Posted on 09/05/2022 12:34:50 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof” (Proverbs 5:11-12 KJV).
A truly sad story from history is when Voltaire felt the stroke—which he knew was going to terminate in his own death—he was overpowered with remorse. He at once sent for a priest (wrong church) and wanted to be reconciled to the church (wrong reconciliation), his infidel flatterers at once hastened to his chambers to prevent his recantation, but it was only to witness his ignominious end. That is not the way to want to go. He cursed them to their faces, and since his distress was increased by their presence, loudly exclaimed, “Be gone! It is you that brought me to my present condition. Leave me, I say, be gone! What a wretched glory is this which you have produced for me.”
Hoping to allay his anguish by a written recantation, he had it written, signed it, and sought witnesses, but it was all to no avail. For two months he was tortured with such an agony that led him at times to gnash his teeth in an impotent rage against God and man. At other times, he in plaintiff accents he would plead, “Oh Christ! Oh Lord Jesus!” And then, turning his face he would cry out, “I must die! Abandoned of God and man.”
As his end drew near his condition became so frightful that his infidel associates were afraid to approach his bedside. They guarded his door so that others might not know how awful an infidel was compelled to die. Even his nurse repeatedly said afterwards, that for all the wealth of Europe she would never watch another infidel die. It was a scene of horror that lies beyond all exaggeration. Such was the well-attested end of this man that had a natural sovereignty of intellect, education, great wealth and much earthly honor. But that is not the way he went out.
“And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.”
You know what the sad part of a wicked life is? It is when you get down to the end of it, God is going to show you the whole mess. He is going to open your eyes. That is when you are going to clearly see the light, but it will be too late then. Too late. Too late. Too late!
Everything counts to the Christian. There are no little sins or big sins, little issues or big issues. Jesus gives the principle: he that is faithful in little is faithful in much.
“It was but a tiny flaw in the huge concrete dam. It was only a small amount of water at first, but because the unity of this mighty structure had given way at one point and the greater burden was placed on the rest of the wall, it was not long before the trickle became an avalanche of foaming destruction cascading down the valley, leaving in its wake destruction and death” (Baldwin Hills' Story).
So it is with a life broken by impurity. It brings defeat, destroys spiritual confidence and leaves one shaken, not only in faith, but in daily living.
If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.
For more books on all topics of the Bible, visit my web site at:
If your flesh and body are consumed, you’ll be dead and won’t be lamenting anything.
It’s too late after death.
Your statement assumes that there is no spiritual consciousness after life . . . If that if you wait until then to try to get right with God - it’ll be forever too late. Why not just do it now. It is simple - it is free - and it is forever. Jesus said that whosover would come to Him He would in no wise cast them out. That’s a promise from Someone that never broke his word to mankind.
Many of the students I taught spurned reproof. All that remains is an eventual banquet of consequences.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.