As looked at Psalm 1 last time, we said that it naturally falls into two divisions of 3 verses each. Verses 1-3 describe the man who is blessed by God, while verses 4-6 describe the man who is condemned by God.
The man who is blessed by God is separated from the world. He thinks differently, acts differently, and feels differently than the world does. He is saturated with the Word. He studies it lovingly, thoughtfully, and consistently. He is situated by the water. Because he depends upon the Holy Spirit, he is unfailingly fruitful, fresh, and favored. Now, as we look to verses 4-6, at the description of one who is condemned by God.
In verse 4, we read, "Not so the wicked!" The man who is condemned by God is said to be one who is wicked. The Hebrew word is "raw-shaw" and refers to one who has chosen the way of sin. In other words, the man who is condemned by God is one who has chosen the way of sin and rebellion rather than the way of forgiveness and salvation! He is one who has chosen not to receive Jesus Christ as His personal Savior.
We need to understand this. If one has not yet chosen forgiveness, then he has chosen sin. If he has not yet chosen life, he has chosen death! If he has not yet chosen heaven, he has chosen hell! If he has not yet chosen Christ, he has chosen Satan! One cannot "ride the fence," when it comes to salvation (Matthew 12:30). The man described here is one who has not received the Savior. He has, therefore, forfeited the blessing of God and is under the condemnation of God (John 3:18).
1. He Is Condemned To A Life Of Worthlessness - v. 4
The person condemned by God is described as being "like chaff that the wind blows away." In the ancient world, part of the wheat harvesting process involved winnowing. They would take raw wheat, toss it into the air, and let the wind blow away the unusable part of the wheat - the chaff. Because the kernels were heavier than the chaff, they would fall back down to the ground, but the chaff would blow away. The kernels of grain were useful, but the chaff was worthless. Thus the Psalmist tells us that the life of one who has not received God’s free gift of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Christ is like the chaff - worthless. He is condemned to live a life of worthlessness.
God created man with a purpose in mind. Man was to live in such a way as to glorify and honor his creator. In return, he would experience unlimited love, joy, peace and fulfillment.
But when man rejected God’s will for him and rebelled instead, he ended up with a life that is worthless, empty, and meaningless.
"God without man is still God, but man without God is nothing."
That’s what man chose when he turned from God -nothingness!
But the Good News is that while "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23b). The good news is that "God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners (condemned to a life of worthlessness) Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). On the cross, Jesus paid the price so that we might pass from being condemned to a life of worthlessness to being blessed with a life of meaning and significance.
A South Seas legend tells about a society in which the desirability of a women was judged by the number of cows a suitor would pay for her. Manyama was considered undesirable. Her father had given up hope of a suitor, much less a cow. But one day a young man came and offered five cows for Manyama. The village thought him crazy, for three cows was the highest price ever paid. The young man took Manyama to his home in another village. After a year, they returned. All stood in amazement as they beheld Manyama, the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. She had been transformed by the power of her husband’s love.
Likewise, in Christ, God willingly paid the price for our sins, so we might be delivered from a life of worthlessness. When we receive God’s free gift of eternal life through faith in Christ, by the power of His love, our life can be transformed into a life that’s worth living!
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, they can start where they are and make a brand new end."
"You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. But you can choose how you’re going to live!"
Why choose to be condemned to a life of worthlessness? Choose instead to accept God’s offer of a life worth living by receiving His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ!
2. He Is Condemned To A Future Of Hopelessness - v. 5
In verse 5, the psalmist tells us two things about the hopelessness of the unbeliever’s future.
A. He Will Be Without Hope In The Day Of Judgment - v. 5a
The Bible says there will be a day when unbelievers will stand before Christ and given opportunity to explain why they should be allowed into heaven (Revelation 20:11-15).
We read that on that day, two sets of books will be consulted. There are "the books" (verse 12a), and "the book of life" (verse 12b). We are told that unbelievers will be "judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (verse 12c).
After this, “the book of life” will be opened and if anyone’s name is not found written in the book of life, he will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Here is something we must not miss. No one here is judged according to their sins, but according to their works. Why? Because Christ has paid the price for our sins. That debt is paid. So, what is the purpose of the "Great White Throne," judgment?
It’s purpose is to give every person who died not trusting in Christ’s payment for their sins on the cross, the chance to explain why they thought they didn’t need to. They will be allowed to present all their good works to God, in an effort to justify their belief that they should be allowed into heaven. That’s the purpose of the “books.”
After they have presented their case, however, “the book of life” will be consulted. The "book of life" represents the payment of Christ on the cross for the sins of the world to make it possible for us to enter heaven. Notice that the Bible never speaks of a person’s name being added to the book of life, but only of a person’s name being blotted out (Rev. 3:5). You see, Christ died for all men. Therefore, the name of every person who has lived, is living, and ever will live is included in the book of life. But when one dies without having trusted in the work of Christ for their entry into heaven, their name is blotted out.
Unbelievers of all ages will be brought before God and given the chance to display their good works, in an effort to justify their belief that they should be allowed to enter heaven. God will take their good works and compare them to the standard He requires. They will be shown that their good works do not measure up, but that the work Christ performed on the cross does. And since they will have rejected the only work good enough to allow them entrance into heaven, that entrance will be denied and they will be cast into the lake of fire.
There was a young man who was saved from the path of a speeding truck by an older man. Breathless from his brush with death, he thanked the one who had saved his life and then went on his way. Two months later in a crowded courtroom, this same young man was to be sentenced for committing murder.
The judge turned to him and asked, "Young man, have you anything to say before the sentence of death is passed upon you?"
“Why yes, your Honor,” he replied. “You know me! Don’t you remember me? Just two months ago, you pushed me out of the way of a speeding truck and saved my life! Surely, your Honor, you can do something to save me now.”
After a moment of silence, the Judge said, “I’m sorry. Two weeks ago I was your Savior. But today I am your Judge. You are condemned to death.”
B. He Will Be Without Hope For All Eternity - v. 5b
The psalmist tells us here that the man who is condemned by God will not "stand in the assembly of the righteous." Rather than hearing Jesus say, "Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world," they will hear Him say, "depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:34; 41). Jesus said that unbelievers, "will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew 25:46).
If one persists in unbelief, he will be left without hope for all eternity! Make no mistake about it, Hell is a real place and eternal punishment is a real thing; and the Bible says that all who die, not having received God’s free gift of eternal life through faith in Christ, will be condemned to an eternity without hope! But that doesn’t have happen to them.
"It is choice, not chance that determines one’s destiny."
A person does not have to leave their eternal destiny to chance. By trusting in Jesus as their personal Savior, they can settle the question of their eternal destiny, once and for all. They can know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that they have a home in heaven (John 14:1-3).
If Jesus is our Savior, we know that we, unlike the person described here, will stand in the assembly of the righteous!
Conclusion: The psalmist gives us a vivid description of the man who is condemned by God. He is one who has not believed in Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. As a result, he is condemned to a life of worthlessness and a future of hopelessness. But he doesn’t have to remain under God’s condemnation, for Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me is not condemned . . ." (John 3:18).
"Life is short, but it gives most people time to out live their good intentions."
Don’t delay in giving your life to Christ!
My name is TIME. I haven’t always been and I won’t always be, but right now I’m on the move, measuring out life. Men wait for me, submit to me, fear me; but no one can stop me, except God. He is in control and he says I am running out. Most men think I’m on the move forever. But I’m not. When I stop, eternity will keep right on going . . . and it will be too late for repentance, too late for getting right with God through Jesus Christ His Son, too late for faith - just "forever" left for tears and regrets . . . NOW is the day of salvation. Will it be that day for you? My name is TIME and I’m on the move. I’m nearing the end, and I’m taking you with me . . . into eternity!
"One of the Devil’s most successful "wiles" is "wait a while."
Don’t let him keep you living a life of worthlessness. Don’t let him drag you into an eternity of hopelessness! Turn today from death to life, from sin to forgiveness, from condemnation to blessing, by trusting Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord (verse 6)!
Christians should be "Fools with the facts on fire!" In light of what the Bible says about the plight of the lost, won’t you commit yourself to more fully telling them about the salvation they can know through faith in Christ?
