TRULY solemn were the words of the great Gentile evangelist as he boldly took his stand for God on Mars’ Hill, and sounded forth, “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30, 3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31)).
From this we find that God has already fixed upon two things in connection with coming judgment―
The day is appointed.
The Judge is ordained.
Notice also the little word “all” as occurring significantly twice over in these verses: (1) God has, by raising Christ from the dead, given the “assurance” or the pledge that He will judge the world, and He has given it to “all men.” (2) Because of this God is now commanding “all men everywhere to repent.”
What for the unconverted could be more solemn than this? Yet, on the other hand, Could we possibly be furnished with a better proof of His long-suffering mercy? For the last eighteen centuries and over, the “great and terrible day” has been fixed, and yet, instead of coming forth in fiery judgment, the “ordained” Judge has patiently waited upon a throne of grace, and patiently He waits there still. But THE DAY OF RECKONING WILL COME. God assures us of that, and gives the resurrection of His Son as the solemn pledge of it. It is easy enough for the infidel reasoner to deny both the Lord’s resurrection and His coming in judgment; but where is the scoffer who can prove either that He is not risen, or that He is not coming? Such a person is not to be found.
When the world―Jew and Gentile—crucified the Son of God, and closed the door of the tomb upon Him, there needed no further witness of what man thought of Jesus. The world could not and would not tolerate Him. “Let us murder Him; and have things our own way,” was really the language of man’s wicked heart, and his actions went with it.
But there is another side to all this. Hear the testimony of the blessed Lord Himself: “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again” (John 10:1717Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17)). And again, “If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him” (John 13:3232If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. (John 13:32)). This He did. But from the very moment that the Father’s glory visited that tomb, and raised His beloved Son, the world and the Father are manifestly on two sides. Man put Him into the sepulcher, God took Him out; and henceforward that open grave becomes a picture of the gulf that must ever lie between the world that hated, crucified, and buried Jesus out of sight, and the Father that loved and glorified Him, and decreed that every eye should see Him.
Now, reader, every soul on earth must take sides either with Christ against the world, or with the world against Christ. In God’s account you are taking one side or the other this moment. Where do you stand? Have you till now been on the world’s side of that open grave? Then God has but one thing to say to you. He calls you to repentance; He commands you now: “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” He calls you to repent NOW. When Christ appears in power and glory to execute judgment it will be too late to repent! And remember, “The end of all things is at hand,” “The Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:99Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)). As you value your soul, there is therefore no time to lose.
How men will wish in that day that they had obeyed God’s gracious call, as they try in vain to hide themselves from the all-searching gaze of Him who comes as the executor of wrath so long in mercy held back, the wrath of God! Oh, think of it seriously! The wrath of God! Yes, the wrath, of that God who gave the world His Son as a Saviour, and extended to it eighteen hundred years of long-suffering after that. What a day when righteous retribution bursts upon it! But, thank God, it is still the day of grace, and “God” “still commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” How good of Him to turn our eye forward to the burning day of judgment, and command us to repent! to turn us backward to the cross, and thus to commend His love!
“Who is a pardoning God like Thee,
Or who has grace so rich and free?”
Unsaved reader, may His goodness bring you to repentance before the fast-closing day of His long-suffering shall be over.
“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.”