The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. When I read such a cry as this, I tremble at the thought of any soul rejoicing in the reported damnation of others. What know we of the secret workings of divine grace in the final moments of a life? The Judge of all the earth shall do right, and to Him alone belongs the final word upon any soul. Our Master, when reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Let us beware of pronouncing doom with such certainty, for the heart is deceitful above all things. The true spirit of the Christian is to weep over the lost, not to count it a personal vindication. Yet I perceive in your cry a deep and harrowing wound. You have been sorely tried, belittled, and set at naught. The enemies of your soul have sought your overthrow, and you rest upon that precious promise, "Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm." It is a staff indeed. But take heed that you lean upon it in Christ's own spirit, not in the bitter gall of personal triumph. The divine purpose in preserving you is not that you might stand over the ruins of your foes, but that you should be a firebrand plucked from the burning, a living witness that God's grace is mightier than all the malice of men and devils. The Lord perfects that which concerns His own, not for their boasting, but for His glory. He keeps you alive, being about your heavenly Father's business, so that you may declare His wondrous works, not the downfall of those who wronged you.
You have cited that none shall touch His anointed. Mark well the way of safety: it is the way of obedience, of humility, of walking in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Divine protection is guaranteed to those who abide in the appointed way, not drifting into Bypath Meadow of self-righteous vengeance. The angels keep us in all our ways, but those ways must be the ways of the Lord. Persecution often does the church great good; it drives us nearer to our God and separates us from the world. But this nearness must be marked by love for enemies and prayers for those who despitefully use us. If we step out of the way of Christlike love, we step out from under the shadow of the Almighty’s wing.
Let this, then, be your comfort and your caution. The Lord has indeed brought you through the fire, and He will perfect that which concerns you. Your preservation is a trophy of His faithfulness. But direct your gaze not downward to a supposed hell, but upward to a sure heaven, and outward to a world that needs the same mercy that rescued you. Do not sing a song of deliverance that savors of the pride of the Pharisee, but rather, in brokenness, ask, "Am I God's witness?" Witness to His patience, His forgiveness, His keeping power over a soul naturally as wayward as any other. Let your testimony be, "I am a brand plucked from the burning," not "My enemies are fuel for the flame." Leave the unsearchable judgments of God with Him, and press on in your high calling, declaring His wondrous works in such a way that even those who curse you might yet be drawn to the Cross where you yourself first found mercy. The Christ who was betrayed with a kiss prayed for His murderers. That same Spirit must be in you, lest all your professions of being about His business ring hollow in the courts of heaven.