You & I -- each one -- have an all important choice to make!
It is the most important & critical choice in all of life!
What is that choice? -- It is to choose between everlasting life -- and everlasting punishment!
We cannot wait until the hereafter to make that choice; -- we make that all important choice in the here & now!
Listen to the Word of God -- found in John 3:36
Whoever believes in Jesus Christ -- the Son of God -- has eternal life -- ever-lasting life -- but whoever rejects God’s Son will not see life -- for God’s wrath remains upon that person.
Everyone -- who believes in God’s Son, has eternal life.
Those who refuse God’s Son will never experience everlasting life -- rather the wrath of God remains upon them!
In these words are found a most vivid contrast!
I know of no other verse in the entire Bible that is more full of glory in the first part of the verse -- & more full of despair in the last part of it.
It clearly presents God’s alternative -- an alternative that is open to everyone!
On the one hand is eternal life for all those who believe on God’s Son -- Jesus Christ!
On the other hand is the wrath of God for those who refuse to believe on God’s Son -- Jesus Christ!
It leaves everyone of us with a choice; --
We must choose between “everlasting life” -- and “the wrath of God.”
It cannot be put into words -- it cannot even be conceived in fancy -- the wealth of glory there is wrapped up in those two words -- eternal life!
Nor -- can it be put into words -- nor can it be conceived by human imagination -- the depth of dishonor -- horror -- shame -- woe & despair that is wrapped up in that other phrase -- the wrath of God!
It is between these two -- the exceedingly glorious eternal life -- & the immeasurably & unspeakably awful wrath of God -- that each one of us is called upon to make a choice!
(Read) -- John 3:36.
The question then that confronts each of us here this morning is this -- which one will you choose,
Eternal life -- or, the wrath of God?
Which shall it be? Which one shall you choose?
This ought not to be a difficult question to settle!
If any one is not a hopeless fool -- or an utter maniac -- he/she will surely say: -- “Give me eternal life! -- As for the wrath of God -- Jesus, Thou Son of God, save me from that!”
But that is not the choice that so many, many people are making!
So many people are deliberately turning their backs on eternal life -- & they have done so for years!
They are deliberately choosing the wrath of God -- & they have been doing so for years!
How can you & I ever doubt the existence of a personal devil of great cunning & great power -- when we see how people are so utterly blinded & deceived -- by his deviousness -- & so completely enslaved mentally by his power -- that they should choose the wrath of God -- rather than the gift of eternal life!!?
The existence of such a devil -- as the Bible presents him -- is the only rational explanation of this undisputable fact!
Some people question the existence of a personal devil -- yet they themselves are living demonstrations of his existence -- & of his exceeding great power to deceive!
Now -- let’s look more closely at the two possibilities that are put in such vivid contrast -- in John 3:36.
We cannot possibly conceive the glory of the one -- or the horror of the other -- but we can get some hint of what they each one mean!
1. First -- “Eternal Life” -- What Is It?
Eternal life is real life! -- A full & abundant life!
Much of what we call life is not really life at all -- but death!
The Apostle Paul wrote: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Many a young man -- a young woman -- plunges into a life of sin & cries out as he/she does so: “I am going to really live it up! -- I am going to enjoy my life!”
But instead of experiencing real life -- they experience death!
It is not life that you find in the tavern -- it is death!
It is not life you find in the gambling halls -- it is death!
It is not life you find in your lust -- it is death!
It is not life you find in drugs -- it is death!
But eternal life through Jesus Christ really is life; -- it is life indeed!
No one really knows what life truly is -- who has not received eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Eternal life is life indeed; -- it alone deserves the name life!
Jesus once said: -- “I am come that you might have life -- & have it more abundantly.”
So eternal life is not only real life -- it is the fullness of life -- life more abundant!
Eternal life is life full of beauty -- full of peace -- full of joy -- full of power -- full of glory -- abundant life -- abounding life -- overflowing life!
No life but eternal life can ever satisfy the longing of these souls of ours -- which were made in the likeness of God.
No life that we inherit from our ancestors -- no matter how fine they may have been -- & how refined in character -- can ever fully satisfy the longing of the human heart!
Real life -- abundant life -- comes directly from God when we receive the Lord Jesus Christ!
One may cry out: -- Give me wealth & I shall be satisfied.”
Another cries: -- “Give me power & I shall be satisfied.”
Still another cries saying: -- “Give me pleasure & I shall be satisfied.”
Another cries: -- “Give me fame & I shall be satisfied.”
But no -- my dear friends -- you will not be satisfied with any of these -- or even with all of these!
The far better cry is: -- Give me God & I shall be satisfied! -- Give me Jesus Christ -- & I shall be satisfied; -- give me eternal life!
Eternal life is life in its perfection -- in its completeness!
Eternal life is life perfected -- filled out -- perfectly balanced -- satisfying -- & complete!
Furthermore -- eternal life is an endless life -- & that is why it is called “everlasting life.”
Endlessness is not the most essential characteristic of eternal life -- (for its quality is greater than its duration) -- but never-the-less -- eternal life is endless!
I love flowers! -- I look with joy upon the little daisy in the grass -- on the pansy with its happy, sweetly speaking face -- upon the poppy with its blaze of golden glory -- upon the lily of the valley in its purity & matchless beauty -- upon the rose in its rich, superb splendor.
But as I look upon the lovely flowers -- sadness creeps over me -- for I am reminded of how shortly they will soon fade away!
So it is with everything of this earth; -- it ends!
I cannot be satisfied with anything that ever comes to an end.
Thank God for something that never ends; -- something that always has in it -- the freshness of the dawn; -- something that ever stretches on & on & on -- with ever increasing glory before us.
Thank God for everlasting life!
Illus: A godly pastor was told by his doctor that his remaining time on earth was short!
That evening he wrote -- “I walked home thinking of the brevity of this life. -- I looked across at the mountains that I love; -- at the river in which I rejoice; -- & at the stately trees that are always God’s own poetry to my soul. -- I looked up into the great sky where the Lord was just beginning to light His lamps -- & I said -- ‘I may not see you many more times; -- but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; -- & river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; -- & stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets -- when God pulls down this material universe.’”
My friends -- all who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior can have that same confidence!
Eternal life is real life; -- the fullness of life; -- a truly satisfying life; -- complete life; -- the life of God imparted in us; -- & life that never ends!
Do you not desire such a life today? -- I do!!
And thank God eternal life is mine!
I already have it in its beginnings -- & I have the sure promise of its fullness!
I ask you today dear friend -- “Do you have it, too?”
“Do you have this wonderful gift of Eternal Life?”
2. Second -- “The Wrath of God” -- What is That?
The wrath of God is just what the words express!
“The wrath of God” is such a strong statement!
It means the intense & settled displeasure of God
It is the intense displeasure of that most holy God who created us!
Illus: -- I well remember that last time I took my dear mother in to renew her driver’s license; -- they gave her the eye examine which she was unable to pass; -- & they told her they could not renew her license.
I was setting there next to her & she gave me one of those looks -- that said, “Son, do something about it!” -- She expected me to fix it for her!
There was nothing I could do -- & she was upset at me!
I never liked it when my mother was upset at me!
I do not like it when my dear wife gets mad at me -- or when my church members become disgruntled!
I do not find much joy when I look in my rear-view mirror & see the flashing red & blue lights of a police car behind me!
But -- oh, how much more we need to understand & dread the wrath of God
The wrath of God! -- There is nothing more awful or horrible than that!
To have God displeased with you -- to incur His wrath -- His intense -- deep seated -- settled displeasure -- that is awful; -- that is appalling -- that is frightful -- that is dreadful -- that is horrifying -- that is terrifying -- that is dismaying!
But that is certainly what stares in the face of any man -- or any woman -- who rejects -- & refuses to believe on God’s only Son -- Jesus Christ!
The Bible makes it very clear that there is a place of eternal punishment.
Christ defined hell as “the fire that never shall be quenched.”
Someone said to me -- “I hate the very thought of hell!”
And so do I! -- And I hate the sin that sends people there!
But my hating hell does not change the reality of it!
Oh, the wrath of God! -- think about it!
Would you intentionally choose such a thing?
Why -- oh why -- would anyone choose such a thing?
Illus: -- A District Superintendent in CA -- decided to check out the reason a certain church on his district was growing.
Unannounced he showed up a little late one Sunday morning -- & sat in the balcony. -- He enjoyed the upbeat music & the very spirited worship.
Then the pastor stood to preach. -- The pastor said, “I’d rather preach on any other subject than the one I’m going to describe today. -- I’d rather preach about love - or heaven. - But the Lord told me to give the whole story -- & He has instructed me to warn you about a place called hell.”
With that the pastor read the passages in the Bible pertaining to hell.
Then the pastor said: -- “That’s the bad news; -- but now let me tell you the good news! -- You don’t have to go there. -- God made hell for the devil & his demons. -- You only go there by choice. -- Jesus came & died to keep you out of hell. -- If you go there, you will do so over the care of this pastor; -- over the prayers of the people; -- & over the blood of Jesus Christ.”
When he heard all that -- the District Superintendent understood the genius of that growing church!
Conclusion:
My dear friends -- here is the good news!! -- John 3:16!
The Bible makes it very plan that believing on Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven -- & by contrast -- the way to ever lasting punishment -- is simply to refuse to believe on Him!
It is not necessary to murder -- or lie -- or steal -- or get drunk -- or commit adultery -- in order to be eternally lost!
Here then -- are before you the two alternatives.
On the one hand -- is eternal life -- real life -- fullness of life -- abundant life -- satisfying life -- life to the highest degree -- complete life -- the life of God in us -- never ending life -- blessedness & glory -- eternal life!
On the other hand -- is the wrath of
Now we come to the question -- & it is a tremendously important question! -- “Which will you choose?”
You may ask -- How do we go about choosing life?
Nothing could be plainer -- or simpler -- or more unmistakable than this answer: -- The one & only act by which we receive eternal life is the act of believing on the Son of God -- believing on God’s Son, Jesus Christ!
The one & only act by which we lose eternal life -- & to bring upon ourselves the wrath of God -- is by refusing to believe on Jesus Christ!
He that believes on the Son has everlasting life!
Irrespective of who you are -- or what you are.
Irrespective of what you have been -- or what you have done.
You may be a millionaire -- or you may be a pauper.
You may be a scholar -- or unable to read or write.
You may be moral & upright & clean -- or you may be immoral & dishonest & vile.
But the moment you believe on Jesus Christ -- that moment you receive the gift of eternal life!
But -- you may ask -- what does it mean to believe on the Son of God?
To believe -- is to accept God’s testimony about Jesus Christ -- that Jesus is the Christ -- the Son of God -- & to act upon that testimony by putting your full & absolute confidence in Him -- & therefore accepting all that He offers you in the forgiveness of sins -- & the newness of life!
He is your crucified Savior -- who bore every one of your sins in His own body upon the old rugged Cross.
He is your risen Savior -- who has all power in Heaven & on earth -- & is therefore able to keep you day by day!
Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is putting your full confidence in Him -- as your Lord & Savior!
Won’t you do so today?
Won’t you make the right choice today?
Will you take that decisive step today?
Will you believe in Jesus Christ today?
Oh my friends -- there are two possibilities open before you!
One infinitely glorious -- the other inconceivably appalling!
Which will you have -- eternal life -- or the wrath of God?
Choose life -- eternal life! -- & not everlasting punishment!