“Nineveh, That Great City”
179
frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by
fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these
calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces
of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s
purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks
to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.
God’s messengers in the great cities are not to become discour-
aged over the wickedness, the injustice, the depravity, which they are
called upon to face while endeavoring to proclaim the glad tidings of
salvation. The Lord would cheer every such worker with the same
message that He gave to the apostle Paul in wicked Corinth: “Be not
afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no
man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”
Acts 18:9, 10
. Let those engaged in soul-saving ministry remember
that while there are many who will not heed the counsel of God in
His word, the whole world will not turn from light and truth, from the
invitations of a patient, forbearing Saviour. In every city, filled though
it may be with violence and crime, there are many who with proper
teaching may learn to become followers of Jesus. Thousands may thus
be reached with saving truth and be led to receive Christ as a personal
Saviour.
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God’s message for the inhabitants of earth today is, “Be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Matthew 24:44
. The conditions prevailing in society, and especially in
the great cities of the nations, proclaim in thunder tones that the hour
of God’s judgment is come and that the end of all things earthly is at
hand. We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In
quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire,
and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed. We are not to be
surprised at this time by events both great and decisive; for the angel
of mercy cannot remain much longer to shelter the impenitent.
“Behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabi-
tants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her
blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
Isaiah 26:21
. The storm of
God’s wrath is gathering; and those only will stand who respond to
the invitations of mercy, as did the inhabitants of Nineveh under the
preaching of Jonah, and become sanctified through obedience to the