NEGLECTING DUTY FOR FEAR OF MEN.
By E. Hilliard
It is a sad thing that any one should fear and serve men instead of fearing and obeying God. A much larger per cent of the world’s population are abject slaves to the opinions of those whom the world esteems great men than most are aware of. In religious matters their conclusions and theories are accepted, instead of the mind of God, as revealed in his holy word. This is sometimes the case even when the parties are convinced of the truth, and know their duty; but for fear of incurring public displeasure it is too often the case that duty is evaded. The parents of the man who was born blind, and whom the Saviour restored to sight, did not dare tell the Jewish rabbis by what means their son had been made to see. The Jews had agreed “that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.” John 9:19–23. Rather than displease their religious leaders, and be turned out of the church, they refused to acknowledge Christ and his power to heal. Think of it! rejected him on whom their eternal life was dependent because of the fear of men! Whether they continued in this slavery during their lives or not, the record does not inform us. If they did, in the judgment the parents and the Jewish rabbis will be called forth to be rewarded according to their works. Then let the parents appeal for help to those who made the agreement, “that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” It would be the helpless appealing to the helpless for help. It would have been much better for the parents to have been turned out of the synagogue than to be turned out of heaven. No one can imagine the sorrow of heart that will be realized by those who see pearly gates on golden hinges swing to against them. Multitudes of people will be in this condition who now see the claims of God’s holy law upon them, but because popular opinion is against observing it as it reads, they choose to remain in transgression of the heavenly mandates. O foolish choice! O sad fate! Why, O, why, choose it, dear reader, with such fearful consequences! How much better to seek the Saviour, be pardoned of sin (the transgression of the law, 1 John 3:4), and be clothed in his righteousness. All such will pass the test when judged by the law. Rom. 2:12. All who are brought to true repentance, will look at themselves somewhat as the penitent thief did upon the cross. They will care but little for the opinion of men. The cravings for pardon, and relief from self-condemnation, will outweigh all of the censure of sinful men. The thief was regarded by the people as a base man; and he himself looked upon their judgment in thus regarding and punishing him as just. He said to his fellow thief, “We receive the due reward of our deeds.” With the condemnation of stealing, the censure of the multitude upon him, and in the agonies of death, he triumphantly rose above all, and prayed, “Lord, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.” He knew that the surging crowd beneath his cross would soon forget him. His faith reached beyond the vale of time. It took in the resurrection and the second coming, in his kingdom, of him who was dying at his side. He recognized life eternal in the dying Life-giver. O what faith! We have scarcely heard of its equal. It was a glimpse, by faith, of the great eternal future, that caused him to rise above the opinion of the people, and amid agony of body and distress of soul to pray to one who was to be laid in the grave the same day. Jesus’ reply, “Verily I say unto thee to-day, shalt thou be with me in Paradise,” calmed his troubled heart, and he died with his Saviour, an innocent man. He was condemned by men, but approved of God. In the day of God it may seem strange to those who proved him to be a thief, and executed him accordingly, to see him enter heaven, and take his place by the side of him with whom he died on earth, while they are excluded, altho they were never guilty of the overt act of theft. O, how different things will appear in the day when the world is brought before God in judgment! The popular erroneous opinions of the people of each generation will be shown in their true light. Will not those who are stealing God’s sacred day of rest, the seventh day of the fourth commandment, and appropriating it to secular purposes, manifest moral courage equal to the thief on the cross? Will not such confess their guilt, no matter if the masses of mankind condemn them, and be remembered when Christ comes in his kingdom?