Solemn admonitions of warning, manifest
in the destruction of dearly cherished facilities for service,
say to us: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,
and repent, and do the first works." Revelation 2:5. Why
is there so dim a perception of the true spiritual condition
of the church? Has not blindness fallen upon the watchmen standing
on the walls of Zion? Are not many of God's servants unconcerned
and well satisfied, as if the pillar of cloud by day and the
pillar of fire by night rested upon the sanctuary? Are there
not those in positions of responsibility, professing to know
God, who in life and character deny Him? Are not many of those
who count themselves as His chosen, peculiar people satisfied
to live without the evidence that of a truth God is among them
to save them from Satan's snares and attacks?
Would we not now have much greater light if,
in the past, we had received the Lord's admonitions, acknowledged
His presence, and turned away from all practices contrary to
His will? Had we done this, the light of heaven would have shone
into the soul-temple, enabling us to comprehend the truth and
to love God supremely and our neighbors as ourselves. Oh, how
greatly Christ is dishonored by those who, professing to be Christians,
disgrace the name they bear by failing to make their lives correspond
to their profession, by failing to treat one another with the
love and respect that God expects them to reveal in kind words
and courteous acts!
The powers from beneath are stirred with
deep intensity. War and bloodshed are the result. The moral atmosphere
is poisoned with cruel, horrible doings. The spirit of strife
is spreading; it abounds in every place. Many souls are being
taken possession of by the spirit of fraud, or underhand dealing.
Many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of devils. They do not discern what spirit has
taken possession of them.