IN the year 1793, France, which was then a nation of forty millions of people, proclaimed by an edict of its National Assembly two dreadful decrees―
1St That there is no God.
2nd That death is an eternal sleep.
What followed was that they were left as though there was no God. Or it would appear as though God gave them up, as He did the heathen (Rom. 1:2828And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)), after they had first of all given Him up. Historians have rightly named that period “The Reign of Terror,” for iniquity seemed to run riot, and war and bloodshed were the order of the day.
The Psalmist has truly said, “The fool hath said in his heart, No God,” and many there are today who, like those of old, while professing themselves to be wise, have shown themselves to be fools, The wisdom of today seems to lie in denying the existence of God, and that judgment follows after death. Truly the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to naught the understanding of the prudent. Infidelity and skepticism are rapidly on the increase. The young men of today think it clever to turn round and pull the Bible to pieces, and sit in judgment on their Creator. The early impressions of childhood are soon thrown aside; the dear old mother’s instructions heeded not, her much-loved Bible trampled under foot, and her tear-bedewed prayers wantonly slighted. Young men, beware! God is on the way to judgment, He will not be mocked. Be wise, and make Him your trust now, for “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
A friend of ours was one day traveling by rail, and on one of the panels of the carriage he read these words: ―
“WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?
In heaven or in hell?”
Written underneath it was the answer, “Not with the writer if possible. Comfort ye! comfort ye! There is no such place as heaven or hell!” It is hard to see where the comfort is to be found. Men may try and persuade themselves that there is no hereafter, but they cannot alter the fact, and their own guilty consciences give them no rest in their false supposition. It reminds us of the dying message of the mother of a noted skeptic who had been led into unbelief by her son. As she lay dying she sent him an earnest message to come to her with all speed, or else write her the consolations of philosophy, for in the dying hour all was dark. Infidelity puts out the light of revelation, and groping in darkness, calls darkness light, and folly wisdom!
Truly we are living in strange times, but still, thank God, we have His Word to guide us aright, and therein the way of salvation is made plain to all who believe.
E. E. N.