What can we say about the prospect of being saved "as by fire"? It is not the most desirable destiny. And Lot was a righteous man! If Lot was saved with difficulty, what then of the end of the ungodly?

So it is with us. Christ desires that we press forward until there is nothing remaining in our personality that can be harmed by the fire of God. The crown of life will clothe us with an authority greater than the authority of the second death.

Otherwise, we will face an uncertain future when we are raised from the dead.

Consider this:

But that [speaking of neglectful Christians] which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)

The believers to whom the Book of Hebrews was written were not babes in Christ. They were experienced Christians who had accepted joyfully the confiscation of their properties by the Roman government because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:32-34).

The Book of Hebrews was a solemn warning to them (and us) that if they should neglect their salvation, not pressing into the rest of God, not bearing the fruit of the Spirit, they would be in danger of Divine fire.

What did Jesus say to the Christian whose sin consisted of not using the gift that God had entrusted to him? "You wicked and lazy slave. Why did you waste my money? Depart from me and go into outer darkness!"

According to the Scripture, this can happen to the careless Christian.

The parable of the talents is found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. This judgment will take place when "the son of man cometh." It has to do with the Lord's "own servants."

It seems reasonable, as we study the parable of the talents, that the "outer darkness" may be the same as the "lashes" that will be given to those who did not do the Lord's will.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many lashes. (Luke 12:47)

When the trumpet of the Lord sounds there will be those who do not possess enough "oil," enough resurrection life. Notice that the parable of the talents follows in context with the parable of the ten virgins. There will be believers who, although they are working in the same field with another Christian, or sleeping in the same bed, will not be taken to meet the Lord when He appears. They will be left on the earth.

When the Lord returns with His saints, these careless servants will stand before Him. The wicked, lazy believers will be sent away into outer darkness.

These parables are not speaking of the peoples of the world. They are speaking of "virgins," of the Lord's servants.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:28-30)

To be continued.