p. 3 | Strong to Destroy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 24, 1904

“Strong to Destroy”

It is evident that the judgments of God are in the earth. By the course which men are taking, they are bringing upon themselves swift destruction, and destruction by fire is already a marked feature of the record of the present year. It was especially noted in the Baltimore fire that the so-called fire-proof buildings seemed to stimulate rather than to check the flames in their work of destruction. It will certainly be demonstrated that man can neither devise nor construct a building that will be fire proof, or that can withstand the force of storm and tempest, when the forbearance of God has been worn out by heaven-daring presumption.

These conclusions are suggested by what has already occurred, and are emphasized in the following paragraphs taken from a recent communication received from Sister White:—

When I was last in —, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fire proof, and they were erected to glorify the owners. Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used. Those to whom these buildings belonged were not asking themselves, “How can we best glorify God, that we may enjoy him forever?” God was not in their thoughts.

I thought: “O that those who are thus investing their means could see that this display does not give them one iota of advantage with God. They are piling up magnificent buildings, but how foolish in the sight of the Ruler of the universe is their planning and devising. They are not studying with all the powers of heart and mind what they may do to glorify God, that they may enjoy him forever. They have lost sight of this, the first duty of man.”

As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in glorifying self and in provoking the envy of their neighbors.

Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding the faces of the poor. In the books of heaven an account of every business transaction is kept.

There every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass; and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah.

The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings, and said, “They are perfectly safe.” But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire-engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.

I am instructed that when the Lord’s time comes, should no change have taken place in the hearts of proud, ambitious human beings, men will find that the hand that has been strong to save will be strong to destroy. No earthly power can stay the hand of God. No material can be used in the erection of buildings that will preserve them from destruction when God’s appointed time comes to send retribution on men for their insolence and their disregard of his law.

The Word of God plainly marks out the course of action that all are to follow. Those who give no heed to this Word, but press on in the path of transgression, paying no attention to the commandments of God, must at last suffer the punishment of their sin. God bears long with those who disregard the laws of his kingdom. He gives them greater and still greater opportunities to repent. Nothing is left undone to lead them to acknowledge that “man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.” The Lord’s long-suffering mercy ought to lead them to repentance. But because sin does not meet with immediate retribution, sinners become bold and defiant in transgression. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

The love that God has shown in sending Christ to this world to die for us is an argument sufficiently strong to lead men to be reconciled to God. Those who, notwithstanding the great price paid for their salvation, continue in sin, will reach at last the boundary line of mercy. Then the Lord will show himself strong to punish. He forbears till he sees that forbearance will be of no avail.

This instruction has a very practical bearing upon the work which we now have in hand. Economy and simplicity should characterize our plans. Principles rather than display should give character to our work. Modest buildings, consecrated to God’s work and under his protecting care, will bear testimony to the great truth of the nearness of the end and to our source of dependence upon the preserving mercy of God better than expensive structures which may be boastfully declared to be fire proof and tempest proof. Let these principles find illustration in the buildings soon to be erected in the different parts of this country.