photo #7743622

THE NEED FOR ABIDING WRATH If a man is lost and on his way to hell, then he needs to know it. He needs to feel God’s wrath hovering over his head continually. He is the target of God’s wrath, and he needs to know it. This is well brought out in Psalm 7:11-12: “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.” The wicked man needs to feel the guilt of sin and the approaching judgment of God continually. The Christian’s duty is to remind him of this continually and to emphasize that Christ is his only hope. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit “will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). This is obviously in keeping with the spirit of Psalm 7:11-12, reminding the sinner of the wrath of God that abides on him because of his sins. John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” If the wrath of God abides on a man, then that man ought to feel it. He should know daily that things are not right between himself and God. He should constantly feel the convicting power of the Holy Spirit on his heart so he can be moved to true repentance and a genuine conversion. The last thing he needs is for some empty believist to come along and welcome him to the kingdom of God for merely repeating a little prayer. Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, such careless "soul winners" are actually QUENCHING the Holy Spirit! Our Lord sure had their number when He said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Mat. 23:15)