June 25

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. — Rom 1:18

It is well that we sometimes have a glimpse of some of the possibilities of sin, that we may know what a terrible thing it is.

Such a glimpse Paul gives us in our reading for today. There would not seem to be much in this fearful portrayal to give us comfort or cheer. Yet the black picture has its suggestion of praise – this is the abyss from which we have been saved by the grace of God. Some one illustrates the greatness of salvation by two visions.

First, he had a vision of the awful fruits of sin. “That,” said his guide, “is what in the ages of eternity you would have been, if you had gone on in sin, unredeemed.”

Then he was shown the glories of the redeemed. He saw hosts of angels dwelling in ineffable glory, and beyond and above these, in the far distance, he beheld beings transcendently radiant and glorious.

“That,” said the guide, “is yourself ages hence. Behold the bliss and glory into which your Saviour will bring you.”