CONVICTIONS

Enoch, who walked with God, and who was the seventh from Adam, had already prophesied that the Lord would come with great glory at the end of time to judge all creatures. This man had much communion with God and was translated by Him, body and soul, to heaven, and did not see death, Gen. 5:24. This godly man prophesied of these false teachers (verse 13), and such as they, declaring what their sad state and condition would be at the second coming of Christ to judgment. He will execute judgment upon all: the quick and the dead, great and small, high and low, rich and poor, the righteous and the wicked, the sheep and the goats. He will pass the definite sentence on each; that of absolution, life and happiness on His own people, and that of condemnation, death, and misery on the wicked, and this will be done in the most strict and righteous manner. He will also convince all the ungodly among them: those who are without God, the fear of Him, love of Him, or faith in Him, and who have lived without the worship of Him, or in a false worship; those who have spoken against Him, His being, His perfections, His providence, His purposes, His Word, and worship; or rather against Jesus Christ the Lord, Who will come to judge those who have spoken against His person and offices, His blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and against His ministers and people, His truths and ordinances.

In that great day of judgment He will testify against them all and convict them of their evils. John, when upon the Isle of Patmos, saw in a divine vision how in that judgment the books were opened, saying, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” Rev. 20.

No one shall escape this judgment, in which all consciences shall be opened; the all-knowing God will show what was hidden and unknown, and in such a way they shall be convicted of their evils. Being convicted they shall believe the truth of their wickedness and that their condemnation is just.

Oh, what terrible discoveries and convictions shall be experienced by all unregenerate sinners on that day of judgment! How inexpressible shall their misery be, yea, eternally, when they have been judged in the judgment of death by a righteous and holy God and have been sent to the horrible pit of eternal woe! Rev. Ledeboer, in his remarkable little book, speaks to us out of the mouth of a child, whose voice we hear out of that pit of woe, saying: “Oh, my father! Oh, my mother! What pain I am suffering in this eternal flame! Why did you not admonish and warn me? Why did you not speak to me when I was yet with you of this place of torment? Did you love me? Of what benefit to me now are my clothes, with which I was primped? What have I now to all those amusements and pleasures? Of what benefit now is all that gold and silver? What are all those toys to me now? My raiment is the flame, my gold and silver the fire! Oh, my minister, who admonished me so often of the danger of hell, spoke the truth, but I did not regard it; I followed the example of those who walked on the broad way to hell with me, and I even took the lead in profaning the Lord’s name and in desecrating the Lord’s Day; I was deaf to all warnings and admonitions; I have turned away my ears from reproof.”

He also writes of a father, and we hear him speak in his terrible discoveries and convictions: “Therefore, O children! harken to the faithful admonitions of your true ministers, but flee from the false! Harken to the warnings of the pious, who give you good advice. Take the opportunity when it is offered, and do not squander your time; fear not contempt, mockery, or ridicule, nor being slighted. Those who handle and speak thus, are looking out for your destruction, which your father now experiences, but it is too late. On your death bed they leave you alone; in hell they laugh you to scorn; they seek your destruction that seek to keep you from that which is good; fear them not; they are ambassadors of Satan, chains of hell, bands of destruction, decoys of damnation, contemn their contemning, scorn their scorning; reject not their rejection, but let it be pleasant and agreeable unto you; fear not insignificant dust and ashes. Although they were kings and princes, who seek to draw your attention away from the Lord, they all carry their breath in their nostrils and of themselves can do nothing. God alone is Judge; and 1 shout it unto you out of hell: one day we shall all be revealed and appear before Him and before His awful judgment seat. It is (my children! see it in your father) appointed for man once to die, and after that the judgment. Hebrews 9:27.”

Oh, for that Spirit Who would reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment! (John 16:8). This Spirit of discovery and conviction filled the thief on the cross, who in the bitterness of true convictions cried to Him, Who has asked His enemies, “Which of you con-vinceth Me of sin?”

There can be many deep and frightening convictions, however, which are not saving, or with other words, without heavenly instructions will not lead a sinner to Christ and salvation. How often already has it seemed that a sinner, young or old, came to true and deep convictions, had some repentance and confession of sins, but it all passed away as a morning cloud. Some convictions in the opening of conscience have been so frightening that the convicted one has come to despair, and has sought escape and rest in death . . . never to find it there! Consider Judas, a disciple of Jesus, who in his conviction cried, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” Then we read, “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Matt. 27:4, 5.

When the Lord had spoken to Cain after he slew his brother, Abel, there was conviction and he exclaimed, “My punishment is greater than I can bear,” etc. When the Lord brought destructive plagues upon Pharaoh, he became convicted of his eviland confessed, “I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.” Exodus 9:27. With all his convictions, however, he hardened himself and his end was destruction in the Red Sea. Oh, how many are as this stubborn king! During a terrible storm, a severe sickness, during wartime and in battles, seeing death before them, during an earnest sermon, etc., there may be convictions and some outward repentance of sin, and some resolutions to mend the ways, but how oftentimes do we see that it is as Peter writes, “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22. How often has it been seen that convictions and resolutions have remained upon the sickbed!

The wicked king Ahab also had convictions after Elijah placed before him the judgments which would come upon him and his house: “And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.” 1 Kings 21:27.

How many turn more or less religious under convictions of some sin and the fear of death and eternal woe, but do not come to a heart and life repentance. They are not as Ruth, the Moabitess, who had come to a steadfast choice, Ruth 1. Many come no further than the king to whom Paul spoke. “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:28.

Discovery and conviction which will lead to salvation is the fruit of God’s Spirit in the heart, Who shall nevermore leave the temple of the soul. That Spirit gives light to see, life to feel, and faith to believe. These convictions begin in spiritual birth. The spiritual child is a child, a sinner of convictions. They go throughout his life until he is translated into the glory of heaven; then he cannot sin any more, and no chastening rod or furnace of trial is necessary any more.

Paul’s heart and life convictions began on the way to Damascus, and in these convictions he became the ehief of sinners. Blessed are they who have the same experience. David had deep and painful convictions when he penned Psalm 51, saying, “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou might-est be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” And in Psalm 130 we hear this confession in his convictions: “If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”

Such convictions in the heart of a sinner are wrought by the Holy Spirit, Who brings the holy law of God continually before the soul os a mirror, and which will lead to salvation, when the soul becomes perfectly convinced in these convictions of sin and judgment that Jesus only can save from sin, guilt, and curse. Reader, are you laboring under convictions? Oh, mark whether your soul flees to Jesus, believing that only He can save from sin and hell, and bring peace into your heart. When a soul, under bitter and painful discoveries and convictions, is convinced that Jesus is a perfect Savior and he is led to cry to Him in truth for deliverance, this will give hope and relief. In faith and hope the soul will flee to this City of Refuge and the cry shall be:

“Wash me, make me pure within, Cleanse,
O cleanse me from my sin.”

Such a soul shall plead:

“Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation’s joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.”

Yea, the language of the soul shall be: “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Such a convicted, weeping soul was found at the feet of Christ in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Was this not the panting of her soul, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in Thee”? Was she not convinced, and did she not by faith believe that Jesus only could save her? And what happened? O blessed words: “Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke 7.

May God, from Whom all blessings flow, make these few lines a blessing for many souls. Oh, what poor souls they are who have some convictions in their head and conscience of sin and hell, but who come to satisfaction and ease without Christ Jesus, His righteousness, and reconciliation with God. Those are truly blessed, who have deeper and broader convictions, who come to a saving knowledge of God and self, and are convinced and believe that only Christ can deliver and save them; who at times must plead with Jacob: “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” They shall not be made ashamed in their hope upon Him, Him only, and that for time and eternity, and such souls must exclaim:

“I build my hope on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame;
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name:
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.”

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