498
The Desire of Ages
pronounced upon Israel, those who reject the reproofs and warnings
of God’s Holy Spirit, may read their own condemnation.
In this generation there are many who are treading on the same
ground as were the unbelieving Jews. They have witnessed the man-
ifestation of the power of God; the Holy Spirit has spoken to their
hearts; but they cling to their unbelief and resistance. God sends them
warnings and reproof, but they are not willing to confess their errors,
and they reject His message and His messenger. The very means He
uses for their recovery becomes to them a stone of stumbling.
The prophets of God were hated by apostate Israel because through
them their hidden sins were brought to light. Ahab regarded Elijah as
his enemy because the prophet was faithful to rebuke the king’s secret
iniquities. So today the servant of Christ, the reprover of sin, meets
with scorn and rebuffs. Bible truth, the religion of Christ, struggles
against a strong current of moral impurity. Prejudice is even stronger in
the hearts of men now than in Christ’s day. Christ did not fulfill men’s
expectations; His life was a rebuke to their sins, and they rejected
Him. So now the truth of God’s word does not harmonize with men’s
practices and their natural inclination, and thousands reject its light.
Men prompted by Satan cast doubt upon God’s word, and choose to
exercise their independent judgment. They choose darkness rather
[588]
than light, but they do it at the peril of their souls. Those who caviled
at the words of Christ, found ever-increased cause for cavil, until they
turned from the Truth and the Life. So it is now. God does not propose
to remove every objection which the carnal heart may bring against
His truth. To those who refuse the precious rays of light which would
illuminate the darkness, the mysteries of God’s word remain such
forever. From them the truth is hidden. They walk blindly, and know
not the ruin before them.
Christ overlooked the world and all ages from the height of Olivet;
and His words are applicable to every soul who slights the pleadings
of divine mercy. Scorner of His love, He addresses you today. It is
“thou, even thou,” who shouldest know the things that belong to thy
peace. Christ is shedding bitter tears for you, who have no tears to
shed for yourself. Already that fatal hardness of heart which destroyed
the Pharisees is manifest in you. And every evidence of the grace of
God, every ray of divine light, is either melting and subduing the soul,
or confirming it in hopeless impenitence.