TEXT: Psalm 1

SUBJECT: Kids’ Sermon #44: What Happens to the Ungodly

Kids, listen up, please.

Today, we’re going to continue our study of Psalm 1, especially vv.5,6b. But before we do, I’ll ask you a few questions about what we’ve already studied:

1. What is Psalm 1 about?
2. Is it possible to be happy even if you’re sick or if your parents are divorced or if you’re doing badly in school or if you have no friends?
3. What does the Happy Person not do?
4. What does that mean?
5. What does the Happy Person do?
6. What is the Happy Person like?
7. What does that mean?
8. Can the ungodly person also be happy?
9. Why not?

V.5 looks to the future and tells us what will not happen to the ungodly. V.6 also looks to the future and says what will happen to the ungodly.

The "Judgment" is God’s Judgment that will take place at the end of the world. The Bible teaches that one of these days (we don’t know when) the Lord Jesus will come again. When He does, He will sit on a throne and every person will be brought to Him for judgment. If the person is judged "holy", he will be richly rewarded. But if he is judged "unholy", he will be severely punished.

That’s what Psalm One has in mind here—not a human judgment, which is often mistaken (innocent people are sometimes punished while the guilty get off). But a Divine judgment which is always true—and final.

"The ungodly—David says—"Will not stand in the Judgment".

What does this mean?

Some people think it means the wicked will be judged at all! That, when they die, they sort of disappear. But this in not what the Bible teaches! The Bible teaches that everyone—man, woman, kid, and even angel—will be judged by God one day.

In other places, the Judgment is compared to some other things:

1. Farmer separating the wheat from the chaff (Matthew 3:12).
2. A fisherman who separates the good fish from the bad (Matthew 13:47-49).
3. Shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:33).

The ungodly will go to the Judgment of God. But they won’t stand there. That means the Lord will be so angry at them, that He’ll drive them out of His Presence!

Has anyone ever told you, "Get out and stay out!" Most people who say things like that don’t mean it. But God does mean it! Though the Lord loves sinners (and died for us), He will not put up with them forever! On the Day of Judgment He’ll say, "Enough is enough! Get out! You’re not welcome!"

That’s the first thing that won’t happen to the ungodly. Here’s the second,

"The Congregation of the righteous" means Saved People. At the moment, it is not always clear who is saved and who isn’t. Kids who grow up in Christian homes often think they’re saved because they pray at night or read the Bible or go to church. The same thing is true for adults: Some are dirty old hypocrites—pretending to be Christians when they know they’re not. Others are just plain foolish—thinking they’re saved, for example, because they’ve been baptized or are really nice.

And so, today, saved and unsaved people are mixed up. But that won’t last forever. One of these days, God is going to separate them. And unlike you and me, He won’t make a mistake! Not one. He knows exactly who belongs to Him—and who doesn’t. He’s not fooled by words or even by actions. He knows both the godly and the ungodly.

On the Day of Judgment,

Why not? Because He’s going to bless the righteous in ways we can’t even imagine—they’re so wonderful! But the ungodly will have no share in those blessings.

On that day, not one drop of mercy will be given to the ungodly—or even offered to them. For the unsaved (even nice kids who are unsaved),

You can have all the grace you want—for now. But, like other offers, the offer of grace expires some day. I have a coupon book at home, full of great offers—for restaurants, miniature golf, movies, and more. But they expired on December 31, 2001. Which means they’re no good to me now.

In the same way, God offers salvation to everyone who repents and believes now. But on the Day of Judgment, the offer is no good any more.

One of these days all believers who ever lived will be together and be perfectly happy! Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ruth, David, Solomon, Esther, Paul, and Mary. And millions of people we’ve never heard of. This is

But not one ungodly person will be with them! Not one unbeliever. Not one person who doesn’t fear God and keep His commandments!

That’s the second thing that will not happen for the sinner. But something will happen to him—even if he’s nice and fun to be with,

This means the ungodly will go to hell.

The Bible does not tell us exactly what hell is like. If it did, I think it would literally scare everyone to death. But what it does say is pretty bad. The Bible says hell is something like,

But that’s not all it is. It is also all of these things…forever!

Nobody will ever get out of hell. And, instead of getting used to it over time, it can only become worse and worse and worse…forever.

That’s what awaits the ungodly. That’s what God has for people who

"Who do not delight themselves

This is true of old people, young adults, teenagers, and even children. People younger than you are are in hell right now and will be forever.

I’m not joking. This is serious. You can choose what road you take in life—godly or ungodly—but you can’t choose where they end up. The road of godliness ends up in heaven. The road of ungodliness ends up in hell.

Not because I say so. But God does. And you can take His word for it. He means business.

The ungodly will perish forever—everyone of them without exception!

But you don’t have to be one of them. You can get into the congregation of the righteous and stand in the judgment. But only by repenting of your sins and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now do it.