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370
The Beginning of the End
but when their true character is finally exposed, the faith of the
people receives a shock that often results in distrusting anyone who
professes to teach the Word of God. The message of the true servant
of Christ is received with doubt, and the question constantly comes
up, “Won’t this man turn out to be like the one we thought so holy,
and found so corrupt?”
Eli’s reproof to his sons contains these solemn and fearful words:
“If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a
man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?” (KJV). If their
crimes had injured only other people, the judge might have made
reconciliation by setting a penalty and requiring repayment; and
so the offenders might have been pardoned. But their sins were so
interwoven with their ministry as priests of the Most High, the work
of God was treated so disrespectfully and dishonored in front of the
people, that no atonement could be accepted for them. Their own
father, though himself a high priest, dared not make intercession in
their behalf; he could not shield them from the wrath of a holy God.
Of all sinners, the ones who are most guilty are those who throw
disrespect on the way that Heaven has provided for our redemption,
who “crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put him to
an open shame.”
Hebrews 6:6
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