Psalm 9:17 tells us, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
Typically when I read this verse, my mind goes where most do – to the second half of the verse.
Think with me – as we examine our nation, we can see evidence of this great forgetting! We understand that our nation was founded as a Christian Nation – and yet as a whole America seems to have turned her back on God. Now don’t misunderstand me, I am not a doom and gloom person at all – I am just pointing out that this appears to be the case for our nation.
With this in mind, we understand the fear that is present when we read this verse.
But today, I want you to think, not about the nation as a whole, but rather I want to dial it in a bit to a much more personal point of view – and specifically to what the Bible says in the first half of the verse “The wicked shall be turned into Hell…”
I want to take just a moment and break this down – and my prayer is that as we go through this, your heart will be broken like mine was.
First of all, he says “The Wicked.” Who is the wicked? While we immediately think of those that maybe commit gross and abominable sin – the truth is, this phrase simply refers to those that are not saved. They may be young, they may be old. It may be a child, or an old man. It may be those that we would call a good man or an innocent man – or it may even include those that are among the most wicked of men that have walked the face of the earth. Irregardless – they have rejected Jesus as their personal Saviour and are therefore lost.
Then he says “Shall be”. This simply means that this coming event is sure. There is no way around it. While it may not be today, you can mark it down, you can bank on it – it is coming.
Next we find the phrase “turned into”. This does not mean changed – but rather it implies something being committed to the charge of another. I remember years ago taking a book to the library and turning it in. That simply meant that it went from my possession to the possession of another. Now the book was under their control. That is what is being referred to here – “turned into”.
Last of all – the word “HELL”. Hell, in this instance, is essentially the Lake of Fire. It is the everlasting home prepared for the Devil and his angels. It is the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is the place where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not. Friend – HELL IS A TERRIBLE PLACE! It is not for a moment, it is not for a day, a week, a month or a year – friend it is for eternity! Not only that – but once someone goes there, there is no escape!
As I have studied on this phrase from this one verse this week, my heart has been broken again to think of boys and girls, teenagers, men and women – those that are lost – being turned into Hell… and when they get there, they are bound there for ever!
What can we do? We must reach them, we must tell them while we can! Tell them about Jesus! Tell them how Jesus died to pay for their sins – and IF THEY WILL BUT BELIEVE ON HIM, then they can go to Heaven!
Let’s decide today to rescue the perishing and care for the dying! Let’s decide to send the light! Let’s do our part to fulfill the great commission and reach the wicked before they are forever turned into hell!
Lighthouse Baptist Church 