"God is merciful!" said old Mrs. Jenkins, as she came from the funeral
home where drunken Sam Voller was just laid out. Last night Sam was at "The Fighting Rooster"
and drank too much beer, then he quarreled, a fight followed, and Sam got an
unlucky blow and now he has gone to appear before his Maker, to give an
account of the deeds!
Yes, Mrs. Jenkins, God is merciful but not always. God is merciful but not to all. There was no mercy for the world of the ungodly, who perished in the flood. Nor was there any mercy for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were consumed by fire from heaven.
Neither can we see, though we do not wish to judge harshly of our poor fellow-creatures, how there could be mercy for Sam who lived in sin, died in sin, and died in consequence of his sin. "He who confesses and forsakes his sin shall find mercy;" but how can he hope for mercy who hardens himself in sin, and perseveres in it until summoned to appear before God to give an account of it?
"There is mercy with God that He may be feared," not that He may be trifled with, and insulted to His face!
Mercy may now be obtained by any one and every one who seeks it. But the Lord, who is now so merciful and gracious will by and by manifest His wrathful indignation; and say to those who now refuse to come when He calls them, "Depart from me, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" Terrible words called forth by persevering in sin, and inflicting a terrible doom! May no reader of these lines, ever endure the threatening contained in them!
In vain for mercy now they cry; In lakes of liquid fire they lie; There on the flaming billows tossed, Forever — O, forever, lost!
Yes, Mrs. Jenkins, God is merciful but not always. God is merciful but not to all. There was no mercy for the world of the ungodly, who perished in the flood. Nor was there any mercy for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were consumed by fire from heaven.
Neither can we see, though we do not wish to judge harshly of our poor fellow-creatures, how there could be mercy for Sam who lived in sin, died in sin, and died in consequence of his sin. "He who confesses and forsakes his sin shall find mercy;" but how can he hope for mercy who hardens himself in sin, and perseveres in it until summoned to appear before God to give an account of it?
"There is mercy with God that He may be feared," not that He may be trifled with, and insulted to His face!
Mercy may now be obtained by any one and every one who seeks it. But the Lord, who is now so merciful and gracious will by and by manifest His wrathful indignation; and say to those who now refuse to come when He calls them, "Depart from me, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" Terrible words called forth by persevering in sin, and inflicting a terrible doom! May no reader of these lines, ever endure the threatening contained in them!
In vain for mercy now they cry; In lakes of liquid fire they lie; There on the flaming billows tossed, Forever — O, forever, lost!
[James Smith]
✞✞✞
Exodus 33:19 ... And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Romans 9:18 ... Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Proverbs 28:13 ... He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Galatians 6:8 ... For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Matthew 25:46 ... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.❤
