STUBBORN SINNERS

There is a similarity so striking between our present generation and a certain bunch of sinners mentioned in the Bible that every time I go through Revelation I am awed by it. This report from The Edmonton Sun, August 5, 2003 is the best example of this generation that I have in my archives.

I don’t presume to know exactly what plagues are released by the blowing of the sixth trumpet in the Apocalypse. But I know for sure that the stubborn sinners of Revelation 9.20, 21 are no worse than, and the same in nature and attitude as, those who returned to the Bali bar when it reopened. Here is that Scripture passage, “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” These sinners won’t quit their dens of sin, their needless consumption of luxury goods, their rowdy behavior, their drugs and drinking, their unmarried sex, their stealing, and their ungodly ways. That’s what’s going on both in the Bible passage and this Bali bar.

Of course the terrorists were wrong to bomb the bar. But in our concern and anger about that we must be careful not to miss this more important point: that when sinners are blasted while in the act of sinning, this is a reminder from God to obey his command to turn from sin, and to do so without delay.

Now what sins have you been hammered for while still in the act? Maybe your hangover started before you finished getting hammered. Maybe you got nailed in the act of breaking and entering.  Sin can boomerang like that. And then later what did you do? Return to do it all over again like the dog that returns to its vomit? Beware! If you die in that stubborn state you’ll be forever doomed and damned to misery and agony! You’ll end up being cast into that unquenchable fire where those unrepentant, spiritual cripples of Revelation must certainly go! “Tormented with fire,” the Bible says! (Revelation 14.10.) How can I make you take it seriously? Only the Holy Spirit can. There can be no repenting after death, no Jesus for you then. Be saved by Jesus now. Trust him now. Leave your sins and take his forgiveness. “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6.2.) Have you not heard that Jesus came into this world to save? That he died on the cross for sin? That he rose from the grave? That he’ll grant LIFE to the just and JUDGMENT to the wicked? “Behold, now is the day of salvation.”