My God and My Country

Evening Reflection

“Furthermore, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are worthy love, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, or if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians Chapter 4:8

Prepare To Meet Thy God - Part One 

by Robert G. Lee (1886-1978)

(Edited by RPW Sr.) 

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this  

unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."  Amos 4:12

"Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye  

think not the Son of man cometh."   Matt. 24:44

I am going to speak to you on some thoughts that have come to me by thinking around a v e r se which I heard as a little country lad years ago when the people were coming to hear a man of God speak God's word. And it is a very simple text;  it says, "Prepare to meet thy God." Of course you will understand that this is addressed to a nation, to the people of Israel, and yet it has a very definite personal application, just like the Bible, which is regenerative in power and which is inspired in totality, is personal in its application. "Prepare to meet thy God." 

Some years ago the Grand Trunk Line Railroad offered $2,500.00 for the person or to the person who would send in the three best words to be chosen by judges for railroad crossings; and the person who won that $2,500.00 for sending in the three best words, according to the judgment of t he judges, sent in these words: "Stop. Look. Listen." But these haven't been worth much to many people when you think of the hundreds of people who have been killed on railroad crossings in these years that have gone by, because they didn't stop, because they didn't look, because they didn't listen. And even though Jesus Christ came into this world to die for sinners, His death will have availed nothing for your salvation unless you accept it. No medicine will do anything to restore your good health unless that medicine is taken. No bread will give any strength to your body unless that bread is eaten and digested. You can stand in the presence of a crystal fountain and die of thirst unless you drink. And all the provisions that God has made through the death of Jesus Christ who was crucified for our offenses and raised for our justification will avail nothing for your salvation unless these provisions are met by penitent faith, taking them. No matter how great God's love is, no matter how deep His grace is, no matter how marvelous are the provisions made for the salvation of sinners it will avail nothing for you if you reject it, if you say "No," if you say "I will not have that which God Almighty offers to me," when the offer is made.

We come to the truth this morning which this text puts upon our hearts. It is a very simple verse and a very simple statement, "Prepare to meet thy God." Now that is something everybody has to do. You may be rich, but your money cannot keep you from meeting God. You may be cultured, but culture will avail you nothing if you stand before God as one who has trampled  under your feet the blood of Jesus Christ. You may have political power, you may have social prestige, you may have fame, you may have broad estates, you may drive around in big cars, you may have servants at your every beck and call, but that does not mean that you will not have to meet God.  "It is appointed unto man once to die"; and whether you meet Him by death or whether you meet Him as He returns to this earth as He is going to do literally and visibly and tangibly some day, you have to meet God! You don't have to listen to me; you can turn off your radio if you want to; you don't have to come to this Opera House; you don't have to come to the Baptist church where I am preaching each night. You don't have to do that. You can die first! You don't have to open your Bible and read it. You will meet Him to whom the midnight is as the noon-day. You will meet One who has counted your footsteps since you learned to toddle at mother's knee. You will meet One who knows every word in our mouths, and there isn't a word in our mouths that he doesn't know. He's One who understands our thoughts afar off. He is One that you cannot joke with, One you cannot deceive. He is One that will riot let you escape through some technicality of law or through some eloquent plea of some lawyer, or loop-hole. You have to stand face to face with God. When you stand there you can't hide things from Him.