ALMOST SAVED, BUT ENTIRELY LOST
By A. S. Booth
"LITTLE children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." 1 John 2: 28. This scripture teaches that when the Lord comes the second time, there will be two classes of people on the earth. One class will have perfect confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. The other class will be ashamed, and have no confidence. The latter class will be lost. They will be destroyed by "the brightness of His coming." We might divide those who will be lost when the Lord comes, into three classes,—those who know not, and perhaps have not even made a profession of serving the Lord; those who confess Christ, but do not go the fullness of the way; and those who know the truth in its fullness, but neglect to obey. Christ especially referred to the first class when He said: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24: 37-39. WHEN the Flood came on the world, the majority of the inhabitants were taken by surprise. They "knew not." This was not because they had no opportunity, but because they rejected the opportunity the Lord had given them. They had had one hundred twenty years of opportunity. The Lord cannot be held responsible for people's not hearing. He is only responsible for granting the opportunity. When people reject the opportunity, the responsibility then rests with them. The Lord says: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee: . . . seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also, forget thy children." Hosea 4: 6. It is not the knowledge which the world has not had an opportunity to gain that they are rejected for, but rather, the knowledge they have had an opportunity to gain, and have rejected. It is the knowledge of the law of God. The fact that the majority of the people at the time of the Flood rejected the message of Noah, and made light of the messenger, did not alter the word of God. Neither did it prevent the coming of the Flood. The Flood came just the same, and the mockers were on the wrong side, and were lost. The fact that many make light of the message of the second coming of Christ, and ridicule the truth for the last days, will not in the least alter the reading of the Word. Neither will it postpone the coming of Christ. The Lord will come just the same, and all the mockers will be on the wrong side, and will be lost, as in the days of Noah. Those of this class, who are wholly surprised when the Lord comes, cry out, "The great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6: 17. What a terrible disappointment it must be to these who will have no confidence, and will be ashamed before Him at His coming! Disappointed at the Last Moment
THE second class represent those who make a profession of serving the Lord, and expect to enter heaven. Of such He says: "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. 7: 22, 23. It is when we fully expect to do things, and at the last moment are not permitted to carry out our object, that we experience greatest disappointment. A person plans to take a vacation, or to visit some dear friends. Perhaps after a number of weeks of preparation, he finds that he will not be permitted to go. He will be much more disappointed than as if he had not made preparation. What must be the disappointment of those who fully intend to enter heaven, and are informed that the Lord never knew them, that they never have properly represented Him! The Lord tells just why such will be left out of the kingdom. He says, "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7: 21. All depends upon doing the will of the Lord, which is expressed in His law and word. The second class enumerated with the lost will be more disappointed than the first. But the third class will be the most disappointed of all. Heaven has never looked upon the disappointment that will be realized at that day by those who have known the truth for the times, and have refused to follow the light the Lord has so graciously caused to shine upon their pathway, or have seen and acknowledged the truth, but have given up by the way. The Lord is exceedingly anxious that we be numbered among those who will be found without spot or blemish, and will be able to sing the song of complete deliverance in that day.