Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.  Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.  For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.

 
 
 

Going to Jesus

Daily Thoughts

 Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:

 

Thought for the Evening
3-19

HOW TO KNOW YOU ARE SAVED, PART ONE:
“When The Wicked Are Cut Off . . .”

From a sermon by Preacher Clark probably in the late 1970’s
taken from Gary’s Reel #1, CD #3, Track 2

In reading Psalm 37, my father noticed that the realization of the promise of God of eternal rest and peace for His children coincided with His promise of eternal, fiery destruction for all unrighteous people. Several times in this Psalm, the two are mentioned together. “For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait upon the LORD shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked person shall not exist. You shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Then later, “The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be for ever. . . . But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” And then, near the end of that wonderful Psalm, “Wait on the LORD and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. . . . The transgressors shall be destroyed together. The end of the wicked shall be cut off; but the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD.”

In his sermon, Preacher Clark said, “You’ll be saved when you look around and see no sinners.” This was David’s point, too. Before you claim that you have already received salvation, take a look around you. Read the newspaper, or check the internet, or watch the news on television. If there are wicked people still around, you are not saved yet. The salvation of the Lord includes the eternal riddance of all wickedness.

The hope of the saints is to be saved from all darkness, even from being irritated by it, from having to see or hear of it. We will experience that perfect rest from sin, true salvation, only when God has destroyed this tainted universe and creates a new one for us. This is a damned world that lives and thrives under the influence of sinfulness (1Jn. 5:19), “but we, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwells” (2Pet. 2:13).

Are you there yet? Are you living on that new earth where there is no sin? If not, then you are not yet saved.

He who is faithful until death will be granted to walk forever with Jesus in white in a country where no sin or any other discomfort or sorrow is allowed.

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