Heaven's Love Letter to Lost Man
By C. B. Stephenson
"O THAT there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!" Deut. 5: 29. In the light of this and other scriptures, it is clear that God in love and mercy commands His people for their good. It is not to exercise His authority, nor is He more exalted by the compliance of the people with His statutes. He loves us with an everlasting love, and therefore gives good laws, to save us from ruin. The prophet Ezekiel makes the following merciful exhortation: "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Sometimes the commandment of the Lord cuts directly across our pathway, requiring us to give up many things which we value very highly. Sometimes, in order to keep all the commandments, we must give up a lucrative position and a promising future; but the Lord sees that the only thing we can do and be saved is to turn about and obey His word. He knows that though we may prosper in this life for a brief period, the time will come when all of our earthly accumulations will be swept from us, and we with them be lost. He therefore calls upon us to keep His law for our good forever. If you should see a man taking a course that would result in his destruction, you would certainly warn him of his danger. You would do it because you loved him and desired to do him a favor. If you should see a blind man nearing a precipice, you would hasten to warn him of his immediate danger. You would do thus because you love and pity him. So the Lord is not willing that any should perish. He says, "Thou shalt not," or, "Thou shalt," to prevent us from committing a sin and bringing upon ourselves condemnation. The psalmist says, "Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." Ps. 19: 11. I was nearing a railroad crossing recently; and just before reaching the track, I heard the whistle of a fast approaching train. The engineer sounded his whistle as a warning to passers-by not to attempt to cross the road. It would be very dangerous to do so. He gave the warning with an earnest desire to prevent injury to any one. Likewise God, in His blessed law, warns us of the danger of transgression. He says that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6: 23), and that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3: 4). God is love, and He has loved us "with an everlasting love," and is "not willing that any should perish." The Bible is Heaven's love letter to lost man. Its counsel is for the salvation of the lost, given in mercy by Him who "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. David spoke of the great reward. The apostle John wrote of it in the following words: "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." The reward is eternal life; and God points out, in His law and gospel, how we may obtain this precious boon. If our occupation leads us to violate these conditions, we should gladly give it up, and arrange our work in harmony with His will. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8: 36. C. B. STEPHENSON.