Preservation and Destruction
S. Conway Psalm 145:20 The LORD preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. One or other of these lies before us all; the Bible gives no hint of a third condition or destiny. How important, therefore, to know whither we are tending, and what awaits us at the hand of God! I. THE TRUTH HERE DECLARED. 1. As to those that love God. He will preserve them. He does this: (1) In the order of his providence. It is generally well with those that love him. (2) In their spiritual history it is certainly true (see Romans 8., at end). (3) In his eternal kingdom. No harm can reach them there. 2. As to the wicked. He will destroy them. (1) Now and again we see such doom come upon individual transgressors. History recounts the destruction of nations, and their sin has ever been their destroyer. Where are the great empires of olden time? (2) But often and often, blessed be his Name! He destroys the wicked by destroying their wickedness, turning their hearts to himself. The King's arrows are sharp in the hearts of the King's enemies. (3) But God's final doom on the ungodly is what is mainly meant in this Scripture - that awful sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord," which must come on all those who will not allow that God should separate them from their sin. And this is no arbitrary sentence; for note - II. THE NEEDS-BE FOR IT. 1. In the preservation of those that love God. It is so for the Lord's own sake; his love could not otherwise be satisfied, nor his promises fulfilled. And for the world's sake; they who love the Lord are the salt of the earth, and are his witnesses to men. And for their own sake, that they may be eternally blessed. 2. In the destruction of the wicked. If it be only a temporal destruction, it is needed for the vindication of the Divine Law; for the reformation of the guilty (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:32); for witness to men that verily there is a God who judgeth. And if the destruction be other than temporal, it is still necessary, for how else can heaven be heaven? Earth is the sad place it too often is only because of the presence of sin. Is sin, then, to have place in heaven, as it will if the wicked come there? III. ITS WORD OF HOLY COUNSEL. 1. Pray: for so is our will strengthened to choose the right and refuse the wrong. 2. Act: break away from wickedness and commit yourself on the side of God. 3. Trust: day by day, yea, continually, give yourself up "to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless," etc. "Help, Lord, that we may come To thy saints' happy home, Where a thousand years As one day appears; Nor go, Where one day appears As a thousand years, In woe." (Arudt.) S.C. Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. WEB: Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.