(Excerpt from “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards)
"All wicked men’s pains and contrivance, which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for this own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing , or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that the contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take the effectual care, and to order matters so for himself as not to fail.
But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in confidence in their own strength and wisdom; they trust to nothing but a shadow. The greater part of those who heretofore have lived under the same means of grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those who are now alive; was not because they did not lay out matters as well for themselves to secure their own escape. If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about hell ever to be the subjects of that misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, “No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself: I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief: Death outwitted me: God’s wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction came upon me."
During the years I worked with seniors and the disabled, many fit the description given by Jonathan Edwards. I watched some of them go to their death in that state, without ever having any desire to know the God who created them. They were unprepared to meet God, and had made the decisions that were sealing their fate; a Christless eternity in hell. I witnessed a variety of attitudes in these lost souls, arrogance, mocking, indifference, cursing, up until the last days and hours of their life. But, when the last day came; there was also much fear, torment, sorrow, and in some cases anger.
One thing could have changed the entire outcome, simple repentance, and asking Jesus to forgive them and come into their hearts. Some of them I had prayed for this to happen for months and years. I had the pleasure of praying with a few of them, and saw the peace that came over them, and the quiet assurance of knowing they would be in heaven soon. But, there were those who did not, and saw the difference in their last hours; my heart wrenched knowing their fate, which was soon to come. Instead of reaching out for the love and forgiveness of God, and letting Jesus in, they kept their hearts shut up, and dead in trespasses and sins. Even then, they would not change their minds.
Are you among those described by Edwards in this excerpt? Are you unprepared to meet the Lord? I pray you will consider this question, because it is the most important one you need to face in this life. No one will escape the appointment we all must face with Him.
If so, simply go to Him, and give him your life, ask for and receive His forgivenss and allow Him into your heart. Then pick up a bible and start reading it and talking to Him. He can and will come in and begin to change your life. But the most important issue will be taken care of; your eternal security. When this life is over, you will spend eternity with Him, in the place called heaven which he has prepared for those who love Him. I pray I see you there.
Lorna Couillard
"All wicked men’s pains and contrivance, which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for this own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing , or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that the contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take the effectual care, and to order matters so for himself as not to fail.
But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in confidence in their own strength and wisdom; they trust to nothing but a shadow. The greater part of those who heretofore have lived under the same means of grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those who are now alive; was not because they did not lay out matters as well for themselves to secure their own escape. If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about hell ever to be the subjects of that misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, “No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself: I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief: Death outwitted me: God’s wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying Peace and safety, then suddenly destruction came upon me."
During the years I worked with seniors and the disabled, many fit the description given by Jonathan Edwards. I watched some of them go to their death in that state, without ever having any desire to know the God who created them. They were unprepared to meet God, and had made the decisions that were sealing their fate; a Christless eternity in hell. I witnessed a variety of attitudes in these lost souls, arrogance, mocking, indifference, cursing, up until the last days and hours of their life. But, when the last day came; there was also much fear, torment, sorrow, and in some cases anger.
One thing could have changed the entire outcome, simple repentance, and asking Jesus to forgive them and come into their hearts. Some of them I had prayed for this to happen for months and years. I had the pleasure of praying with a few of them, and saw the peace that came over them, and the quiet assurance of knowing they would be in heaven soon. But, there were those who did not, and saw the difference in their last hours; my heart wrenched knowing their fate, which was soon to come. Instead of reaching out for the love and forgiveness of God, and letting Jesus in, they kept their hearts shut up, and dead in trespasses and sins. Even then, they would not change their minds.
Are you among those described by Edwards in this excerpt? Are you unprepared to meet the Lord? I pray you will consider this question, because it is the most important one you need to face in this life. No one will escape the appointment we all must face with Him.
If so, simply go to Him, and give him your life, ask for and receive His forgivenss and allow Him into your heart. Then pick up a bible and start reading it and talking to Him. He can and will come in and begin to change your life. But the most important issue will be taken care of; your eternal security. When this life is over, you will spend eternity with Him, in the place called heaven which he has prepared for those who love Him. I pray I see you there.
Lorna Couillard
