Volume 1 Lawrence, Kansas July 1961 Number 7
From the moment that man fell into Satan's evil clutches, man's salvation has been God's chief concern. This need of salvation stems from two solemn facts: (1st) The reality of sin, and (2nd) the awful consequences of sin. These two facts are the most important facts in the world: but at the same time they are ignored more than any facts affecting the welfare of the human race.
The reality of sin is evident from Paul's trenchant statement: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"—Romans 3:23. The apostle John confirms this statement by saying, "The whole world lieth in wickedness"—I John 5:19. And what was true in the days of the apostles is just as true now. That evil serpent who led the woman into sin in Eden is today constantly busy in leading men away from God.
Human words are too inadequate to describe Satan's character. He is devoid of every principle of decency, purity and justice. He aims at the total destruction of everything that is good, holy and pure. There is not in his heart one single impulse toward kindness or affection. He is the direct opposite of God, and the archenemy of all righteousness. He has only contempt for man, and his hatred of God leads him to plan God's total obliteration. Satan rejoices not in any act of mercy or goodness, but in every case of depravity he finds Satanic glee. He aims at the destruction of everything that makes for justice and peace. The happiness of a home founded on the mutual love of a man and woman merits only the scorn of the devil. His evil influence fills the jails and prisons of every nation, and he is the direct sponsor of all juvenile delinquency. Every ruthless robber and murderer is his beloved child. If he could have his way he would corrupt every public officer and make the betrayal of trust the unwritten law of the land. He would gladly take the purest heart and the sweetest character and debauch them with the filth of hell. From the frozen tundra of the north to the hot steaming jungles of Africa he never wearies in his pursuit of every creature bearing the image of God. His sleepless eye views every nation, and his evil heart seeks to direct all of God creatures into the ways of filthiness and sin.
Every policeman on his beat, and every sheriff in his office can testify to the reality of sin and Satan's terrible influence. The massive stone walls of every prison, and the strong steel bars of every jail give mute testimony of the universal power of sin. Of the two billion inhabitants on the earth, every single one has felt sin's deadly blight. The broken homes of every community, and the dissipated life of every vagrant, as well as the crimes that beset every government makes us conscious of the reality of sin.
This brings us next to the question of the eternal consequences of sin. Sin is defined as "transgression of the law"—I John 3:4. God in placing man under law also connected a penalty to that law. That penalty was, and ever will be, death. "The wages of sin is death"—Romans 6:23, and, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die"—Ezekiel 18:4. This death is not annihilation—the total destruction of man, but eternal separation from God, and from the glory of his power—II Thessalonians 1:9. No one can break the law of God with impunity. While God loves man, yet he hates sin and Satan. It never has been, and never will be the will of God that a single soul shall perish. Listen! "As I live, with the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked should turn from his way and live, turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"—Ezekiel 33:11. God cannot maintain his own dignity and justice if he would set aside the law man has violated in order to save him; and so the penalty of God's law must be applied. It is the unchangeable law of both the natural and spiritual world that "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." "He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life"—Galatians 6:7- 8. If man recognizes the inevitability of reaping weeds when weed seed is sown, then he must also recognize the fact that a life spent in Satan's service yields no spiritual fruit in the garden of God's love. Jesus said to the Jews, "Ye shall die in your sins: whither I go ye cannot come"—John 8:21. At the judgment Jesus will say of the unsaved, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal"—Matthew 25:46.
After the destruction of the world there will be just two places of abode for mankind—heaven and hell. If a man prefers the service of Satan to the service of Christ, then to Satan he must look for his reward. "Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? "—Romans 6:16. The reward of Satan is sharing his fate with him, and that very thought should be terrifying to every sober-minded person.
Let no one impugn the goodness or mercy of God in this matter. Hell was not prepared for man: It was prepared for the devil and his angels—Matthew 25:41. If a man will stubbornly and steadfastly reject God's offers of love, mercy and pardon, what claim will such a man have upon God's mercy at the judgment? "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds"—Romans 2:5- 6. Just as sure as that those who deliberately drink poison must suffer the effects of the poison, just as sure men must suffer if they drink the poison of Satan's brew. There is not the slightest evidence possessed by anyone that they can escapee the righteous judgment of God.
"It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment"—Hebrews 9:27. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive for the things done in his body according to that he path done, whether it be good or bad."—II Corinthians 5:10. All of this and much more that we could consider makes the matter of tremendous importance that all men should receive salvation in this life, for a thousand years spent in the unseen world cannot change our character nor alter our relationship with God. At the hour of death our destiny is fixed for eternity.