"In The Place Where The Tree Falleth,There Shall It Be"
Ecclesiastes 11:3
Solomon's language is
not hard to understand. His meaning is - Whatever your condition is when you
die, that will be your condition throughout eternity. Death does not change anyone's spiritual
condition or legal standing before God. The judgment bar of God is not a trial
to determine the guilt or innocence of those who stand before him. It is a
bar to show and declare guilt or innocence, and to execute the penalty of justice
upon the guilty and the reward of justice upon the righteous. It is written,
"He that is unjust let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let
him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and
he that is holy, let him be holy still" (Rev. 22:11).
If you die in a state
of guilt and condemnation, with the curse of the law and the wrath of God upon
you, "unjust", you shall spend eternity in hell under the wrath of
God, unjustified, guilty, condemned, under the curse and
unmetigated wrath of almighty God. If you die in a state of unregeneracy,
"filthy", with the polluted heart of sin, you shall spend eternity in
hell in that filthy state of unregeneracy, forever
lost!
However, if you die in
a state of righteousness, being perfectly justified by the imputed
righteousness of Christ, having your sins atoned by the precious blood of
Christ, you shall spend eternity with God in heaven, in perfect righteousness.
If you die in a state of perfect holiness, being born again by the Spirit of God, sanctified by the imparted righteousness of Christ,
with a heart, nature, and will of holiness, you shall live forever in perfect
holiness. Death for you will only separate you from the body of sin.
What will you eternal
destiny be? If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are forever justified,
clean, righteous, and holy. If you refuse to believe, you are, and shall
forever remain, unjust, filthy, unrighteous, and unholy.
Don Fortner