PICTURE SIX – THE DEATH OF AN UNBELIEVER
This is a very different scene from that of Picture 5.
There is no hope for this man whose trust is not in Jesus, no comfort for his heart or joy or peace for his soul. Hopelessness, fearfulness and confusion are all in evidence as his life comes to an end.
He has lived without God and is now dying without Him.
The passing pleasures of this world, its revelry, gambling and selfish indulgence bring no comfort to his soul now. He thought he was “enjoying the pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25), but they mock him in his last moments, just as the discarded cigarettes can bring no satisfaction in his hour of greatest need.
Whatever he may have accumulated in wealth or fame has no longer any value to him for he must leave it all behind. “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:7)
His heart has never been cleansed by the precious blood of God’s dear Son.
It is filled with sin, and Satan remains in control, to torment and frighten him still.
▪︎ Has he sinned against God by worshipping idols, or his own ancestors?
▪︎ Has he sought only for education, forgetting that all his wisdom is but foolishness in God’s sight? (1 Corinthians 3:19)
▪︎ Has he thought of fame in this world and neglected the need of having his name written in heaven? (Luke 10:20)
▪︎ Has he professed to be an atheist, saying as those foolish people do say, that there is no God? (Psalm 53:1)
▪︎ Has he been like so many others, decent and clean-living, doing good to his neighbours and hoping he might be counted good enough for God to accept?
▪︎ Or is it that he has been deceived by Satan into thinking that, by doing
penance, praying to the saints or performing good deeds, he can gain sufficient merit to escape the coming judgment and find heaven’s door open to him? (Titus 3:5)
Does he not know that we are saved by the grace of God, not by what we do, but by faith? (Ephesians 2:8-9).
See how the demons gather round to claim him! They come to torment and torture. They show him verses from the Bible to let him see his hopelessness. They may even mock him and lie to him saying that God would not accept him even if he should seek His mercy.
How solemn is the time when an unbeliever faces death.
There is danger, tragic danger in delaying any decision to put your trust in the Lord Jesus. Remember always that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and that after death comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).
Will you not listen to the word of warning,
“Flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7).
How will you escape if you neglect such a great salvation as is offered you by Jesus Christ? (Hebrews 2:3)
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website 1: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Website 2: http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
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