WHY SO MANY WILL BE LOST.
By W. N. G.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Here is a plain provision for the salvation of everybody. So far as the plan is concerned, not one is necessarily lost. The sacrifice was sufficient to atone for all. Though “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” yet the Son of God, heaven’s best possible gift, the Creator, the Lawgiver, “tasted death for every man.” Why, then, are not all saved?—Because of one condition in the plan,—the condemned ones must will to be saved. “Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” It is strange, indeed, that of an entire race of intelligent creatures doomed to death but a few, comparatively, will accept a full and free pardon, and a free gift of everlasting life. In each succeeding generation, from the first to the last, it has been and is the same. No wonder the inspired word inquires in anxious, pleading terms, “Why will ye die?” Men who are not unmoved by human appeals to the natural senses, who are not indifferent to ordinary promises of free gifts of even common value, seem utterly oblivious to the greatest possible promise of One whose good will is unbounded and whose ability to perform is illimitable. Why is it that this free offer of universal amnesty is not accepted?—There is but one reason,—men do not believe it. How much has been lost, even in this world, because men would not believe God. The antediluvian world lost everything because they did not believe the word of God spoken through his servant Noah. The people of Sodom and the cities of the plain lost everything because they would not believe the word of God spoken through Lot. The Egyptians lost all their firstborn, all their crops, and much of their other property, and finally their grand army, because they would not believe the word of God spoken through Moses and Aaron. And the Israelites who were delivered from Egypt were doomed to wander in the wilderness until all the adults of the delivered ones had died, after being permitted to see the promised land, because they did not believe the word of Him by whose power they had been delivered from bondage. “They could not enter in because of unbelief.” And these things “are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.” But why do not men believe the word of God? We have only space to notice one reason, but perhaps this one will cover all; and that is pride. Jesus very explicitly says, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” That means humility. A little child has nothing of its own. It is entirely dependent upon others, although it may be heir to a throne. Nothing in this world is so dependent as a little child. A young bird will take care of itself when but a few weeks old. The young animals, especially the wild ones, will hunt for themselves in a few months from their birth. But the little child must be entirely supported and nurtured by other hands for years. The natural man is too proud to admit that his life has been a failure; that he is incapable of taking care of himself; that he must give up his own way and acknowledge that of himself he can do nothing. The natural heart revolts at the thought of reverting to childhood again, beginning life anew, and remaining as a dependent child throughout life, be it long or short. The young man has worldly ambitions to which his whole energy is being devoted, and he is enjoying visions of future wealth and honor and pleasure in their possession. But the Lord says, “My son, give me thine heart.” “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” The young man’s ambition has been to get out of childhood, and be deemed a man; and it is a terrible cross to think of going back to childhood and deeming himself a child all through life. But the mature man has still a heavier cross. The lusts of the flesh have a still firmer hold upon him. Perhaps he has already attained wealth, or honorable position. Perhaps he is learned in the wisdom of this world; or perchance he is still only struggling in the pursuit of these things, and fancies he sees the goal just ahead. Shall he give up all that he has acquired? or shall he give up the chase of that alluring vision which he has been following so long, and which every day becomes more and more entrancing? Shall he admit that all his life he has been chasing a phantom, that all he has gained or hopes to gain is but vanity? Shall he turn in the face of fancied success, in the face of the jeering world, and say, I will become as a little child, and follow the meek and lowly Nazarene? But perhaps the man has only an ambition for the trivial pleasures of this life. He is a votary of society, of the popular games and popular indulgences. Can he brook the gibes of his companions in such pursuits, in case he should admit that such a life is only vanity, and turn to the humble, sober ways of the despised disciple of Christ? There is not an unconverted man or woman on the earth, whatever the station or condition, who is not in some way separated from the cross of Christ by the “pride of life.” And until there is a determination to break away from this pride, and become as a little child, the heart will resist all persuasion to believe the precious promises of God’s holy word, which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”