September 15th
The Eternal Consequences of Sin
Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the pool of fire. (Apoc xx. 15.)
The Eternal Consequences of Sin
Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the pool of fire. (Apoc xx. 15.)
Try to represent to your imagination the eternal
prison-house. Listen to the shriek and cries of
despair that issue thence; see the agony written
on the faces of the inmates; approach if you can
to the devouring flame.
What is it that the lost are suffering here? The pain of fire. Touch a piece of red-hot iron and see how long you can bear it. Yet the lost souls in Hell endure an agony far worse than this. The fire surrounds them like water; nay, it is within and without them, it dries up their tongue, it consumes their entrails, it penetrates to the very marrow of their bones. My God, may I never incur this agony!
This fire is no ordinary fire. It is a supernatural fire; the breath of God kindles it. The torment of burning as known to us is a suffering far less than the torment of Hell. If the lost could be transferred to a bath of seething, molten lead, their suffering would be less severe than that under which they now groan.
About this fire there is none of the light of ordinary fire. It carries with it the blackness of darkness. No ray of light will ever pierce its hideous gloom, no word of comfort, no sort of relief, no hope of change. Nothing will alleviate the eternal misery that comes of sin.
Pray that if the love of God or hope of Heaven does not keep you from sinning, at least the fear of Hell-fire may stop you in time.
What is it that the lost are suffering here? The pain of fire. Touch a piece of red-hot iron and see how long you can bear it. Yet the lost souls in Hell endure an agony far worse than this. The fire surrounds them like water; nay, it is within and without them, it dries up their tongue, it consumes their entrails, it penetrates to the very marrow of their bones. My God, may I never incur this agony!
This fire is no ordinary fire. It is a supernatural fire; the breath of God kindles it. The torment of burning as known to us is a suffering far less than the torment of Hell. If the lost could be transferred to a bath of seething, molten lead, their suffering would be less severe than that under which they now groan.
About this fire there is none of the light of ordinary fire. It carries with it the blackness of darkness. No ray of light will ever pierce its hideous gloom, no word of comfort, no sort of relief, no hope of change. Nothing will alleviate the eternal misery that comes of sin.
Pray that if the love of God or hope of Heaven does not keep you from sinning, at least the fear of Hell-fire may stop you in time.