Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, / And all the nations that forget God.”

January 15th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

“There are only two certainties in life—death and taxes!” This age-old adage humorously speaks to the fact that we will all face death; there is no escaping it. But there is a third certainty that is just as inescapable and that is that there is life after death. Although most people believe in heaven and hell, there are some who refuse to believe in either of them.

Years ago John Lennon of the Beatles wrote a very popular song entitled Imagine. In the song, he encourages the world to imagine, among other things, that there is neither heaven nor hell. He envisioned a world where all people lived together as one, without selfishness. Is that possible? As attractive as the idea is, it ignores the fundamental and unchangeable—no matter how much we imagine or hope or try—problem of human nature, which is completely sinful and selfish. Some interpret the song as blaming organized religion for the lack of world peace, but of course the murderous atheism of Stalin in Russia, Pol Pot in Cambodia, and Chairman Mao in China proves otherwise.

As wrong as he got it, Lennon may have been trying to articulate the natural, inner longing we all have for our heavenly home, where all will be made perfect. God has hard wired all people to seek for and anticipate eternity. When asked, “What is heaven like?” Pastor R G. Lee said, “Heaven is the most beautiful place the mind of God could conceive and the hand of God could create.” Heaven invites everyone. God says to all: “Choose Jesus; choose life.” But only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ may enter in.

“LORD, we choose You and to follow Your word this day.”

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Psalms 9 KJV

¹ I will praise thee , O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

² I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

³ When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

⁴ For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.  

⁵ Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

⁶ O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 

⁷ But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

⁸ And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

⁹ The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 

¹⁰ And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

¹¹ Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

¹² When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 

¹³ Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

¹⁴ That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

¹⁵ The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

¹⁶ The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 

¹⁷ The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

¹⁹ Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

²⁰ Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be butmen. Selah.