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God or Idols?, January 26
Genesis 6:1-8
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.... They that
make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
Psalm 115:4-8
.
In the days of Noah a double curse was resting upon the earth in consequence
of Adam’s transgression and of the murder committed by Cain. Yet this had not
greatly changed the face of nature.... The human race yet retained much of its
early vigor. But a few generations had passed since Adam had access to the tree
which was to prolong life; and man’s existence was still measured by centuries.
Had that long-lived people with their rare powers to plan and execute, devoted
themselves to the service of God, they would have made their Creator’s name a
praise in the earth.... But they failed to do this....
Not desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny His
existence. They adored nature in place of the God of nature.... Extensive groves,
that retained their foliage throughout the year, were dedicated to the worship of
false gods.... Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of
their own imagination; and as the result, they became more and more debased
The men of that generation were not all, in the fullest acceptation of the
term, idolaters. Many professed to be worshipers of God. They claimed that
their idols were representations of the Deity and that through them the people
could obtain a clearer conception of the divine Being. This class were foremost
in rejecting the preaching of Noah. As they endeavored to represent God by
material objects, their minds were blinded to His majesty and power; they ceased
to realize the holiness of His character, or the sacred, unchanging nature of His
requirements
Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness.
If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by
faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking
lower and lower. The worshipers of false gods clothed their deities with human
attributes and passions, and thus their standard of character was degraded to the
likeness of sinful humanity
[33]
48
Patriarchs and Prophets, 90, 91
.
49
Ibid., 95, 96
.
50
Ibid., 91
.
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