Not prepared for you. God in that day,—the
Lord Jesus Christ in that hour,—when that word shall be spoken, will
be just as sorrowful as he was in the hour of the cross. He will be just
as sorry that these have to go into that place, which was not prepared
for them, as he was in the hour of the cross. It is not his pleasure
that any should be there. They are there because of that sin to which
they have inseparably joined themselves. And that being their
irrevocable choice, they simply have the opportunity now of receiving
indeed, and to the full, that which they have chosen. They always had
their choice; they made their choice; they stuck to their choice: and
when they receive the consequences of their choice, indeed there is no
room for complaint. God has done all that he could do, but they would
not have it.
So, though it is a fact that the Lord does not desire
any of this to come upon any man, yet, as "God is a consuming
fire," that is the way that he must come. Being a consuming fire,
and coming as he is, he comes in flaming fire to visit upon wickedness
that which is due; and whoever is joined with the wickedness has to go
the same way.
"Taking vengeance on them that know not
God." They had an opportunity to know God. Multitudes professed
that they did know God, but in their works they denied him. They had the
form of godliness,—the profession,—but they denied the power
thereof. You know the words: "In the last days perilous times shall
come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without
natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers
of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this
sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women
laden with sins, led away with divers lusts . . . reprobate concerning
the faith." And destruction comes to them, not because they had no
chance, but because they despised all the chances they had: not because
they had no opportunity to know God, but because they rejected every
opportunity that God ever gave them to find him out, and know him when
he revealed himself.
God is altogether clear; for Jesus said: "If any
man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to
judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and
receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him." John 12:47, 48.
Choose life and not death.