Lesson 368: "The DamMed and the DamNed"
I am a cross-word puzzle buff; however not being the best speller in the world I was startled at one of the clues. I read it to say; ‘damning results in a lake’ when in fact it read, ‘damming results in a lake’ but after thinking about the two for a minute I decided they had the same meaning. Damming a stream will result in a lake and damning an unsaved soul will result in “a lake”; the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15). God said that in due time the feet of the wicked will slip; their day of disaster is near (Deut. 32:35). The dam across a lake is slippery but nothing compared to the slippery path to the lake of fire. It is only by God’s restraint the wicked are kept out of hell (2 Pet. 3:9) but please inform any and everyone to not take this grace of God for granted and “today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 4:7).
If one could speak to another what has gone to hell, I imagine these would be their words! “No! I never intended to come here! I had well laid plans and thought I could manage my life and took care to watch my steps! It came as a thief (1 Thess. 5:2)! Death outwitted me! God’s wrath gave me no time to bargain or counteract! I slipped off the dam and into the Lake of Fire”!
God’s wrath is like great waters that are dammed for the present but increase more and more, rise higher and higher until an outlet is given. The longer a stream is stopped the more rapid and mighty its course when it is let loose. The floods of God’s vengeance have been withheld but His anger toward an unrepentant people is growing mighty. When God withdraws His saving hand the fiery floods will gush forth with omnipotent power. “See, the Lord is coming with fire and His chariots are like a whirlwind. He will bring down His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with His sword the Lord will execute judgment upon all men and many will be those slain by the Lord” (Isa. 66:15-16).
Peace will be withdrawn from the earth (Rev. 6:4), there will be earthquakes, hail and fire mixed with blood (Rev. 8:5-7) starting the Great Tribulation. The end will come, at which time those who have never seen the need to ask for their names to be written in the Book of Life will not slip, but be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15). “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” (Heb. 10:31).