The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-12
A SATURDAY SERMON.

But If the wicked turn from his wicked
ness, and do that which is lawful and
right. he shall live thereby. Ezekiel
| XXXIII 10.
This is the word of God as related by
the famous Jewish prophet, Ezekiel
| whose writings are among the most in
teresting of those contained in the Old
Testament. They are particularly ricu
in striking lessons touching conduct
and spiritual experiences; and re-
peated attention is directed by them to
the fact that the chance for reforma-
ton with it's unusual rewards is at the
disposal of every person who has be-
| come obsessed with wicked ways, either
OF smaller or greater intensity.
And surely there can be no more sat
isfying promise to an erring humanity.
The people who go through life without
committing a wrong of some kind or
doing some sort of an evil deed and SC
few and far between that they have not
been discovered as yet. Among the
great majority, though, and regardless
of the insistence of the pessimists to
the contrary, the sins committed are of
the lesser caliber. The people of the
world, as a whole, are far from beng
bad and wicked at heart. Most of them
have the disposition to do what is right
despite the multitude of temptations
to do wrong. The occasional wrongs
which people do worry them quite as
much as they do the persons against
whom they are directed. And the great
bulk of them are of an exceedingly pet
ty character.
He would be anything but 1usz
Judge who would condemn such Of
tenders for all time because of their
slips from grace. provided. however,
that their wrong doing does not be-
come chronic and that they are of
mind to DIT better. If their repentance
is sincere and their restitution is ade-
uuate, their sins are forgotten and their
lease on life, even unto eternity, is re-
rewed. There is nothing unusual about
this 1t is only a reasonable solution
of such a problem.
What holds true of the smaller sins
and wrongs is just as true of the larger
ones. Some people seem tC think that
the commission of an especially wicked |
act places them beyond forgiveness and |
redemption; that there is nothing for
them to gain by rnaking amends, and
to be good. The result is that
they fall deeper and deeper into the
of sin and crime. But thew
are misguided. The opportunity foc
them to shake off the shackles of dis
grace and dishonor is just as large and
as certain as it is for those who have
INDUCED in the most trivial of offenses.
Of course, the efforts that they must
expend to regain the good favor of men
and their Maker will necessarily have
. be greater; the road to their re-
Ia Utilization will be longer, and the
restitution that they must make Will
nave to be complete. But this end is
lenied to no man, no matter how low
lie has sunk, nor how grave have been
liz misdeeds.
AS Ezekiel just before he set down
he words, quoted above; IF the wicked
estore the pledge, give again that he
lad robbed, walk in the statutes of life,
Without committing iniquity; he shall
ureIy live he shall not die OF a truth,
his is a glorious precept and promise
or every one. 1t is the silver lining to
he clouds that occasionally hang heavy I
yer the life of every man.