[b]Losers![/b](Thomas Watson, "Body of Practical Divinity")"The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain." Proverbs 10:28See the great difference between the death of the godly--and the wicked. The godly are great gainers at death--but the wicked are greatlosers at death. They lose four things:(1.) They lose the world--and that is a great loss to the wicked. They laid up their treasure upon earth, and to be turned out of it all at once, is a great loss.(2.) They lose their souls. Matthew 16:26-27. The soul is more precious than the whole world!But the sinner's soul is lost; not that the souls of the wicked are annihilated at death--but tormented!(3.) They lose heaven. Heaven is the region of happiness and bliss. (4.) They lose all hope. Though they lived wickedly, they hoped God would be merciful; and they hoped they would go to heaven. Their hope was not an anchor--but a spider's web! At death they lose their hopes, and see they did but flatter themselves into hell! "Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web." Job 8:13-14. It is dreadful to have life and hope cut off together! "When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes." Proverbs 11:7"The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath." Proverbs 11:23
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon