January 19

Let others keep quiet about hell if they wish—I dare not. I see it plainly in Scripture, and I must speak about it. What would you say about the man who saw his neighbor’s house burning and never raised the cry of “Fire”? Call it bad taste, if you like, to speak about hell. Call it being charitable to make things pleasant and soothe people with a constant lullaby of “peace and safety.” From such notions of taste and charity may I ever be delivered! My notion of charity is to warn men plainly of their danger. My notion of taste is to declare all the counsel of God. If I never spoke of hell, I would look on myself as an accomplice of the devil. Beware of manufacturing a God of your own—a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who has a heaven for everyone and a hell for no one. Such a god is an idol. You must take the Bible as it is. And His holy Word still declares: “These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Mt 25:46).—J.C. Ryle

Today’s Reading: Exodus 7-9  Memorize: Psalm 5:6-7
Donate