176
Christ’s Object Lessons
cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”
John 6:37
. These souls the
Lord can use as workers in His vineyard.
The son who for a time refused obedience to his father’s command
was not condemned by Christ; and neither was he commended. The
class who act the part of the first son in refusing obedience deserve no
[281]
credit for holding this position. Their frankness is not to be regarded
as a virtue. Sanctified by truth and holiness, it would make men bold
witnesses for Christ; but used as it is by the sinner, it is insulting and
defiant, and approaches to blasphemy. The fact that a man is not a
hypocrite does not make him any the less really a sinner. When the
appeals of the Holy Spirit come to the heart, our only safety lies in
responding to them without delay. When the call comes, “Go work
today in My vineyard,” do not refuse the invitation. “Today if ye will
hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
Hebrews 4:7
. It is unsafe to
delay obedience. You may never hear the invitation again.
And let none flatter themselves that sins cherished for a time can
easily be given up by and by. This is not so. Every sin cherished
weakens the character and strengthens habit; and physical, mental, and
moral depravity is the result. You may repent of the wrong you have
done, and set your feet in right paths; but the mold of your mind and
your familiarity with evil will make it difficult for you to distinguish
between right and wrong. Through the wrong habits formed, Satan
will assail you again and again.
In the command, “Go work today in My vineyard,” the test of
sincerity is brought to every soul. Will there be deeds as well as
words? Will the one called put to use all the knowledge he has,
working faithfully, disinterestedly, for the Owner of the vineyard?
The apostle Peter instructs us as to the plan on which we must
work. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you,” he says, “through
the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that
[282]
by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world through lust.
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and
to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temper-