During World War II, I was visiting a small summer resort. One day I walked into the post office for my mail and, at the same time, an old army colonel with whom I was slightly acquainted came in. Recognizing me, he asked why I was in that part of the country. My answer was: "I am here to preach the gospel of the grace of God." He immediately questioned: "If He is a God of grace, why does He allow such a terrible time of bloodshed and sorrow?”
"That question is easy to answer," I replied. Looking around on the lovely landscape, I said: "Colonel, suppose you owned all the property around here. You had built a beautiful house on it, planted fruit trees, shrubs and flowers. Then suppose you told me that I could have the full use of everything you have provided. You would supply all the food I needed, as well as all the clothing and the fuel necessary to keep me comfortable. You would not charge me any rent. You only ask that I thank you for your kindness, and honor your name.
"I therefore accepted your bounty, and took possession of the estate. But strange to say, I did not feel any responsibility to you whatever. I never gave you thanks; and if anyone mentioned you with a word of praise or a thought for your honor, I asked that the subject be changed. I took your name in vain, and I ridiculed anyone who sought to live in loyal obedience to your wishes.
"One day my boy took sick. In my need I called for you, and, in spite of my broken promises and neglect, you kindly came and helped me. And you continued to aid me and supply me with good things. Yet there was no change in my ways—no desire to comply with your wishes.
"At last you sent your only son, whom you love deeply, to visit me. He brought a large basket of provisions, and tried to make your love known to me in every way. Such kindness and his likeness to you only aroused enmity in my heart. I seized him and put him to death in the cruelest way possible. Colonel, how much longer would you let me live on the property?”
The colonel could easily see that I had drawn a true picture of this world and its attitude toward God and His Son. I well remember how he threw up his hands, saying, "You are doing a good work.”
We cannot brush aside the matter as easily as that. The answer to the colonel's question involves every one of us. This world has cast out and crucified as a criminal the blessed, precious, eternal Son of God. Those who now reject Him are as guilty as the ones who crucified Him, and are held accountable to God for that awful act. Judgment is sure and certain, "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 17:31.
Professing Christendom is rapidly giving up the truth of the Bible. The whole world is falling into infidelity and the exaltation of man. This is foretold in 2 Thess. 2:1-12. The rights of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in this world are trampled into the dust. All this is hastening on the coming of the Day of Judgment.
The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to take His redeemed ones to heaven will precede the awful judgments of that time of tribulation. Afterward He will come in power and great glory, and throughout His millennial reign He will judge the world in righteousness. Then "that great and terrible day of the Lord (will) come." Joel 2:31.
In the final judgment of the unsaved at the great white throne every one of them will be judged "according to their works." Rev. 20:11-15. How tremendously serious it is for a soul to have had the opportunity of salvation and to have refused it! For that, he must be confined forever in the lake of fire under the just judgment of God.
Now God is waiting in long-suffering patience to save all who will come as lost, guilty sinners and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior. He "bare the sins of many" on Calvary's cross that ruined sinners might be saved. Do not delay! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.
God will not allow evil to go on in this world forever. He is a God of Light as well as a God of Love. I pray you, accept Christ as your Savior in this day of grace, or you must surely meet Him as your judge.
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:27, 28.