Why Should I Fear?

James Smith, 1856

Are you an unconverted sinner? Are you . . .
living in sin, neglecting salvation,
despising the Savior, and
preferring earth to Heaven?

If so, you have every reason to fear — for God is angry with you! All the perfections of his nature are opposed to you, while pursuing your present course!

Ten thousand dangers surround you;
Satan holds you as his captive, and treats you as his slave;
death is your enemy, and may be near at hand;
the judgment day will be terrible to you if you die in your sins;
and the punishment of every unconverted sinner is eternal.

My dear friend, you ought to fear; you are . . .
the enemy of God,
the friend of Satan,
the dupe of sin, and
the heir of perdition!

Your state is most alarming,
the law condemns you,
the justice of God is opposed to you, and
time is hurrying you into an awful eternity!

Your conduct . . .
grieves the Holy Spirit,
sanctions every enemy of God,
and merits everlasting punishment.

You may fall into Hell any moment — even while you are reading this book; for there is only the mere circumstance of time, between you and the flames of Hell. You are, as it were, suspended over the lake of fire by a mere thread; if it breaks — you are gone forever! And yet you are thoughtless, careless, and ask, "Why should I fear?"

Is there nothing in the wrath of an omnipotent, unchangeable God — to make a sinner fear?

Is there nothing in outer darkness, in the never-dying worm, or in the fire that never shall be quenched — to make a sinner fear?

If not, then go on without fear; but if there is, let me beseech you to attend to what God says; hear him, for he speaks to You, "Consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there are none to deliver you!" (Psalm 50:22). "Comb now, and let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are as scarlet — they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson — they shall be as wool," (Isaiah 1:18). "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon," (Isaiah 55:7). "Through Jesus is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all who believe are justified from all things," (Acts 13. 29).

I beseech you therefore, as God bids you, Consider your ways! Come at once and bow before the Lord! Forsake your evil ways! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ — and then your sins will be forgiven, your person will be justified, your nature will be sanctified, and you will be a new creature!