The Grand, Divine, Eternal Judgment.
By H. S. Prener
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Rom. 1:20. The solemn investigative judgment is now going on. The Scripture of truth emphasizes that the close of this court calendar seals us for "weal or wo." The foregoing Bible text sanctions our reasoning from the known to the unknown. Is there a finite judgment among men that can compare favorably with the infinite, eternal judgment? The remarkable business system of the Mercantile Agency with two hundred offices in every part of the world, and their extraordinary ability to keep an accurate record of 1,500,000 business houses should stamp itself upon our minds as the best example of twentieth century business management; and a survey of the machinery of this worldwide institution may give us an inkling of God's system and organization in heaven and may lead us to credit God with the ability to keep an accurate record of the thoughts, words, and deeds of individuals on the earth. This corporation is organized to systematize the gathering of credit information. "Modern commerce is based upon credit to an extent scarcely realized by those who have not given the subject special attention. Thousands of record books fill the shelves of this agency, but one book which is certain to interest us is known as the Reference Book, and may be likened to God's book of life. It contains 2,234 pages, averages 700 names to a page, and contains more than 1,500,000 in all. Hundreds of thousands of names are inserted each year; hundreds of thousands are obliterated. An average of 3,144 changes are made each business day. "This vast amount of labor relates solely to items reported by the various offices involving changes in the Reference Book. Weekly newspapers publish the reports sent to them each week by all the branch offices showing the failures by weeks, months, and for each quarter. The monthly, quarterly, and annual statistics based upon these returns are very elaborate, embracing altogether thirty distinct classifications." If a set of weak, mortal beings can build up a commercial enterprise to cover the earth and record the doings of the business houses, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and shipping interests the world over, why not believe what the "Scripture saith" respecting the "Judgment," the organization of heaven, and the clerical ability of the angelic host. The message of Rev. 14:6, 7, "The hour of His judgment is come," has been heralded to the world. The "Ancient of Days" is Judge; judgment sits; books are opened (Dan. 7:10). The angels report and witness to the cases on the docket (Eccl. 5:6; 10:20; Dan. 7:10; Matt. 18:10). Christ our Advocate is present (Dan. 7:13), pleading and confessing before the open court (Luke 12:8; Rev. 3:5). The great "book of life," containing the names of all overcomers, will be open for inspection and careful scrutiny (Rev. 20:12). The merciful Judge will take into account the birth, surroundings and training of each individual brought to the judgment bar (Ps. 87:4-6). Our prayers, our alms, our sins of omission and commission are on record (Acts 10:4). The following details are on file: Given name, surname, whether we are permanent or transient, with whom we reside, and address (Acts 10:5, 6). Profession without the doing is an abomination unto the Lord. Some business houses hire good office furnishings, install a number of typewriters, make profuse promises under their prettily embossed letter-heads and glaring headlines in trade journals and newspaper "ads," while the records on the books of the Mercantile Agency read, "Not known; questionable." Corporations may fool the Mercantile Agency some of the time; some firms may fool it all the time, but God is not fooled any of the time (Gal. 6:7). It is the same with our lives as individuals; "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). An individual's profession without possession will be marked in heaven. Following the name, "not known" will be inscribed (Matt. 7:21-23). The grand, divine, eternal judgment—it is marvelous in our eyes. "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it." Ps. 139:6. To think! God knew us and had us on record before birth (Ps. 139:16). "O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Rom. 11:33. H. S. PRENER.