“The wicked are estranged from the womb:
they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”
(Psalm 58:3)
Scripture makes it patently clear that those who persist in their sin cannot stand before a holy God … that is, they cannot be counted among the redeemed. And while it may be a hard truth, it is one we must confront.
Hebrews 2:11-12 reminds us of the brotherhood Christ offers to those who come to Him. Through His sacrifice, we are brought near to God. But to those who refuse to listen, who persist in their foolishness and rebellion, the Bible issues a sobering warning—the wicked will never stand in God’s presence.
This rejection is not because God delights in casting away the wicked, but because of His pure and holy nature. As Psalm 1:5 says, “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” These individuals will find themselves unable to endure the presence of a God who cannot look upon sin.
In addition, their years on earth may be cut short. Scripture says that sinful men may not live out their days. “Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days” (Psalm 55:23) and Ecclesiastes 7:17 warns, “Be not…wicked, neither be foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?” God, in His sovereignty, may decide to bring the wicked to an early end, sparing them from causing more harm or leading more people astray. But this is not the end of the warning.
In the life to come, standing before God takes on eternal significance. On the day of judgment, all will appear before Him, but not all will remain. The foolish and unrepentant will hear those dreadful words: “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). They will be cast away, excluded from the kingdom of God and condemned to a life of separation from Him. This exclusion is final, and it is the ultimate tragedy for any soul.
Though we are all born in sin and separated from God, not all remain in that state. The grace of God extends to sinners, even the vilest of sinners. Paul reminds the Corinthians, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). There is no sin too great for God’s grace. His mercy reaches even those who have wandered farthest.
But those who refuse this offer, who persist in their impenitence, bring judgment upon themselves. God calls, but they refuse to listen. He offers wisdom, but they reject it. Their fate is not because God has failed to offer grace but because they have hardened their hearts. The warning in Proverbs 1:24 is clear: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded… I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.”
For the sinner who persists in rebellion, there is no standing before God. But for those who heed His call, who seek His wisdom, and who repent of their sins, there is grace, forgiveness, and the promise of being in His presence forever.
Contemplations:
- The Foolishness of Sin. I must recognize that sin blinds me, distorts my understanding, and separates me from God. I was born into this state of foolishness, and without the grace of God, I would remain there. I see this truth reflected in Psalm 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” This is my natural condition, but through Christ I am saved from it.
- The Hope of Redemption. As I reflect on the hope offered in 1 Corinthians 6:11, I realize that God’s grace is extended to all, regardless of how far I may have wandered. Paul’s words remind me that even those who have committed the worst sins can be washed and justified in Christ. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified” (1 Corinthians 6:11). This fills my heart with hope, knowing that God’s mercy is greater than my sin.
- God’s Call to Wisdom. God’s offer of wisdom is a gift I must not take lightly. In James 1:5, I am reminded that if I lack wisdom, I need only ask God, who gives generously. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” I must humble myself and seek God’s wisdom daily, for true understanding comes from Him alone.
- The Warning of Impenitence. I cannot ignore the warning found in Proverbs 1:24-26. When God calls, I must listen. If I harden my heart and refuse to heed His voice, I risk the terrifying prospect of being rejected by God Himself. “Because I have called, and ye refused … I also will laugh at your calamity.” I want to remain humble, repentant, and responsive to God’s voice, knowing that He is my only hope for salvation.
Prayer (Thanksgiving):
O Lord, You are the holy God whose grace redeems sinners. I thank You for Your mercy, offering salvation through Christ, who then calls us “brethren” (Hebrews 2:11-12). Your grace washes and sanctifies, as 1 Corinthians 6:11 assures: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
I praise You for Your wisdom, so freely given as James 1:5 promises: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” And thank You for Your patience, drawing me from rebellion to repentance, sparing me the judgment of Matthew 7:23: “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
I am grateful for Your church proclaiming Your grace, and for Your Spirit guiding me to wisdom, as Samuel Willard notes: “Man’s natural corruption bars him from God’s favor, but Christ’s redemption opens the way to salvation.”[1] Let my life be a song of gratitude, reflecting Your mercy in a sinful world. For You are my Redeemer, my Hope, my King, and I worship You for Your unfailing love.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further References for Psalm 58:3:
Psalm 51:5; Eph. 4:18; Isa. 59:4; Eph. 2:12; Col. 1:21
[1] Samuel Willard, Impenitent Sinners Warned of Their Misery and Summoned to Judgment, (Boston: B. Green & J. Allen. Sold by Michael Perry, at his shop over against the town-house, 1698), 7.
