The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-17

E;$ worm Of the dust,
Z assiss@sssS to the grass of the
field and even whole nations are small
er than the dust Of the balance. His
life is span, vapor which disap-
pears, dream of the night or q tale
that is told. Consider mans sinfulness.
He has gone astray from righteous
ness, there is none that d0eth good
and he rebels at Gods restraint. His
sin is not merely disease that should
awaken sympathy for the afflicted. 1t
Is that but 1t is more. Sin is crime
and the sinner is as criminal before
the bar of eternal Justice, convicted
of wanton crime and condemned by
his own conscience. And sin Is rebel
lion making the sinner to be not mere
ly diseased and involved as criminal,
but rebel and enemy of God and his
government. Well may the heavens
be astonished as they behold the In
tense longing love of God for such
man, SO small and Insignificant yet SO
sinful and rebellious.
The Gift of God for Man.
This text might well be used again
when we consider this. 1t would be
enough that God should search for
man as he did for Adam. Enough that
he should be so interested in the sim
ner's welfare as to give such signs as
he has In the flood, etc. A surprising
thing that he should trouble himself
to choose men who would teach the
race the ways of truth and upright
ness, such as Moses, Abraham and
others. A wonder it is that he should
send his seers and prophets to call
men back from the way of misery and
death. But, what cause for amaze
ment that he should so love the world
as to give his only bagotten SON. ia
suffer and die that men might be saved
from sin and its consequences. Well
may 1t be said, "Be astonished, 0 We
heavens, at this"
The Patience of God With Man.
We must repeat this text when we
think of his patience. 1t would be no
surprising thing had God cut man off
completely as cumberer Of the
ground. But through the centuries he
continues to invite the sinner to the
bounteous supper Of salvation. He has
continued to plead with man to be
reconciled to himself. In spite Of re-
| bluffs and insults he has implored men
| to leave the broad path that surely
leads to eternal death and take the
path that goes on to eternal life and
glory. In spite Of mans turning deaf
ears to him he continues to warn him
Of his awful danger, trying in every
way to guard him from destruction I'M
til it can be said that if the reader OF
this ever finds himself in perdition he
will find himself so not because OF
God, but in spite of all that God could
do to keep him out. And Gods pa.
tience with man never wearies or
wavers. AS it was In the days of Noah
so it is now. God strives with man by
his spirit to the very limit Of life. II
any should read this whose life has
been continuous rejection of Gods
goodness and offer of salvation, lei
that one know that In spite of every
thing that has gone, Gods patience Is
not run out or wearied. "Be aston
ished, o We heavens, at this"
The Rejection of God by Man.
This is the browning cause for won
der. Is not God good? Then why re
ject him? Is he not true? Then why
reject him? Is he not just, or tender
or gentle, or trustworthy? What fault
has the unsaved reader to fiEd In OF
with God of the Bible? There is M
fault in him. His friends and enemie:
bear witness to this. He Is the Twins
and true God. All others are dead ant
therefore useless Gods. Some want re
liglon, some want power, some wan
culture and so on, but true religion
omnipotent power, real culture, etc.
are found only In the true, and tn,
true God is found only in Christ Jesrl!
the Lord. But though SO freely Offered
man continues to reject him. '.Be as
tonished, o We heavens, at this"
A man who falls overheard ant
then resists the one who would rescue
him and refuses the safety offered goe
to his death a suicide. So the maj
who resists the Lord and refuses hi
| proffered salvation goes to his eterna
doom a soul suicide. "Be astonished
o We heavens, at this"
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