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Workers Under God
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Then the Lord sends forth His reapers to gather out the tares and
bind them in bundles to burn, while the wheat is gathered into the
heavenly garner. The time of the judgment is a most solemn period,
when the Lord gathers His own from among the tares. Those who
have been members of the same family are separated. A mark is
placed upon the righteous. “They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of
hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them,
as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Those who have
been obedient to God’s commandments will unite with the company
of the saints in light; they shall enter in through the gates into the
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city, and have right to the tree of life. The one shall be taken. His
name shall stand in the book of life, while those with whom he
associated shall have the mark of eternal separation from God.
The tares and wheat are now commingled, but then the one hand
that alone can separate them will give to everyone his true position.
Those who have had the light of truth, and heard the warning mes-
sage, heard the invitation to the marriage supper—farmer, merchant,
lawyer, false shepherds who have quieted the convictions of the
people, unfaithful watchmen who have not sounded the warning or
known the time of night—all who have refused obedience to the
laws of the kingdom of God, will have no right therein. Those who
have sought an excuse to avoid the cross of separation from the
world will, with the world, be taken in the snare. They mingled with
the tares from choice. Like drew to like in transgression. It is a
fearful assimilation. Men choose to stand with the first rebel, who
tempted Adam and Eve in Eden to disobey God. The tares multiply
themselves, for they sow tares, and they have their part with the root
of all sin—the devil.
Upon those who keep the commandments of God the benediction
is pronounced: “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that
they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through
the gates into the city.” They are “a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;” that they should show
forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His
marvelous light. The obedient are called the just; they are drawn
to the holy magnet, Jesus Christ; the holy attracts the holy. He
that is unjust will be unjust still. Character cannot then be made
or transformed. The oil of grace cannot be lent by one to another,
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