THE BLOOD THAT WILL BE REQUIRED

February 11

Psalms 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

The ungodly, the rebellious and the proud laugh at the idea that one day they will have to account for their actions. Those who defiantly refuse the atoning blood of Jesus as payment have no clue of what awaits them. For as high as heaven is, so deep is hell; as beautiful His Kingdom is, so ugly is hell; as agreeable the scent of the kingdom of God, so suffocating the stench from the abyss.

This is the horror that should take us “because of the wicked”. The horror that awaits those who, when the day is done, may not be found in the Book of Life (Revelations 20:15). Today, they defiantly spread themselves like the “green bay tree” (Psalms 37:35), they rage and imagine a vain thing (Psalms 2:1), but He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure (Psalms 2: 4-5).

Is there someone in such a case? Do we have a friend, a relative who has not yet come to the breaking point of repentance? Because of it, has horror taken us at the thought of what will happen to our kin and acquaintance if when all is said and done, they do not find Jesus? has “horror” taken us at the thought of facing the Lord with the knowledge that we were one of those who knew that person, and were therefore partly responsible to show them the way?

We cannot push one coming to the knowledge of their Savior: it is a work of God. What we can do is pray like everything depended on prayer (because everything does depend on prayer), and be a fervent partner of concern with God who always answers the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man” (James 5:16). We can also along with our prayers, be a sample that God can use to draw them into the fold.

Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.