Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-01
Principle. Purpose. Power.

Sin threatens to ruin mon. God could
not allow evil Ia Illustrate his plans 10
develop a righteous race. He sought 10
eradicate evil 50 that He might have a
perfect world. Justice demanded that sin
ners be punished for their disobedience.
Gods hatred of sin mas always been
united with loNe for the sinner His love
for fallen men Was seen in His grief at
their condition. which was 50 great tina
His heart WAS fun of grief that He mad
made man..
We must not allow this figursltive eX-
preston 10 lower our concep tion of God
10 III" realm Of human laundering or
cinptY them OF their revelation of God :
great sorrow OYER the way that the
spread of sin had wrecked mans oppor-
tunity for spiritual development
Man had failed in the first stages of
history God. morally angry, asserted
Ills righteousness. Summoning sinners TO
coming judgment and Offering a way
of escape Icy the preaching of Noah. who
prepared an ark aftcr the directions OF
jehovah. The vessel was about the size
of several modern ocean liners and bat
tleships. with three stories. II was 400
feet long. 40 feet wide and T., feet deep.
While it was not the purpose in the con-
struction of the ark to build il for any
thing except to store safely its posses
"ions 10y floating upon the waters during
the deluSc. tho cNperint Dts conducted al!
a smaller scale. bat in the same Iropor-
tionS over 30 years ago bY the Dufci
merchant. Peter Jansen. mo built. amid
much ridicule. Il boat on the same style
as the ark. proved such a type OF
vessel 10 possess grt at carrying capacity
stability. seaworthiness and naviSability
The scOHers who laughed at Noah and
refused TO listen to mis- message OF mercy
We're DESTROYED in the deluge. when ''aIl
the fountains of the great deep We're
broken up. and the windows Of heaven
were opened. and the rain Was upon the
earth forty days and forty nights" Still
tn" torrents came ana TIE great cata-
racts, - that men knew not the dry land
from the sea. and the waters prevailed
exceedingly upon the Garth" until the
last human being outside of the ark Was
destroyed. The whole sinful rae. WAS
wiped out. ana God saved Noah. with his
family. To start humanity anew
\ divinelN ordered catastrophe brought
about a survival of the iittcst 10 form Il
new center of human development. God
plans 10 secure "A perfect world through
the cooperation with those who will per-
form with loyalty his commands. God
could have created Il race. that could not
have failed. Ii He had done so the power
of free Will could not have been confer
red upon men. Jehovah gave that splen-
did endowment 10 men in full view % the
possible danger. Through The possession
of that power comes our ability To Wol-
ship and serve God, AMI OCT Of service
and worship come the progress IN all
purity and noibiencsS OF life. The tribute.
OF a human soul 10 God surpasses in the
manifestation OF the glory OF God all the
wonders OF the heavens.
The Hood was a Judgment. The record
OF it is written for our admon:tion upon
whom the ends of the world are come -
God is provoked daily. When sin reaches
a certain point. it demands the interposi-
ton of the Almighty, who is long-suf-
ferng, full Of mercy. but lie is not mock
ed: if We VIII not accept him as Father,
We must know Him as Judge in the
courts of eternity. The choice il put be-
fore us i'm the golden teNt-"the wages OF
sin is d. ath. but the free gift of God is
eternal if. IN Christ Jesus. our Lord.
The gilt of AGA bldins dwelling deep
life in Christ * unlimited. for the gift is
offered To WhomSocycr viii receive Him.
together with TIN power to become the
sons of Cod Christ Is our AL OF safety.
II We do not turn To Him and secure lii"
We viii receive the WAGES of sin, which is
death.