Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-30
Personal Responsibility.

| At the end of the seven days the word
OF the Lord came to him. SAYING: Son
of man, I have made thee a Waterman
unto the house OF Israel: therefore hear
the word at my mouth. and give them
warning from me-" Two duties pre-
scented themselves to Ezekiel He was
not only to see the danger as watch
man. but he was held responsible for
warning the people. The prophets per-
sonal responsibility was pointed out to
him by the words When I say unto the
wicked thou shalt surely die: and thou
gavest him not warning. nor speakest To
warn the wicked from his wicked way, TO
save his life: the same wicked man shall
die in his iniquity: but his blood will I
require at thy hand: yet IL thou warn
| the wicked and he turn not from his
wickedness. nor from his wicked way.
| he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast
delivered thy soul" Ezekiel was not
| held responsible for results but if he did
not seek to save. then he could say. woe
is mine if preach not. No one has given
us q stronger statement Of personal re-
sponsibility. God had revealed the COM
| ing storm. and if he did not put up tine
storm signal of warning he should be
held responsible for the fall OF the. ma
ton. If we, by our life, furnish temr-
| tation for others to sin. We will suffer
Love for our brother demands service. 1t
! is written in our heart that no man
liyeth unto himself. Our lives are inter-
dependent. one to another No man sins
without drawing some one else down with
! him. No man conquers without bring
| ing some other man up with him. The
message OF Ezekiel OF personal RESPONSE
bility is the one needed to be spoken
| among all nations today. There is not
problem that is veXing man that Will
not be solved by the law of love of God
and our brother. Love for the brother
fills US with the realization of our re-
sponsibiity.
How long would the saloon door be kept
open il the proprietor realized his respon-
sibility for the temptation that he MAY
place before his brother? How long
would children cry for bread and the
wall Of the widow be heard. and the suf
!, fering from peril in industrial pursuits
continue. if all men realized their respon
sibility in life was not the securing
money, but 1.-THE development of man
hood? How long would IL be before the
gospel OF Jesus Christ was preached To
every creature; the church fulfill its mis-
sion, at home and abroad. and Gods will
done on earth. as il is In heaven, if every
disciple OF Christ realized his personal
responsibility? Then all men will come
TO listen to the word that cometh from
Gods mouth and heed the warnings sent
from the Almighty.
God may come to YOU as He did to
Ezekiel and give you a difficult task to
perform. If SO. II is a commentator of
your character. for the more difficult the
task assigned you the greater is Gods
estimate OF your ability and character. IL
NAV be at the beginning bitter but by
and by as you understand His will IL Will
become sweet. The sorrow OF the proph-
cts life was changed to joy by his vision
of the Lord. that called him TO declare
the gospel to his nation II we are true
to our vision and obey the word OF the
Lord. God will give us a victorious life.
Ezekfefs message was rejected by his
age but his words brought Israel TO know
God was not limited to the temple. and
10 q
world of the responsibility of every soul
to God for his life. The stone that the
builders rejected became the head Of the
corner.