THE RESULT OF INGRATITUDE.
By G.
HUMAN nature is naturally ungrateful. One of the characteristics of the last days is unthankfulness. 2 Tim. 3:2. The reason of this is that there is more of the Satanic spirit in men than in any former age. In the last times sinners resist and reject greater light than in any former time. The coming of Christ is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:9-12. Satan did not appreciate his exalted position in heaven. He became ambitious and jealous, and desired to be “above the Most High.” When he prevailed upon the head of the human race to disobey God, as he himself had, man became imbued with his ungrateful nature. This spirit reaches its climax in the individual heart with the final rejection of the Holy Spirit. Matt. 12:31, 32. God has mercifully offered pardon to all who will repent and turn back to Him; but, in the main, men have ungratefully spurned the proffered boon of eternal life, and the One who gave His own innocent life that sinners might be saved. With succeeding ages God has given an ever-increasing light on the way of truth, but, notwithstanding this fact, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13. Then because they persistently reject His overtures of mercy, and refuse to be persuaded, God eventually withdraws His protecting Spirit and leaves them to their choice and its consequences. Men take “pleasure in unrighteousness,” and at last the pleading Mediator and His striving Spirit step out of the way and let the erring ones have unrighteousness to the full, and all that follows in its train. They choose to follow “all deceivableness of unrighteousness” until God gives them up to their hardness of heart, and lets them have the “delusions” they love so well. His Spirit strives to persuade and induce men to accept truth, but when persuasion fails utterly, there is no compulsion to abstain from unrighteousness. God’s sending “strong delusion” consists in His allowing it to come because it is sought after and preferred to His truth and love. In the end, the punishment of the wicked will be simply the logical result of their unbelief of God’s Word and their ingratitude for His merciful kindness. “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.” “O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps. 107:8. G.