He died . . . and where then?

(Thomas Doolittle, "Love to Christ Necessary to Escape the Curse at His Coming!" 1693)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

"If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed!" 1 Corinthians 16:22
 
Must they be cursed who do not love Christ? Then know that worldly prosperity may co-exist with the curse of God. A man might be prospering in this world—and cursed in the world to come!

Do you see many whose lives declare they have no sincere love to Christ in their hearts, thrive and abound in outward enjoyments?
They do not love Christ, and yet are strong and healthy!
They do not love Christ, and yet are rich!
They do not love Christ, and yet are honored!

What then? Might not a man be in health—and yet be a cursed man? Yes! The more strength he has, the more able he is to serve the devil—and so his strength is a curse unto him. The more worldly trinkets a man has to love—the more he enjoys of the world, and the more he loves it. And so his enjoyments are a curse unto him, when they keep him from placing his love upon Jesus Christ.

God threatens to curse wicked men's blessings: "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them!" Malachi 2:2

Many are apt to think that the arrogant man is happy.  "But now we call the arrogant, blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape!" Malachi 3:15

The rich, though evil—are thought by many to be happy. This is a great mistake! All men can see their outward blessings, but they have no eyes to behold the inward curses which lie under those outward blessings.
Is it not a curse to have riches, without saving grace?
Is it not a curse to have our portion and blessings, all in this life?
Is it not a curse to prosper in the world, and to be every moment in danger of falling into Hell?
Do you look upon it to be happiness:
  to have all for the body, and nothing for the soul?
  to have much of earth, and nothing of Heaven?

You read of some who "have their portion in this life"—and you read that their portion on earth is a cursed portion! It was so with the rich man spoken of in the gospel—who while on earth had his purple robes, and fine linen, and sumptuous costly dishes every day!

Oh, happy man! But wait until you hear the end. He died . . . and where then? To Hell! Where is now your happy man? What is his condition there? What! There he finds more pain than all the fleeting pleasures he had while on earth! There he feels more torment and terror, than he had pleasure and delight all his days on earth!

"Abraham said: Son, remember that in your life-time you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented!" Luke 16:25
"Remember that your pleasures were short and sweet, but Hell is long and bitter!
 Remember that Lazarus is now blessed, and you are now cursed!
 Remember that he is eternally happy, and you are eternally miserable!"

Behold the change!

The world's blessed man—is now God's cursed man!

And he who was the miserable man in the esteem of the world—is now the blessed man!