Key Verse: "But when he saw many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O
generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
come?"
- Matthew 3:7 KJV
It is pleasant to pass over a country after a storm
has spent itself; to smell the freshness of the herbs after the rain has
passed away, and to note the drops while they glisten like purest diamonds
in the sunlight. That is the position of a Christian. He is going through a
land where the storm has spent itself upon His Savior's head, and if
there are a few drops of sorrow falling, they distill from clouds of
mercy, and Jesus cheers him by the assurance that they are not for his
destruction.
But how terrible is it to witness the approach of a tempest: to note the forewarnings of the storm; to mark the birds of heaven as they droop their wings; to see the cattle as they lay their heads low in terror; to discern the face of the sky as it grows black, and look to the sun which shines not, and the heavens which are angry and frowning! How terrible to await the dread advance of a hurricane—such as occurs, sometimes, in the tropics—to wait in terrible apprehension until the wind shall rush forth in fury, tearing up trees from their roots, forcing rocks from their pedestals, and hurling down all the dwelling-places of man!
And yet, sinner, this is your present position. No hot drops have as yet fallen—but a shower of fire is coming. No terrible winds howl around you—but God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. As yet the water-floods are dammed up by mercy—but the flood-gates shall soon be opened! The thunderbolts of God are yet in His storehouse—but lo! the tempest hastens, and how awful shall that moment be when God, robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury!
Where, where, where, O sinner, will you hide your head, or where will you flee? O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ! He is freely set before you in the gospel. His riven side is the rock of shelter. You know your need of Him—believe in Him, cast yourself upon Him, and then the fury shall be overpast forever!
Are you Saved?
