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{The Application
Application for the Ungodly
Principles to Be Deep in Your Hearts
Unseen Things Are as Infallibly Certain as Things That Are Seen}
There is much atheism and infidelity in the hearts of people, and more than they are aware of. Some people peremptorily conclude that eternal things do not exist. And there are many whose hearts at least question whether such things exist or not. We have read and heard of another world, but no mortal ever saw it. Who has ever ascended up to Heaven and brought us word about what he has seen there? Who has ever descended into the deep [Hell] and brought us up tidings from there? It may be that there is no such thing as another world. If we could speak with one who has been there, that would be something to assure us. But what if it turns out that you may have just as great a certainty of these things, as if one were to rise from the dead and come and tell you? Do not the Scriptures tell you of such things? The Scriptures are a sure word and there is unquestionable evidence of the truth of what they speak. You have as great a reason to believe them as if you had the testimony of one raised from the dead. “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31 NKJV). Beloved, suppose you were to see before your eyes people rising from the dead. And one person comes down from Heaven and comes in here to this congregation in all his glorious robes, with his palm in his hand, his crown on his head, and the joy and glory of the Lord shining forth in his face. He declares to you the wonderful things that his eyes had seen and how his heart had been satisfied and ravished with the presence of God. And then you see another person coming out of the deep [Hell] with his chains of darkness on him and the smell of that infernal fire and brimstone about him. He has the print of the dragon’s claws appearing in his flesh and the blackness of that smoking furnace sticking to his face. He is hideously roaring out of the anguish he feels burning in his bowels. He tells you that his is the state of those who do not know God. If you should see two such sights appear in this very hour in the midst of you, would you not think you had reason to believe that there is a Heaven and a Hell? The Word of God that is before you is far greater and more certain evidence than if tidings were brought to you by people rising from the dead. And if you will not give credit to the testimony of God, neither would you give credit to any such testimony.217 Sinners, believe God, and believe Him who was once on earth and now daily speaks to you from Heaven. Believe the Word of God that is in front of you; in it appear such beams of divine light and such an impress of divine purity. It has been so thoroughly attested to you by a divine Power by means of such mighty signs and wonders, that you may as well question whether the sun has light as whether His Word has truth. Believe this Word to be certain, then question if you can whether the things not seen are certain or not.
Let these two things sink into your hearts, sinners: eternal things are more important than temporal things, and eternal things are as true and real as temporal things. Let these truths be at once settled and established in your hearts, and then you will be well onward in your way toward Christ and a godly life.
There is a Heaven and a Hell. There is such unspeakable glory and such intolerable misery, and both are eternal. If people were sure of these things and did truly believe them as much as they believe what their eyes see, their ears hear, and their hands handle, what a flying there would be out of the way of death and Hell. How people would flock into the way of life. Half the work of preachers, their hardest half, is persuading; this half would be at an end. There would be as much knocking at their doors for counsel as there now is at sinners’ doors [by preachers] for acceptance.
Oh brethren, if you were further brought to this pass, your unbelief removed, your darkness taken away, and your eyes opened to see these marvelous things as unquestionable truths, would you then scoff at purity? Would you then mock at godliness? Would you then slight reproofs or need any further conviction of your folly? You would have an admonisher, reminder, and reprover inside of you. Your own consciences would plead with you to welcome Christ and embrace His Word. Your conscience would continually cry in your ears: “What do you mean, O fool? Do you not see a kingdom before you that may be yours, and you are willing to lose it? Do you not see that abyss of misery and perdition with open mouth gaping for you to devour you? Arise, sluggard, look to yourself lest you be undone before you are aware.”
217This may seem difficult for some to believe, but it is what Scripture teaches and shows us in the person of those who, in the face of Jesus’s miracles, did not believe in Him and even crucified Him. Also, in 1 Kings 19:14–18 and Romans 11:3–4, we see that Elijah’s great miracle on Mount Carmel did not change people’s hearts. Christ’s sheep hear His voice. But those who are unregenerate will go to extreme lengths to explain away the need to submit to Christ. Belief in Darwinism, in the face of the obvious hand of God upon creation, is an example. Those who think a miracle will make them believe only delude themselves.
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