ANTIOCH CHURCH OF CHRIST

The saddest thing in the world will be the person standing before the Lord on the Day of Judgment who had once been a faithful child of God, but died unfaithful to the Lord and living in sin. God’s word says concerning this individual who turned his back on God, "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, 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), and also " The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.” (Mark 14:21). There is no longer forgiveness of sins for a person who is unfaithful and living in sin (Hebrews 10:26: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”) A person in this condition "has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing…It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10: 29, 31). The eternal destiny of such a person is to be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone" (Revelation 20:10).

The greatest thing at the end of our time will be if we can say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Going to Heaven must be our number one priority in this life. Satan is striving to cause us to give up, but let us, " Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward" (Hebrews 10:35). We are to "Let no man beguile you of your reward" (Colossians 2:18). To keep from losing our soul and the reward of Heaven, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).