Blessings Made into Curses
No age in the world's history has been favored with more material blessing than the present one. Whichever way we turn the eye, we may see inventions and improvements calculated to bless mankind, and not only to make it easier for him to subsist, but also to heighten his enjoyment. The whole world has been brought into such a state that man can communicate quickly with his fellow man clear around the world. Medical science, by laying hold of sanitary laws, has robbed the world of much of the terrors that were produced in former generations by plagues and deadly maladies of various kinds. But in the midst of it all, we find that wicked man has turned all of these material blessings into destructive agencies to curse mankind. The high explosive which is such a great help in tunneling mountains, and in gathering the mineral wealth from the earth, is used in the most awful manner, by individuals as well as by nations, in slaughtering their fellow creatures, and spreading the destruction of property like a mighty conflagration. Electricity, which furnishes us light and heat and power in such a convenient form, is also one of the chiefest agencies in developing the effectiveness of the awful engines of war in modern times. Motive power, as expressed in the railway, the steamship, the trolley line, and the automobile, is not only one of the great conveniences, but also one of the great blessings, of the age. But never could there be such slaughter of men and destruction of property as is now manifested in Europe's reign of terror, were it not that these facilities, which should bless mankind, have been turned to the rapid moving of troops and munitions of war, so that men and their homes could be crushed beneath the heel of the terrifying war god. Men have been given to boasting over their great achievements. Our twentieth century “civilization” has been lauded to the skies. Men have proudly proclaimed that the achievements of the past century were only the beginnings of the new era of human success. But all at once, our great boastings are dashed to the ground; for we see every one of the things that were designed to bless mankind, used for his destruction. God has told us all along, and He continues to tell us, through His word, that it is vain to trust in the mere achievements of men. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Jehovah his God; who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is; who keepeth truth forever; who executeth justice for the oppressed; who giveth food to the hungry.” Ps. 146: 3-7, A. R. V.