THE KING’S BUSINESS
468
LESSON XIII.—September 27, 1914 Golden Text,—Revelation 3:11 REVIEW “I come quickly; hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." The teaching of the series of lessons we have been considering mainly consists in our Lord’s testimony regarding the estab lishing of His kingdom ,on the earth, and the practical duties of His servants during this waiting and watching period. He em phasized His own rejection by the Jews; because His entry into the world was by no means in accord with their views, while His subsequent teaching and conduct were still more at variance with all that they had conceived of Him. They seemed to have been devoid of all God-consciousness, and were troubled by the penalty o f sin rather than by its guilt, and only longed for a Messiah who 'would break in pieces the Roman yoke, and restore to them their old-time freedom and power. It has been so with the race in all ages, generally speak ing, for when God foretells, men, if they be not altogether indifferent to the prophetic utterance, lay hold only o j what pleases them, and make use of it to form an ideal promise, for the realization of which they wait in vain. This characterizes the so cialistic theories of the present time, for much “kingdom truth” is interwoven with their principles; but being blind, as were the religious leaders in Christ’s time, to the fact that righteousness could only prevail on earth under the reign and domination of the King of kings, enforcing righteous ness, justice, and peace, because of the power of God inherent in Him, they imag ine that the principles they advocate will prevail independent of the visible presence of the Christ of G od; in other words, that fallen man will be abundantly able to bring about the ideal state of which they vainly dream. All forms of government have fail ed in the past, and there will be no per manency in human government until God’s MAN comes to reign, who will “ establish righteousness in the earth by judgments," as the Scriptures plainlv V~V?.re.
have suffered fearful persecution under antichrist’s reign during the tribulation pe riod, these shall “go away into everlasting punishment” (v. 46) ; but the nations that have treated them humanely shall enter into life eternal (v. 46). The third chapter of Joel, the fourteenth chapter of Zechariah, are in perfect accord with this truth touch ing the “j udgment of the living nations.” But this lesson has likewise a personal and individual application. An apostate Church has largely lost sight of this truth. Hence “ the cup of cold water,” the satis fying of the hungry with bread, is a min istry that is fearfully neglected on the part of multitudes who have “ a name to live, and yet are dead.” No wonder there is unrest among the masses of the poor in these days, and that socialism, and anarch ism prevail to an alarming extent. Why marvel at the widening of the gulf between the selfish rich and the poor? Is it not true that much of our Christianity is an arrangement for our individual selfish se curity and gratification in everything that has to do with it? Are not huge sums of money lavished upon luxuries and ele gancies, “ which make,” as one has truthfully said, “the house of God the rich man’s club, where a poor brother is an intruder? If we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren, can we dare to. make the very worship of our Crucified Redeemer that which ministers to our luxurious selfish ness? And will any. one show us any where in the New Testament where there is a command to give to.the Church? On the contrary, the -Church is commanded again and again to care for th e poor . This is made the very test and positive proof of our profession of religion.” Well may we exclaim that the great need today in our midst is the plain, Spirit-in spired Apostle James, with his burning testimony, as recorded in his epistle: James 2:1-6; 2:14-20; 1:26, 27. Be sure and look it up. “ What doth it profit my brethren if a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”* - James 2:14.
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