patriarchs and prophets-第32部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


loyalty　to　the　service　of　their　Creator　and　Redeemer？　The　invitations　of
mercy　are　addressed　to　all；　and　because　our　friends　reject　the　Saviour's
pleading　love；　shall　we　also　turn　away？　The　redemption　of　the　soul　is
precious。　Christ　has　paid　an　infinite　price　for　our　salvation；　and　no　one
who　appreciates　the　value　of　this　great　sacrifice　or　the　worth　of　the　soul
will　despise　God's　offered　mercy　because　others　choose　to　do　so。　The　very
fact　that　others　are　ignoring　His　just　claims　should　arouse　us　to　greater
diligence；　that　we　may　honor　God　ourselves；　and　lead　all　whom　we　can
influence；　to　accept　His　love。

〃The　sun　was　risen　upon　the　earth　when　Lot　entered　into　Zoar。〃　The　bright
rays　of　the　morning　seemed　to　speak　only　prosperity　and　peace　to　the　cities
of　the　plain。　The　stir　of　active　life　began　in　the　streets；　men　were　going
their　various　ways；　intent　on　the　business　or　the　pleasures　of　the　day。　The
sons…in　law　of　Lot　were　making　merry　at　the　fears　and　warnings　of　the
weak…minded　old　man。　Suddenly　and　unexpectedly　as　would　be　a　thunder　peal
from　an　unclouded　sky；　the　tempest　broke。　The　Lord　rained　brimstone　and　fire
out　of　heaven　upon　the　cities　and　the　fruitful　plain；　its　palaces　and
temples；　costly　dwellings；　gardens　and　vineyards；　and　the　gay；
pleasure…seeking　throngs　that　only　the　night　before　had　insulted　the
messengers　of　heavenall　were　consumed。　The　smoke　of　the　conflagration　went
up　like　the　smoke　of　a　great　furnace。　And　the　fair　vale　of　Siddim　became　a
desolation；　a　place　never　to　be　built　up　or　inhabiteda　witness　to　all
generations　of　the　certainty　of　God's　judgments　upon　transgression。

The　flames　that　consumed　the　cities　of　the　plain　shed　their　warning　light
down　even　to　our　time。　We　are　taught　the　fearful　and　solemn　lesson　that
while　God's　mercy　bears　long　with　the　transgressor；　there　is　a　limit　beyond
which　men　may　not　go　on　in

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　165

sin。　When　that　limit　is　reached；　then　the　offers　of　mercy　are　withdrawn；　and
the　ministration　of　judgment　begins。

The　Redeemer　of　the　world　declares　that　there　are　greater　sins　than　that　for
which　Sodom　and　Gomorrah　were　destroyed。　Those　who　hear　the　gospel
invitation　calling　sinners　to　repentance；　and　heed　it　not；　are　more　guilty
before　God　than　were　the　dwellers　in　the　vale　of　Siddim。　And　still　greater
sin　is　theirs　who　profess　to　know　God　and　to　keep　His　commandments；　yet　who
deny　Christ　in　their　character　and　their　daily　life。　In　the　light　of　the
Saviour's　warning；　the　fate　of　Sodom　is　a　solemn　admonition；　not　merely　to
those　who　are　guilty　of　outbreaking　sin；　but　to　all　who　are　trifling　with
Heaven…sent　light　and　privileges。

Said　the　True　Witness　to　the　church　at　Ephesus：　〃I　have　somewhat　against
thee；　because　thou　hast　left　thy　first　love。　Remember　therefore　from　whence
thou　art　fallen；　and　repent；　and　do　the　first　works；　or　else　I　will　come
unto　thee　quickly；　and　will　remove　thy　candlestick　out　of　his　place；　except
thou　repent。〃　Revelation　2：4；5。　The　Saviour　watches　for　a　response　to　His
offers　of　love　and　forgiveness；　with　a　more　tender　compassion　than　that
which　moves　the　heart　of　an　earthly　parent　to　forgive　a　wayward；　suffering
son。　He　cries　after　the　wanderer；　〃Return　unto　Me；　and　I　will　return　unto
you。〃　Malachi　3：7。　But　if　the　erring　one　persistently　refuses　to　heed　the
voice　that　calls　him　with　pitying；　tender　love；　he　will　at　last　be　left　in
darkness。　The　heart　that　has　long　slighted　God's　mercy；　becomes　hardened　in
sin；　and　is　no　longer　susceptible　to　the　influence　of　the　grace　of　God。
Fearful　will　be　the　doom　of　that　soul　of　whom　the　pleading　Saviour　shall
finally　declare；　he　〃is　joined　to　idols：　let　him　alone。〃　Hosea　4：17。　It　will
be　more　tolerable　in　the　day　of　judgment　for　the　cities　of　the　plain　than
for　those　who　have　known　the　love　of　Christ；　and　yet　have　turned　away　to
choose　the　pleasures　of　a　world　of　sin。

You　who　are　slighting　the　offers　of　mercy；　think　of　the　long　array　of
figures　accumulating　against　you　in　the　books　of　heaven；　for　there　is　a
record　kept　of　the　impieties　of　nations；　of　families；　of　individuals。　God
may　bear　long　while　the　account　goes　on；　and　calls　to　repentance　and　offers
of　pardon　may　be　given；　yet　a　time　will　come　when　the　account　will　be　full；
when　the　soul's　decision　has　been　made；　when　by　his　own　choice　man's　destiny
has　been　fixed。　Then　the　signal　will　be　given　for　judgment　to　be　executed。

166


There　is　cause　for　alarm　in　the　condition　of　the　religious　world　today。
God's　mercy　has　been　trifled　with。　The　multitudes　make　void　the　law　of
Jehovah；　〃teaching　for　doctrines　the　commandments　of　men。〃　Matthew　15：9。
Infidelity　prevails　in　many　of　the　churches　in　our　land；　not　infidelity　in
its　broadest　sensean　open　denial　of　the　Biblebut　an　infidelity　that　is
robed　in　the　garb　of　Christianity；　while　it　is　undermining　faith　in　the
Bible　as　a　revelation　from　God。　Fervent　devotion　and　vital　piety　have　given
place　to　hollow　formalism。　As　the　result；　apostasy　and　sensualism　prevail。
Christ　declared；　〃As　it　was　in　the　days　of　Lot；　。　。　。　even　thus　shall　it　be
in　the　day　when　the　Son　of　man　is　revealed。〃　Luke　17：28；30。　The　daily　record
of　passing　events　testifies　to　the　fulfillment　of　His　words。　The　world　is
fast　becoming　ripe　for　destruction。　Soon　the　judgments　of　God　are　to　be
poured　out；　and　sin　and　sinners　are　to　be　consumed。

Said　our　Saviour：　〃Take　heed　to　yourselves；　lest　at　any　time　your　hearts　be
overcharged　with　surfeiting；　and　drunkenness；　and　cares　of　this　life；　and　so
that　day　come　upon　you　unawares。　For　as　a　snare　shall　it　come　on　all　them
that　dwell　on　the　face　of　the　whole　earth〃upon　all　whose　interests　are
centered　in　this　world。　〃Watch　ye　therefore；　and　pray　always；　that　ye　may　be
accounted　worthy　to　escape　all　these　things　that　shall　come　to　pass；　and　to
stand　before　the　Son　of　man。〃　Luke　21：34…36。

Before　the　destruction　of　Sodom；　God　sent　a　message　to　Lot；　〃Escape　for　thy
life；　look　not　behind　thee；　neither　stay　thou　in　all　the　plain；　escape　to
the　mountain；　lest　thou　be　consumed。〃　The　same　voice　of　warning　was　heard　by
the　disciples　of　Christ　before　the　destruction　of　Jerusalem：　〃When　ye　shall
see　Jerusalem　compassed　with　armies；　then　know　that　the　desolation　thereof
is　nigh。　Then　let　them　which　are　in　Judea　flee　to　the　mountains。〃　Luke
21：20；21。　They　must　not　tarry　to　secure　anything　from　their　possessions；　but
must　make　the　most　of　the　opportunity　to　escape。

There　was　a　coming　out；　a　decided　separation　from　the　wicked；　an　escape　for
life。　So　it　was　in　the　days　of　Noah；　so　with　Lot；　so　with　the　disciples
prior　to　the　destruction　of　Jerusalem；　and　so　it　will　be　in　the　last　days。
Again　the　voice　of　God　is　heard　in　a　message　of　warning；　bidding　His　people
separate　themselves　from　the　prevailing　iniquity。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　167


The　state　of　corruption　and　apostasy　that　in　the　last　days　would　exist　in
the　religious　world；　was　presented　to　the　prophet　John　in　the　vision　of
Babylon；　〃that　great　city；　which　reigneth　over　the　kings　of　the　earth。〃
Revelation　17：18。　Before　its　destruction　the　call　is　to　be　given　from
heaven；　〃Come　out　of　her；　My　people；　that　ye　be　not　partakers　of　her　sins；
and　that　ye　receive　not　of　her　plagues。〃　Revelation　18：4。　As　in　the　days　of
Noah　and　Lot；　there　must　be　a　marked　separation　from　sin　and　sinners。　There
can　be　no　compromise　between　God　and　the　world；　no　turning　back　to　secure
earthly　treasures。　〃Ye　cannot　serve　God　and　mammon。〃　Matthew　6：24。

Like　the　dwellers　in　the　vale　of　Siddim；　the　people　are　dreaming　of
prosperity　and　peace。　〃Escape　for　thy　life；〃　is　the　warning　from　the　angels
of　God；　but　other　voices　are　heard　saying；　〃Be　not　excited；　there　is　no
cause　for　alarm。〃　The　multitudes　cry；　〃Peace　and　safety；〃　while　Heaven
declares　that　swift　destruction　is　about　to　come　upon　the　transgressor。　On
the　night　prior　to　their　destruction；　the　cities　of　the　plain　rioted　in
pleasure　and　derided　the　fears　and　warnings　of　the　messenger　of　God；　but
those　scoffers　perished　in　the　flames；　that　very　night　the　door　of　mercy　was
forever　closed　to　the　wicked；　careless　inhabitants　of　Sodom。　God　will　not
always　be　mocked；　He　will　not　long　be　trifled　with。　〃Behold；　the　day　of　the
Lord　cometh；　cruel　both　with　wrath　and　fierce　anger；　to　lay　the　land
desolate：　and　He　shall　destroy　the　sinners　thereof　out　of　it。〃　Isaiah　13：9。
The　great　mass　of　the　world　will　reject　God's　mercy；　and　will　be　overwhelmed
in　swift　and　irretrievable　ruin。　But　those　who　heed　the　warning　shall　dwell
〃in　the　secret　place　of　the　Most　High；〃　and　〃abide　under　the　shadow　of　the
Almighty。〃　His　truth　shall　be　their　shield　and　buckler。　For　them　is　the
promise；　〃With　long　life　will　I　satisfy　him；　and　show　him　My　salvation。〃
Psalm　91：1；　4；16。

Lot　dwelt　but　a　short　time　in　Zoar。　Iniquity　prevailed　there　as　in　Sodom；
and　he　feared　to　remain；　lest　the　city　should　be　destroyed。　Not　long　after；
Zoar　was　consumed；　as　God　had　purposed。　Lot　made　his　way　to　the　mountains；
and　abode　in　a　cave；　stripped　of　all　for　which　he　had　dared　to　subject　his
family　to　the　influences　of　a　wicked　city。　But　the　curse　of　Sodom　followed
him　even　here。　The　sinful　conduct　of　his　daughters　was　the　result　of　the
evil　associations　of　that　vile　place。　Its　moral　corruption　had

168

become　so　interwoven　with　their　character　that　they　could　not　distinguish
between　good　and　evil。　Lot's　only　posterity；　the　Moabites　and　Ammonites；
were　vile；　idolatrous　tribes；　rebels　against　God　and　bitter　enemies　of　His
people。

In　how　wide　contrast　to　the　life　of　Abraham　was　that　of　Lot！　Once　they　had
been　companions；　worshiping　at　one　altar；　dwelling　side　by　side　in　their
pilgrim　tents；　but　how　widely　separated　now！　Lot　had　chosen　Sodom　for　its
pleasure　and　profit。　Leaving　Abraham's　altar　and　its　daily　sacrifice　to　the
living　God；　he　had　permitted　his　children　to　mingle　with　a　corrupt　and
idolatrous　people；　yet　he　had　retained　in　his　heart　the　fear　of　God；　for　he
is　declared　in　the　Scriptures　to　have　been　a　〃just〃　man；　his　righteous　soul
was　vexed　with　the　vile　conversation　that　greeted　his　ears　daily　and　the
violence　and　crime