A stark contrast indicates that there are two things that are different. They are so different that it is very noticeable to anyone. For instance, black and white are as different in the scheme of colors as you can get. One is full of light and the other is the absence of light. In every avenue of life, we see a stark contrast. We see it in education, employment, monetary status, health, and relationships, but most of all we see it in mankind’s ideas about eternal life, or the lack thereof. Thankfully God has given us a picture of this contrast and the opportunity to choose between the godly and the ungodly.
In Psalm 1, the psalmist starts with a picture of the person who is a devoted fruitful Christian. However, he turns the corner in verse 4 and begins to describe the one who will not surrender to the Lord of Lords. He is described as the ungodly. An ungodly person has no claim on the promises of God, they have no claim on God as their Father, or Jesus as their Savior, and they don’t care. They live their life for themselves and are ignorant of the day when they will stand before God. In verse 4, they are described as being like “the chaff which the wind drives away.” The chaff is the husk surrounding the seed. It is the worthless part of the seed and is thrown away because there is no valuable use for it. The description reminds me of the husk on popcorn. That little piece that gets hung in your teeth and annoys you until you can get it out. When farmers harvested their grain, they would beat the wheat and throw it up in the air and the wind would take the chaff away.
Because the chaff is worthless it will be destroyed in the end. This is a picture of the unbeliever at the end of time on earth. They will not be allowed to stand with the righteous. Those who have been forgiven and followed faithfully will be acquitted by the righteous Judge. They will receive their reward for their faithfulness to God and the ungodly will be cast away into Hell forever.
Psalm 1:4-6 “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
What an awful picture of the final separation between Christians and the ungodly. The horror of being eternally separated from God and loved ones who followed God is an unimaginable picture. Those who are righteous will have an eternity of beautiful perfection. In the presence of the one who died to redeem them, no strife, no pain, and no tears. They will never experience anything negative again. However, the ungodly will never experience any pleasure ever again! The contrast is so stark that we cannot wrap our minds around it. II Thessalonians 1:8-9 teaches us that Jesus will take vengeance on those who don’t know Him. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and any glimmer of hope, any opportunity to come into the presence of the Lord, will be gone.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
Matthew 25:46 “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Many think that God will turn His head on that day and welcome them into eternal bliss with Him because He loves them. These have forgotten that God’s greatest attribute that He will not violate is His holiness. Others think there is no such thing as a place called Hell. Many believe they will bargain their way into Heaven because they have been a “good person.” Yet, on that day it will make no difference at all what we think or how we feel. God is the Judge and His word is final. He has provided everything we need to gain eternal life. However, if we refuse to follow His plan, we will be eternally doomed and there is no recourse. If you are reading this and you have not placed your faith in Jesus Christ, and Christ alone, there is still time. You have been given a divine opportunity to believe, receive, and obey. Nothing is more important than securing your eternal life.
