
stumble, think ourselves badly treated, and look for everybody
to sympathize with us.
Under these circumstances, God comes to us--as we sit
among our broken cisterns, surrounded by our dethroned
idols--and puts this question to us: "Should it be according
to your mind?"
Are you wiser than God?
Are you kinder than God?
Are you holier than God?
Are you more just than God?
Are you better informed than God?
May not your mind be dark, or selfish, or foolish?
Should it then be according to your mind?
Should you reign--or God?
Remember that God acts in the highest wisdom; His motives
are grace and justice; and all His purposes are worthy of
Himself.
The least the Christian can do is to submit--and to prefer
God's wisdom, way, and work--to his own. Seeing God has so
arranged all events, that all things must work together for
the good of His people--they, at least, should daily say,
"Father, may Your will be done!"
O my soul, seek grace from God, not only to submit and be
resigned to the dispensations of Divine Providence--but to
acquiesce in them, and be pleased with the whole of them! Your
good is consulted--your best interests are secured; and soon,
very soon, it will be seen that infinite wisdom and mercy,
grace and goodness, have marked out every step of your road!
"Jesus replied: You do not understand what I am now
doing--but someday you will." John 13:7
From gracegems.org
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