Forsake Your Sins, and Keep God's Commandments.
By T. E. Brown
"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die." Eze. 18:21. This is a precious promise. God, through his infinite love and mercy, after man has fallen in sin, says, "If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, . . . he shall surely live." But if they on the contrary reject his mercy, and live and die in their sins, they shall die. And the punishment will come upon them individually. The life and death here referred to, are eternal life and the second death. Each person, in that day, will have to endure the punishment of his own evil deeds, for in the 20th verse we read: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son," but each shall receive the just reward of his doing, "whether it be good, or whether it be evil." God is no respecter of persons. Are not God's judgments just? Some people think not; they murmur because he suffers afflictions to come upon them. They think he does not care for them, whether they are saved or lost. But God's word teaches differently. It says, "Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." And the Lord asks the question, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" Does it not appear by this, dear friends, that God designs none of us to perish? Does this make it necessary that he convert and save the whole world, without regard to their lives? By no means. None of us could wish to be saved in our sins; and if we should, it is impossible; nor would it be desirable to be immortalized in a state of rebellion against God. As we see that in our sins we cannot be saved, and that God wishes none to perish, what shall the sinner do? We have read the answer: "But if the wicked will turn," etc. It seems that they are not compelled to turn from their sins; but God in love invites them to turn away from them. This "all," dear friends, covers all, not a part; we cannot cherish our sins that seem dear to us. No; but God says all. "And keep all my statutes," or commandments, which means the same. This language is very broad. When God says "all sins" and "all his statutes," dear friends, this takes self entirely away. Nothing is left of us only to do the will of God. After this takes place, namely, overcome all our sins and keep all his commandments as far as we see them, then he requires something of us. In the 32d verse, he says: "Wherefore turn yourselves [or others, in the margin], and live ye." After we ourselves are turned from our wicked ways, then, and not till then, we are to help others to see their wicked ways. See Matt. 7:5. Are you, dear reader, keeping all of God's commandments? If so, are you imparting the light and help you should to others? This is an important mission. The commandments of God are exceeding broad, and need much of our careful study. May God help us to so improve the talents which he gives us, and do our work in helping others so well, that at his coming we may hear the joyous words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."