IT IS of great importance, clear children, while you are young in years, that you should hearken diligently to the voice of God. In the first place it is our duty to know that God has said we should obey Him. Then to learn what blessing comes to us in this life when we obey;. and sorrow comes as the result of disobedience. God promised blessings here on earth to His people Israel if they would be obedient to Him.
We are made to think of it as we see the farmers on the road with their good horses and sheep. We can say, Surely God has blessed them. But God, in His goodness and mercy, sometimes lets the disobedient get many temporal blessings in order to lead them to repentance. Yet how few remember that it is God’s blessing and turn to Him with thankful hearts. Then God withholds the blessing and has to send different kinds of flies among them to devour them, and frogs to destroy them. He gives their increase to the caterpillar and their labor to the locust. He destroys their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. He gives up their cattle to the hail and their flocks to hot thunder-bolts. These things God brought upon the disobedient Egyptians, but to those who will obey He will bless in the city and bless in the field.
But there is another thing which is above all earthly blessings which we may have through faith, and we will delight to be obedient to God when we get it. and that is eternal life. This is to be had as a gift from God. but given to those who will believe in Him; so the Scripture says; “AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS, EVEN SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP: THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” John 3:14-1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15). Then again, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is, eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). May you, dear children, be given to know, what it is to have eternal life by believing in the Lord Jesus, and to fear God and obey Him and get His blessings in this life.
Messages of God’s Love 10/15/1905