Two Races, Two Destinies

Two Races, Two Destinies

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.  The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. …

Proverbs 4:18-19

The Scripture recognizes essentially two types of people:  saved or lost.  Our text describes them as the “just” and the “wicked.”  Those who are “just” are not called that by virtue of any intrinsic merit which they have.  In the eyes of the law of God “all our righteousness are as filthy rags.”  Those who are “just” will also have many identifiable defects.  They may on occasion lie as did Abraham; commit adultery, as did David; or transgress with their tongue, as did Moses.  However, the “just” have two things which are in their favor.  The first is that they, through faith in the Living Christ, have received an imputed righteousness which makes them legally accepted in the eyes of God’s law.  The second is they have the Holy Spirit in-dwelling them which ensures that their defects are being dealt with in such a way as to enable them to die more and more unto sin and live unto righteousness (as the Shorter Catechism puts it).

By contrast, the “wicked” may seem to have much more in his favor, in human terms.  The unregenerate, however, has no righteousness which God accepts.  Therefore “the plowing of the wicked is sin.”  This accounts for the assertion of our text today.  The “just” are ascending unto the presence of Christ by an increasing light of sanctifying grace.  The “wicked” are descending unto an eternal darkness without any spiritual understanding “at what they stumble.”

If you are today in Christ, you have the utmost cause for rejoicing in your justification in Christ and your sanctification by the Holy Spirit.  Yours is an increasingly big prospect.  If you are out of Christ, then consider the prospect of an eternal darkness of damnation.  Repent and believe the gospel.

Our Father and Our God,

we pray that Thou wilt

uphold our souls today,

save the lost, and

advance Thy kingdom.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice