Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein
most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the
mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and
Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the day of judgment, than for you.
"And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted
unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty
works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That
it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of
judgment, than for thee.
"At that time Jesus answered and said,
I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou
hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy
sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no
man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man
the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal
Him.
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and
are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon
you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke
is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:20-30.
It is always safe to be meek and lowly
and tenderhearted, but at the same time we are to be as firm
as a rock to the teachings of Christ. His words of instruction
are to be strictly heeded. Not one word is to be lost sight of.
The truth will abide forever. We are not to place our trust in
any lie or pretense. Those who do this will find that it has
been done at the loss of eternal life. We are now to make straight
paths for our feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. When
the lame are turned from safe paths, who is accountable but those
who have misled them? They have set at nought the counsel of
the One whose words are life eternal, for the works of deception
originating with the father of lies.
I have words for all who may suppose that
they are safe in obtaining their education in Battle Creek. The
Lord has blotted out two of our largest institutions that were
established in Battle Creek, and has given warning after warning,
even as Christ gave warning to Bethsaida and Capernaum. There
is a necessity of giving earnest attention to every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God. There can be no sinless departure
from the words of Christ. The Saviour urges the erring ones to
repent. Those who humble their hearts and confess their sins
will be pardoned. Their transgressions will be forgiven. But
the man who thinks that should he confess his sins he would show
weakness, will not find pardon, will not see Christ as his Redeemer,
but will go on and on in transgression, making blunder after
blunder and adding sin to sin. What will such a one do in the
day that the books are opened and every man is judged according
to the things written in the books?
The fifth chapter of Revelation needs to
be closely studied. It is of great importance to those who shall
act a part in the work of God for these last days. There are
some who are deceived. They do not realize what is coming on
the earth. Those who have permitted their minds to become beclouded
in regard to what constitutes sin are fearfully deceived. Unless
they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God
pronounces judgment upon the children of men. They have transgressed
the law and broken the everlasting covenant, and they will receive
according to their works.
"And I beheld when he had opened the
sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun
became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree
casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together;
and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men,
and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman,
and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks
of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on
us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath
is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17.
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great
multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds,
and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before
the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
. . . These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst
any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 7:9-17.
In these scriptures two parties are brought
to view. One party permitted themselves to be deceived and took
sides with those with whom the Lord has a controversy. They misinterpreted
the messages sent them and clothed themselves in robes of self-righteousness.
Sin was not sinful in their eyes. They taught falsehood as truth,
and by them many souls were led astray.
We need now to take heed to ourselves.
Warnings have been given. Can we not see the fulfillment of the
predictions made by Christ and recorded in the twenty-first chapter
of Luke? How many are studying the words of Christ? How many
are deceiving their own souls and cheating themselves out of
the blessings that others might secure if they would believe
and obey? Probation still lingers, and it is our privilege to
lay hold of the hope set before us in the gospel. Let us repent
and be converted and forsake our sins, that they may be blotted
out. "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall
not pass away. And 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. 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 21:33-36.
Shall the warnings given by Christ be passed
by unheeded? Shall we not make diligent work for repentance now,
while Mercy's gracious voice is still heard?
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:42-51.