Lay the Ax at the Root of the Tree.
By H. A. St. John
“And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matt. 3:10. THERE stands a stately tree. The owner sends his servant with an ax to lay at the root of that tree. The obedient servant leaves the ax in the place indicated in his master’s command, and goes away. Now if that tree were a conscious, intelligent being, what would it think? With trembling I imagine I hear it soliloquizing thus: “Now that ax is the tool with which trees are cut down, and cut to pieces. I surmise and greatly fear that it means that I am soon to be cut down. A little time of reflection is given me. O, what can I do to avert the awful calamity? I have been growing here for many years, and now am a large tree with wide-spreading branches. I do so much enjoy this flourishing life.” In this scripture statement, trees evidently mean people; the root of the trees, the hearts and consciences of the people; the ax, the Gospel of Christ that John preached and that all true Christians preach. John, the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, was a man sent from God with a sharp and shining ax, or Gospel message, to lay at the understanding and hearts of the people. Thus he prepared the way of the Lord and made His paths straight. He did his work faithfully and grandly. He laid the ax at the root of the trees and left it there to do its work. Many were made glad, others sad, and still others mad. But every person who reflected upon that message, received it, and obeyed it by bringing forth fruit meet for repentance, was saved from being cut down. Wo to all who heeded it not. But the reader will observe that it was not John’s business to cut the trees down. Altho he was sent from God, and the ax was from God, he was only authorized to lay the ax at the root of the trees. The work of using the ax to cut the trees down, the Lord has not delegated to man. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” It is not the work or duty of the servants of God in any age, to cut the trees down. Their duty ends with giving the Gospel message in all its clearness, brightness, and sharpness to every creature, and then leave them in the hands of God. They may not even decide that they should be cut down. Like Jesus they judge them not in this life. Many dignitaries of the church in the past, bearing the name of Christians, have assumed the prerogatives of God, and have presumed to hew down those whom they judged to be unworthy or unfaithful. And what sad work they have made! Millions of faithful trees have thus been cut down by those who did not like their fruits. These wicked and disobedient servants have stained their garments with the blood of martyrs, and they will have a fearful account to meet in the day of God. God’s remnant church in this day is sent from God to do a work similar to that of John the Baptist. John laid the ax—the first advent message—at the root of the trees when Jesus was about to come in mortal5guise; now it is the announcement of the coming of Jesus in immortal glory. The Gospel of the kingdom is now to be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Then the work of the servants of God is finished. Then the end will come. They are to have no part in the work of hewing down any who are disobedient. Jesus will then appear in all His glory together with all the holy angels, and all who then know not God and obey not the Gospel will be hewn down by the brightness of His coming, and cast into the fire. Reader, take the Gospel message for this generation into your heart and life, and then in that decisive day, you will hear the “Well done,” and enter into the joys of your Lord. H. A. ST. JOHN.