Posted on 07/23/2021 10:19:51 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” (Proverbs 24:11-12).
Verse 11-12 is a good soul-winning text. “If thou forbear,” that is, not to do something, in this case, “to deliver them that are drawn unto death.” Sinners are drawn unto death, the wages of sin is death.
“If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?” Who ponders the hearts? “the LORD pondereth the hearts” (Proverbs 21:2). The Lord studies the heart, He tries the reins, He understands it, and knows it.
“. . . and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?” What you did? What you thought?
“. . . and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” You bet!
There are all kinds of passages on this:
“Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand” (Ezekiel 33:2-6).
“For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways” (Job 34:11).
“Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work” (Psalms 62:12).
“Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 32:19).
“Who will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6).
“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works . . . And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 2:23, 22:12).
Salvation in the Old Testament was different under the law than it is under grace, and during the Tribulation period (when the Holy Spirit no longer seals believers unto the day of redemption - as that day passed when the Rapture occurred), sins will be dealt with as in the Old Testament. The day of salvation will have ended as a dispensation.
Now, if you are saved, you are going to heaven, but the blood of the lost will be on your hands if you fail to warn them. We can be thankful that we live under the age of grace, but in the Old Testament if the watchman failed to warn the people—God would take his soul along with the people he failed to warn.
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