A
few days ago I went to lunch with a good friend who is rather critical of the
Christian faith, I suspect that she thinks most Christians are hypocrites and
in many cases she's correct. I mentioned the sudden death of James Gandolfini who
played Tony Soprano for years on cable for years. Mr. Gandolfini made the mafia
boss seem almost decent at times. I commented that many of the actually mafia were
likely brought up in the Catholic Church and knew that due to their deeds that they
were likely going to a less than desirable place after death. So my friend
remarked “Well all they have to do is repent of the last minute and ask for
forgiveness” I said no, denying Christ again and again can harden the heart.
Then I started talk about Ezekiel and that God finally turned His back on Jerusalem.
Today
many Christians treat the Bible like a menu and pick and choice what they
prefer to believe. Not so. For some reason our study of Ezekiel brought to mind
the famous sermon by the fire and brimstone preacher from the 1700s Jonathan
Edwards. His classic sermon “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” would not
likely be considered acceptable today and certainly not PC.
Rev.
Edwards reminds us that we are held by a fine thread above Hell. Only the hand
of God holds us securely if it is His desire. Just this one paragraph gives the
favor of his sermon.
“The
devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own, at what moment
God shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession,
and under his dominion. The scripture represents them as his goods, Luke 11:12.
The devils watch them; they are ever by them at their right hand; they stand
waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to
have it, but are for the present kept back. If God should withdraw his hand, by
which they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls.
The old serpent is gaping for them; hell opens its mouth wide to receive them;
and if God should permit it, they would be hastily swallowed up and lost.”
I’ve
listened to this very visual sermon which is more than 40 minutes in length. It
should “Put the fear of God” to one hearing it. Thank you Lord Jesus for my
salvation.
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