NOTES OUT OF THE CATECHISM CLASSES Of Rev. J. Fraanje Using the Catechism Book SPECIMENS OF DIVINE TRUTHS

Of Man’s Latter End

Lesson 39 Part III

Just a little while back we said, “In hell there will be no delight in sin,” but would there be compassion for one another there? Come, give your thoughts on this.

One thinks there is and another not. We shall see what God’s Word has to say to us. It is our best guide. We read that the Lord Jesus used a parable about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. (Lazarus is the Greek name for Eleazar and that means: Whom God helps.)

The rich man in hell called unto Abraham, (remember, this is a parable) asking him to send Lazarus to earth to warn his five brothers so that they would not come into hell.

Now, that man certainly had compassion for his brothers, because he would prevent their coming into that terrible place, don’t you think so, too?

No, this desire did not come from a compassion for others but he had himself in mind. He remembered clearly he had sinned with his brothers on earth, who knows, he might have been the eldest and took the lead in sin. He knew as soon as his brothers joined him there in hell they would rebuke him for never having warned them and for having led them into wickedness.

His desire was, and that solely out of self love, that they not join him there in hell to aggravate his misery.

How can it be proven that it was not compassion?

Very easily. Compassion in a natural sense is a gift of common grace. That is certain because we did not retain it in our fall.

There is not the smallest kernel of common grace in hell. If there were, it would not be a place forsaken of God.

It is self-evident; since there is no common grace in hell, there is also no compassion. That certainly is clear enough, isn’t it?

There shall be nothing else there than sinning and cursing the Almighty. All those sins will again receive their due punishment. Since sin continues eternal, eternal punishment is the result. It will not be only a desire to sin there but an actual execution of it. Here on earth there is still much more desire to sin than actually doing it. Just consider yourself for a moment. Isn’t there an unceasing desire to sin the whole day long? Much more desire to sin than actual doing of it? And the fact that you don’t do it is because of the restraint upon us under common grace. That restraint is not present in hell.

Sins are often-times restrained by the use of means, God’s people etc. But that will not be there either, nor God’s people, nor the Lord’s Day, nor God’s Word, none of that. It will be a place eternally forsaken of anything Godly or divine. Instead, His wrath will continually burn in the conscience without respite.

Do you see now what a great difference there can be in man’s latter end? The difference between being released from the burden of sin, or having delight and pleasure in sin removed from us and yet to be compelled to sin eternally!

A person must be converted to God by God to be free of the desire to sin, (in the correct sense) but for God’s people to be in a situation where they can not sin anymore they would have to die. That is the only way there is to avoid it.

So what will be a terror for one person in his latter end will be the greatest joy for another.

An old man died a short time ago and before he expired he said to his wife, “Mother, I am glad that I had been privileged to be born because I was born to be able to be born again. But now I am also glad that I may die, because death will release me from my greatest burdens; sin and myself.”

That is the way this man approached his latter end. Is not this a desirable way to greet death; as though it was his best friend?

So, to some extent, we have said something about the lesson on Man’s Latter End.

Beside having reverence for God, shall one have reverence for death also?

It would behoove everyone to talk about death with reverence because death is evidence that God has not renounced his justice. He said, “For the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt sure die.” And, to this day, death occurs in the life of every person.

Once upon a time, a girl twelve years old died and was about to be buried. Dominie Jansen, who had been one of Barneveld’s former pastors, officiated at this funeral. When they arrived at the graveside and Dominie Jansen began to speak, he removed his hat. His opening words were, “People, I noticed something while this funeral procession came along the way to the cemetery.”

All the people looked at him in a perplexed sort of way, no doubt thinking, “Dominie, what strange language to be using at a graveside!”

But he proceeded further saying, “Do you know what I saw? A man with a horse and wagon. When he saw us coming he drove his horse and wagon to the side of the road, removed his cap and stood in reverent attitude until we had passed by.

Why did that man do this? It was not without reason, even though he may not have realized why himself.

People, that man did so because the Majesty of God passed by! Death passed by and that speaks of the Majesty of God. The Lord declares therewith this utmost truth, ‘I have remained Who I was, God. I have maintained My justice and honor. The soul that sins shall die.’

So, my people, the death of this child is a divine sermon on the Majesty of God!”

The dominie continued with that trend of thought and everyone gave their close attention. He has since passed away and his soul is in heaven.

Boys and girls, always remember to be reverent when someone who has died is being buried. Calmly demount from your bicycle and wait until the body has passed by. Not that one must have reverence for the body as such, but because of God’s call spoken to you by it.

We shall close now. May the Lord reveal your spiritual deadness by his vitalizing grace. Then you will not be able to live on in your deadness as we all do in our natural state.

May He bless these truths to your eternal living soul before death comes upon you and it becomes forever too late.

Dust to dust, the mortal dies,
Both the foolish and the wise;
None forever can remain,
Each must leave his hoarded gain.
Yet within their heart they say
That their houses are for aye,
That their dwelling places grand
Shall for generations stand.

Though in life he wealth attained,
Tho’ the praise of men he gained
He shall join those gone before,
Where the light shall shine no more.
Crowned with honor tho’ he be,
Highly gifted, strong and free
If he be not truly wise,
Man is like the beast that dies.

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