The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-22

| But IL the wicked turn from his wicked
ness, and do that which is lawful ana
right. he shall live thereby. Ezekiel
XXXIII IS.
This is the word Of God as related
by the famous Jewish prophet, Eze-
kiel, whose writings are among the
most interesting of those contained in
the Old Testament. They are par
ticularly rich in striking lessons
touching conduct and spiritual ex-
periences; and repeated attention is
directed by them to the fact that the
chance of reformation with its un-
usual rewards is at the disposal of
every person who has become OBJ
sessed with wicked ways, either of
smaller or greater intensity.
And surely there can be no more
satisfying promise to an erring hu-
mainly. The people who go through
life without committing a wrong of
some kind or doing some sort of an
evil deed are so few and far between
that they have not been discovered as
yet Among the great majority,
though. and regardless of the insist
tence of the pessimists TO the con-
trary, the sins which folk commit are
of the lesser caliber. The people of
the world, as a whole are far from
being bad and wicked at heart. Most
of them have the disposition to do
what is right despite the greatness OF
the temptations to do wrong and In
dulge in the fleeting pleasure that 1t
is possible to acquire through the
qualification of the various passions.
The occasional wrongs which people
do worry them quite as much as
they do the persons against whom
they are directed. And most Of them
are of an extremely petty character.
He would be anything but just
judge who would condemn them for
all time because of their slips from
grace, provided, however, that their
wrong-doing does not become chronic
and they are of a mind to do better.
If their repentance is sincere and
their restitution is adequate, their
sins are forgotten and their lease on
life, even unto eternity. is renewed.
There Is nothing unusual about this
It is only a reasonable solution Of
such a dilemma.
What holds true of the smaller
sins and wrongs is just as true OF
the larger ones. Some people seem
to think that the commission of an
especially wicked act places them be-
yond forgiveness and redemption;
that there is nothing for them to
gain by making amends. and striving
to be good. The result is that they
fall deeper and deeper into the quag-
mire of sin and crime. But they are
misguided. The opportunity for
them to shake off the shackles of dis
grace and dishonor is just as great
and certain as it is for those who have
INDUCED in but the most trivial of Of
fenses. OF course, the efforts that
lthey must expend to regain the good
flavor Of men and Maker will neces-
sarily have to be greater; the road
to their rehabilitation will be longer,
and the restitution they must make
will have to be complete. But this
end is denied to no man, no matter
how low he has sunk or how grave
have been his misdeeds.
AS Ezekiel wrote just before he set
down the words quoted above: II
the wicked restore the pledge, give
again that he had robbed. walk in the
statutes of life, without committing
iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall
not die" OF a truth. this is a glor-
ious precept and promise for every
one. 1t is the silver lining to the
clouds that occasionally hang heavy
over life.