Why Would You Die?

By Patricia Newman

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

"Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?"

Ezekiel 18:23

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Peter 2:24

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Why would you die, O sinner?

Why would you persist in sin and rebellion against God?

The Bible says that:

... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

O that you may see the true wretchedness of your sinful soul and the supreme blessedness of the God Who desires to save you! O that you may see the infinite holiness, purity and faultlessness of God!

O that you may be unblinded! O that you may see the deceitfulness of sin and the deadly poison behind every bait of Satan! O that you would know that the consequences of unrepented sin are dire and eternal!

O that you would know the power that God has graciously made available to deliver you, if you would but humble yourself before Him, and put your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. See the unspeakable love and mercy of God to undeserving sinners like you and me, in His giving of His beloved Son, Jesus, to save us!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Awake, O sleeper, awake from your terrible slumber! Do you not know that if you wilfully continue to reject Christ, you will be continuing to serve the devil, and will then be with him forever in his appointed place – hell?

Why would you choose to die eternally? Why would you choose to spend eternity in the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth with no respite? 

Escape now the everlasting fire that awaits all who reject the infinite goodness and mercy of God in Christ. Is it not the desire of the One against Whom you sin repeatedly to forgive you and cleanse you from sin? God has said, in His word, that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but in their turning from sin that they may live (Ezekiel 18:23). His will, then, is to deliver you from Satan, the one who desires your ruin and yet whom you are foolishly serving. For all people have, from their very childhood, that wicked folly that manifests itself in sinning and serving the devil rather than giving all honour and glory always to the One Who has every just right to demand it of all of us.

Who is a God like You,

Pardoning iniquity

And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in mercy.

Micah 7:18

Christ, the Saviour, has satisfied the wrath of God against you for your sin! Christ is your Forgiveness! Christ is your Righteousness! Christ is your Deliverer! There is no other! Look upon the cross! See how He suffered for you!

Consider the brevity of this temporal life in the light of the infinite length of eternity. What wisdom is there in sin? Will you spend your short life here in wickedness and rebellion, and suffer eternal punishment for your foolish and evil rejection of Him Who is both your Maker and your so willing Deliverer?

Would you miss the sacred joy of being forgiven and counted among the blessed children of God? Would you not be a child of light rather than of darkness?

Would you not know the peace that passes understanding, that comes from the Prince of Peace, even in the worst of trials?

Would you not know the blessedness of delighting in God, your Maker?

Would you not know that there is no greater cause for joy that God Himself?

Would you not know the wonderful assurance that the Almighty God of the universe is your heavenly Father? 

Would you not have the joy of assurance that the Great Shepherd is watching over your soul, perfecting and conforming you to Christ, the One through Whom and for Whom the world was made and in Whom all things hold together?

Would you not seek to fulfil the very purpose of your existence – to know God intimately, to love, revere, serve and enjoy Him forever? Would you not know the transforming power of divine grace, poured into the forgiven soul?

Would you not know the indescribable joy of the Holy Spirit living in you, sanctifying you and daily fitting you for heaven?

Would you not know the assurance that you will, one day, see God?

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8

Come to Christ, O sinner, before it is too late. The door of grace shall soon close. The time available for salvation through repentance and faith is not infinite. COME NOW! MAKE NO DELAY!

If you desire to receive God's forgiveness for your sins and a new life in Jesus Christ, then you can mark your repentance and putting of your trust in Christ as your Lord and Saviour by praying along the following lines, in sincerity of heart:

Dear God,

I admit I am a sinner and You are infinitely holy. I need and ask for Your forgiveness. I accept and I thank You that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the Cross and took the penalty for my sins. I believe that Jesus rose again so that I could be forgiven. I believe that salvation is a gift that You offer to me because of Your great love, and not because of anything good that I have done. Cleanse me from all sin and make me Your child. Grant me the Holy Spirit so that I can have the power through Him to live for You as Your child. By faith I receive Jesus as Lord of my life. Help me, from now on, to live righteously for the  glory of Your name. 

In the  precious name of Jesus.

Amen.

Sinners! Turn, Why Will You Die?

Sinners, turn: why will you die?

God, your maker, asks you why.

God, who did your being give,

Gave Himself, that you might live;

He the fatal cause demands,

Asks the work of His own hands.

Why, you thankless creatures, why,

Will you cross His love, and die?

Sinners, turn: why will you die?

God, your Saviour, asks you why.

God, who did your souls retrieve,

Died Himself, that you might live.

Will you let Him die in vain?

Crucify your Lord again?

Why, you ransomed sinners, why,

Will you slight His grace and die?

Sinners, turn: why will you die?

God, the Spirit, asks you why;

He, who all your lives hath strove,

Wooed you to embrace His love.

Will you not His grace receive?

Will you still refuse to live?

Why, you long sought sinners, why,

Will you grieve your God, and die?

Dead, already dead within,

Spiritually dead in sin,

Dead to God while here you breathe,

Pant ye after second death?

Will you still in sin remain,

Greedy of eternal pain?

O you dying sinners, why,

Why will you forever die?

Sinners, turn, while God is near:

Dare not think Him insincere:

Now, even now, your Saviour stands,

All day long He spreads His hands,

Cries, you will not happy be!

No, you will not come to Me!

Me, who life to none deny:

Why will you resolve to die?

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)