Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask for Him and who will welcome Him when He comes. But let us remember: His first work when He comes will be to "convict [us] of sin" (John 16:8).
Is that painful to us? The old Irish poet used to pray that God would enable Him to see himself "as ithirs [others] see me." But the dear Lord in His great love for us goes a step further than Robert Burns was ready to go: He will show us ourselves as God and the heavenly unfallen host see us.
This is "salvation pain." Some day it will be reality for every human soul, even for those who at last choose to be lost. In Revelation 20 we read of the great "second resurrection" when those who have chosen to be lost are resurrected to gather around the Great White Throne when "the books [are] opened" (vss.11, 12). That is symbolic but very real language to describe the moment of final self-judgment when every person will see himself not only as others have seen him, but as God sees him.
The lost will not be thrown into the "lake of fire" screaming in protest; a very wise writer declared that they will "welcome destruction" that they might be hidden from the face of the Savior who died their second death for them.
Thank God for His great mercy in showing us now, today, what those "books of record" have to say; it's not too late for us to repent and rejoice forevermore in God's forgiveness. That is glorious Good News!
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 9, 2008.
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