SOME WHOSOEVERS by Geo. B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 13, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 15.

SOME WHOSOEVERS.

By Geo. B. Thompson

BY ELDER GEO. B. THOMPSON.

"WHOSOEVER" is a universal term, including anybody and everybody, of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. There are no exceptions, discriminations, or qualifications. It is all of Adam's posterity, the rich and poor, the high and low, barbarian or civilized, bond or free. With these thoughts in mind, let us note a few places in the Bible where the word occurs.

1. "And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17. Do you thirst for the water of life? If so, drink freely. You can if you will, for "whosoever will" may drink if they will only take it. It is given without money and without price. The divine hand holds out to thirsty man the soul-restoring cup. It is the proffered gift of God to man, and he who drinks shall never thirst again. John 4:14.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, Behold I freely give The living water; thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live. I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in him.

2. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:19. Are there any who have been breaking one of the precepts of the Decalogue, and are teaching men that such a course is right? Have any been propagating the Antinomian heresy, and teaching men that they are no longer amenable to the law of God, which Jesus came to fulfill, and which will not pass away while heaven and earth remain? Are there any who have been thus opening the floodgates of sin by bidding mankind transgress with impunity? If so, read your doom in Matt. 5:19. The "whosoever" there includes you, and the decree is inexorable unless you repent. Turn, and escape for thy life.

But happy are those who "do and teach them." Great is the reward of those who keep these holy precepts, and teach others the sin of violating them. Reader, have you been doing this? Have you been exalting the law of God? If so, rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven. It is the delight of the angels to do the commandments of God. Ps. 103:20.

3. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. "One point" of this "whole law" is the fourth commandment, which enjoins the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath. Ex. 20:8-11. To violate this precept by devoting the day to secular pursuits is to be a law breaker. Do you reply that this precept has been changed, or abolished? How do you know? Where has God so declared? Echo asks, Where? There is no such record. "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17. The text says "whosoever," which includes you. Its scope encircles all men in all time and in all places. It is just as broad as the "whosoever" of Rev. 22:17, which is all men, Jew and Gentile, till time shall end.

The Sabbath is Jehovah's memorial of creation and will never be abolished (Ps. 135:13), and those who keep it will ride at last on the high places of the earth made new, and feed on the heritage of Jacob (Isa. 58:12-14). "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:12.

Springfield, Ill.