Your enemy

Your enemy!

(Joseph Alleine, "Alarm to the Unconverted" 1671)

"I myself, the Sovereign Lord, am now your enemy!" Ezekiel 5:8

Unconverted sinner! You are not only against God--but God is against you! As there is no friend like Him--so there is no enemy like Him. As much as heaven is above the earth, omnipotence above impotence--so much more terrible is it to fall into the hands of the living God, than into the paws of bears and lions, yes, furies or devils! God Himself will be your tormentor! Who or what shall deliver you out of His hands? Sinner, I think this wouldgo like a dagger to your heart--to know that God Himself is your enemy! Oh where will you go? Where will you shelter yourself?

The infinite God is engaged against you! He hates all workers of iniquity. Man, does not your heart tremble to think of your being an object of God's hatred? "As surely as I live, when I sharpen My flashing sword and begin to carry out justice, I will bring vengeance on My enemies and repay those who hate Me!" (Deuteronomy 32:40-41)

The power of God is mounted like a mighty cannon against you. Sinner, the power of God's anger is against you--and power and anger together make fearful work. There is no escaping His hands--no breaking loose from His prison.

"O consider this, you who forget God, lest He tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver!" (Psalm 50:22)

Submit to mercy. Let not dust and stubble battle against the Almighty. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker!" (Isaiah 45:9)