Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-05-24

lSsA AS we study this
A history Of motive
to right action, we
find that sometimes it is gratitude,
sometimes love, sometimes duty, some
times prudence, sometimes recogni-
ton of mans sonship to God; but
here comes the motive of fear, and in
these days when mems hearts are fail
ing them for fear, it is motive that
should receive some consideration
without Impotence. Some of the mo-
tives referred to above, and which
seem to have made the motive Of fear
for long time almost obsolete, have
according to the judgment of many
gone into the discard. AS we find
certain theories as to mankind in its
closer brotherhood and assumed SON
ship to God being great decisions, we |
may ask whether, after all, the motive |
Of fear may yet have an occasion for
use.
In many American communities vice
today is rampant, unchecked, and such
communities are living in terror. Why?
because the vicious element have no
fear of being punished, the action of
the courts and juries in the past show
ing that there is little likelihood that
person, If he assumes proper atti-
tude during trial or appeals to the SYM
pathy of the public and the jury, will
have to suffer. 1t is simply matter
Of record that where there is this lack
Of fear vice flOurishes.
Should We Fear God7
, Let it be fully considered at once
that the fear of the Lord as presented
. in the Scriptures is not chiefly an
. emotion produced by threatened evils.
, but rather reverence of God and as a
motive 1t should operate along the
/, lines of respect for God because he is
holy and reverent. The fear of pain
connected with losing the favor or
j. friendship of God is in place, too, but
I the moment that is admitted there
e is admission of fear of another kind
I. fear as it is defined, IAN emotion ex.
cited by threatening evil or impending
pain, accompanied by desire to avoid
or escape it," There is place for this
kind of fear of God in connection with
y religious experience, and that motive
should have more recognition than in
the past. Why is this so?
First, because God is back Of every
law, the violation of which brings suf.
fering or pain. Law does not operate
automatically. No evil resulting from
violated law is blind thing; it is the
- result of infinite wisdom and intelli
= gent provision. God is behind every
| law.
! Secondly, there are the cleares
~ teachings in the Word of God tina
evil will be punished by God. From
the moment it was said: "In the da.
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surel,
die" to the present moment, sin ha
le been punished. It is specifically said
'The Lord shall reward the doer Q
:. evil according to his wickedness.
IL 'The face of the Lord is against ther
eu who do evil, to cut off the reman
brance Of them from the earth" Go
a says, 81 will punish the world for thei
evil and the wicked for their iniqu
ties" 81 myself will fight against the
with an outstretched hand, and with
~ strong arm, even in anger and in gres
~. -. wrath" Several of the parallels {
:! the New Testament teach the retri
70 utive wrath of God. 1t is God tt
- Judge who will say in the great jud
% ment day: depart from me ye TIN
' ns work in iniquity."
10 And, thirdly, the thought should
all carried to the hereafter. Men a
are facing the hereafter these days as n
,ur before. More people have died In t
not last three years than any three yea
preceding, possibly excepting SOL
periods in the history of the world
time of pestilence. Millions a
n slain on the battlefield, other millio
the die in war-stricken countries by stal
alton. and other hundreds of tho
ont sands suffer violent death. What
inc the future world as we contempls
the multitudes sweeping into 1t?
No Apology for "HeIl."
When Jesus was speaking to his
how ciples he did not make any apollo
had when he said 'hell." He meant
= of abode of the wicked IN the OH
world. The disciples were to fear
God who could cast both body and S
the into hell but they were not to Il
man, who could only kill the body.
twe The burning city Of destruction '
a good place to leave, and Bunya
pilgrim left it as rapidly as he COZ
We might ask, "Who in these d
for fears the pain and hopelessness
her help But the great fact is, hell
mains, and the Word of God is pl
as to those who will fall into it.