DANGER FROM ABOUNDING INIQUITY.
By L. A. S.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,” says the Scripture, of these last days. Where is this iniquity to abound? It is to abound in the world, of course. Iniquity has always abounded in the world, and certainly the last days will bring no change in this respect. But where does the iniquity exist that tends most to cause your love of God and His truth to wax cold? Ah, it is the iniquity that is in the Church, not that which is in the world, that affects us most. Not some other Church, either, but the Church of which we are members. It is a sad fact that iniquity does abound, even among those that have the saving light of present truth. Is it the iniquity that is in the world, or in some other Church, that tends to cause you to question the truths of the Third Angel’s Message? Such things have no bearing on the Third Angel’s Message only to confirm it. That message proclaims that the last days will be marked by abounding iniquity in State and Church. But when you discover, or some one points out to you, that Elder ——, who perhaps occupies a high position in the work, is taking a wrong course in some respect, how are you affected then? Do you ever query at such times whether this leading brother in the Church really believes what he professes? And with this does there ever come a doubt—only momentary it may be—whether the truth such a man professes is really true or not? Take care! This is the very thing you are warned against. “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” The inconsistent course of those we look up to and trust makes us have doubts; and when we begin to doubt, it is not long before our love of the truth has waxed cold. The only safeguard is to be sure that our faith rests not upon any man, but upon the Word alone. That is the sure foundation, and all that rests upon any other will be shaken down.