Those Dregs

Psalm 75:8, For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down.

Revelation 14:10, he [those who follow Satan and the world] himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.

Matthew 26:39, He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus submitted and drank the cups of sinful men deserving the just judgment of God until He loudly and triumphantly declared, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).  Only then did He yield up His spirit – did He die physically.  He laid down His life after fully obeying and drinking all the cup including the lumps, pieces, and portions at the bottom.  He drank it ALL!

According to Revelation 14:9-11, Jesus, in drinking the cup, suffered “Hell” while on the cross. (Rev. 14:10 above and 14:11, And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night.)  He took the full brunt of God’s wrath reserved for those who will face Him without a transformational faith leading to a new life in Christ.

[He did not go to Hell after His death but rather to Paradise, Luke 23:43.]

We each have a cup filled with our doings, which because of evil, selfishness, rebellion, and transgression, is a cup of poison.  Any good that we have is infused with pride, so that it is likewise poisonous.  And in addition many, if not most men have committed especially bad things – things that even family, friends, and the world see as bad, such as having an affair that caused a divorce.  Such as overt sternness or even meanness that drove a child away from home and goodness.  Such as running a red light and hitting another and killing them or maybe even murdering another.  These are the extra bitter poisons at the bottom of our cup – the dregs.

We see such dregs in the lives of those we consider saints:

1. David murdered a faithful servant in an act of selfish passion.
2. Saul murdered followers of Jesus.
3. Moses, in a fit of anger, struck the rock rather than speak to it as instructed.
4. The immoral woman at the well had been married five times and was living with a man.
5. Peter denied Jesus after adamantly proclaiming his allegiance – even to death.

Peter egregiously failed His God and likely felt there was no hope – no future, BUT Jesus sought him out and restored the relationship (Luke 24:34, I Corinthians 15:5, I Peter 1:3).

[Jesus is the good Shepherd who leaves the 99 to find the stray – Luke 15:4!]

Because Jesus drank even the dregs, there is nothing bad a true Christian can do that will reverse their salvation.  John 6:37, The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 

For those saved, Jesus drank their cup – including their dregs.  They were and are wonderfully and eternally saved because Jesus fully dealt with the wrath due them.  It is Amazing Grace!

And your cup?  Your dregs?  Is there something for which you can’t forgive yourself?  If saved, do you realize that it has been addressed by Jesus and to not forgive self is to not accept His payment?

By not accepting His forgiveness and forgiving yourself or others, what are you saying to Jesus?