THE FEARFUL by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 43.

"THE FEARFUL."

By R. F. Cottrell

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Rev. 21: 8.

WHY should the fearful be condemned with the wicked?—Because they are so nearly allied to the unbelieving and the abominable, etc. The fearful, here, are not those who fear to offend God, but those that fear to trust his word, and therefore will stand for years undecided upon a point which is as clearly revealed in the Bible as words can reveal it. Fear to trust the word of God is unbelief; then follow the sins which characterize unbelievers.

The fearful not only fear to trust the word of the Lord, but they fear to offend their fellow-men more than they fear to offend God. Do not marvel, then, that they are condemned. They want a reputable standing among those whom they know to be in error. They seek the praise of men more than the praise of God. I have known some who have been convicted, and have been investigating and inquiring, and halting between two opinions on the Sabbath question, for from five to ten years, unable to decide on so simple and so clearly revealed a subject. Did I say unable to decide? In their practice they did decide to keep the popular day, and maintain their standing with those who break God's law and teach men so, with the probability of remaining so till too late to repent.

Again, there are others who keep the Lord's Sabbath, and have seen for many years the increasing evidences that the predicted message of the third angel (Rev. 14: 9-12) is now being given, and yet are undecided, and do not give God the due credit for fulfilling his word of promise. Some will decide this question with less time to make the decision, before the message closes. And the faith of such will condemn the unbelief of those who have remained undecided for years; they will obtain the crown, while the fearful lose it.

The undecided are fit for no service. Their time is running to waste. They are always in the battle and never getting the victory. At the end of each struggle they are weaker than before, while the foe grows stronger through their cowardice. Whereas, if they

would settle the question of faith and duty between themselves and Him who justly demands their reverence, and then make a bold and decisive charge, the victory would be theirs.

O ye undecided! no longer charge God with a lack of evidence, nor consume more of your precious time in hazardous delay! Time is swiftly passing, and God is now requiring your whole heart in his service. He is not pleased with your fearfulness and indecision. Years have been wasted, and still those lions are in the way. You are no nearer a decision, perhaps not so near, as when you had had a reasonable time in which to decide. God can do no more for you than he has done, until you take a decided stand in his service. Those dear friends who hold you back, and for whom you wait, might be saved by a bold and resolute discharge of duty on your part. But if they will not go with you, why tarry in the plain to be consumed? If you do your duty, you may be censured by them, but, in that case, their blood will not be found upon your garments. What folly, to make the present life miserable, half believing, half doubting, half decided and yet undecided, and after all have a portion with the fearful and unbelieving! Questions of truth and duty can be decided by the word of God; why halt then between two opinions?

R. F. COTTRELL.