patriarchs and prophets-第35节

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！


wanderer。　Stupefied　with　sorrow；　he　lingered；　loath　to　depart。　But　for　the
angels　of　God；　they　would　all　have　perished　in　the　ruin　of　Sodom。　The
heavenly　messengers　took　him　and　his　wife　and　daughters　by　the　hand　and　led
them　out　of　the　city。

Here　the　angels　left　them；　and　turned　back　to　Sodom　to　accomplish　their　work
of　destruction。　AnotherHe　with　whom　Abraham　had　pleadeddrew　near　to　Lot。
In　all　the　cities　of　the　plain；　even　ten　righteous　persons　had　not　been
found；　but　in　answer　to　the　patriarch's　prayer；　the　one　man　who　feared　God
was　snatched　from　destruction。　The　command　was　given　with　startling
vehemence：　〃Escape　for　thy　life；　look　not　behind　thee；　neither　stay　thou　in
all　the　plain；　escape　to　the　mountain；　lest　thou　be　consumed。〃　Hesitancy　or
delay　now　would　be　fatal。　To　cast　one　lingering　look　upon　the　devoted　city；
to　tarry　for　one　moment　from　regret　to　leave　so　beautiful　a　home；　would　have

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　161

cost　their　life。　The　storm　of　divine　judgment　was　only　waiting　that　these
poor　fugitives　might　make　their　escape。

But　Lot；　confused　and　terrified；　pleaded　that　he　could　not　do　as　he　was
required　lest　some　evil　should　overtake　him　and　he　should　die。　Living　in
that　wicked　city；　in　the　midst　of　unbelief；　his　faith　had　grown　dim。　The
Prince　of　heaven　was　by　his　side；　yet　he　pleaded　for　his　own　life　as　though
God；　who　had　manifested　such　care　and　love　for　him；　would　not　still　preserve
him。　He　should　have　trusted　himself　wholly　to　the　divine　Messenger；　giving
his　will　and　his　life　into　the　Lord's　hands　without　a　doubt　or　a　question。
But　like　so　many　others；　he　endeavored　to　plan　for　himself：　〃Behold　now；
this　city　is　near　to　flee　unto；　and　it　is　a　little　one：　O；　let　me　escape
thither；　（is　it　not　a　little　one？）　and　my　soul　shall　live。〃　The　city　here
mentioned　was　Bela；　afterward　called　Zoar。　It　was　but　a　few　miles　from
Sodom；　and；　like　it；　was　corrupt　and　doomed　to　destruction。　But　Lot　asked
that　it　might　be　spared；　urging　that　this　was　but　a　small　request；　and　his
desire　was　granted。　The　Lord　assured　him；　〃I　have　accepted　thee　concerning
this　thing　also；　that　I　will　not　overthrow　this　city；　for　the　which　thou
hast　spoken。〃　Oh；　how　great　the　mercy　of　God　toward　His　erring　creatures！

Again　the　solemn　command　was　given　to　hasten；　for　the　fiery　storm　would　be
delayed　but　little　longer。　But　one　of　the　fugitives　ventured　to　cast　a　look
backward　to　the　doomed　city；　and　she　became　a　monument　of　God's　judgment。　If
Lot　himself　had　manifested　no　hesitancy　to　obey　the　angels'　warning；　but　had
earnestly　fled　toward　the　mountains；　without　one　word　of　pleading　or
remonstrance；　his　wife　also　would　have　made　her　escape。　The　influence　of　his
example　would　have　saved　her　from　the　sin　that　sealed　her　doom。　But　his
hesitancy　and　delay　caused　her　to　lightly　regard　the　divine　warning。　While
her　body　was　upon　the　plain；　her　heart　clung　to　Sodom；　and　she　perished　with
it。　She　rebelled　against　God　because　His　judgments　involved　her　possessions
and　her　children　in　the　ruin。　Although　so　greatly　favored　in　being　called
out　from　the　wicked　city；　she　felt　that　she　was　severely　dealt　with；　because
the　wealth　that　it　had　taken　years　to　accumulate　must　be　left　to
destruction。　Instead　of　thankfully　accepting　deliverance；　she　presumptuously
looked　back　to　desire　the　life　of　those　who　had　rejected　the　divine　warning。
Her　sin　showed　her

162

to　be　unworthy　of　life；　for　the　preservation　of　which　she　felt　so　little
gratitude。

We　should　beware　of　treating　lightly　God's　gracious　provisions　for　our
salvation。　There　are　Christians　who　say；　〃I　do　not　care　to　be　saved　unless
my　companion　and　children　are　saved　with　me。〃　They　feel　that　heaven　would
not　be　heaven　to　them　without　the　presence　of　those　who　are　so　dear。　But
have　those　who　cherish　this　feeling　a　right　conception　of　their　own　relation
to　God；　in　view　of　His　great　goodness　and　mercy　toward　them？　Have　they
forgotten　that　they　are　bound　by　the　strongest　ties　of　love　and　honor　and
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　So