"So are the paths of all that forget G.o.d; and _the hypocrite"s hope shall perish_." Job 8:13.
12. What is to be the fate of that servant who, while professing to love the Lord, shows by his actions that he is worldly, and is not looking nor longing for His coming?
"The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and _appoint him his portion with the hypocrites_: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 24:50, 51. "The sinners in Zion are afraid; tearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites." Isa. 33:14.
13. What is characteristic of heavenly wisdom?
"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and _without hypocrisy_." James 3:17.
Danger In Rejecting Light
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
John Reproving Herod. "Walk while ye have the light." John 12:35.
1. How does G.o.d regard sins of ignorance?
"And _the times of this ignorance G.o.d winked at_; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30.
2. To whom is sin imputed?
"Therefore _to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not_, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
3. In what words did Christ teach the same truth?
"Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, _We see_; therefore your sin remaineth." "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but _now they have no cloak_ [margin, _excuse_] _for their sin_." John 9:41; 15:22. See John 3:19.
4. In view of this, what instruction does He give?
"Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.... While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light."
John 12:35, 36.
5. Who courts the light?
"Every one that doeth evil hateth the light.... But _he that doeth truth_ cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in G.o.d." John 3:20, 21.
The Just Recompense
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Destruction Of Sennacherib"s Army. "Who will render to every man according to his deeds." Rom. 2:6.
1. How has G.o.d recompensed men in the past?
"For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received _a just recompense of reward_; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:2, 3.
2. How are all to be rewarded in the judgment?
"For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, _according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad_." 2 Cor. 5:10. "Who will render to every man _according to his deeds_: ... for there is no respect of persons with G.o.d." Rom. 2:6-11. "Be not deceived; G.o.d is not mocked: for _whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap_." Gal. 6:7.
3. What will be the reward of the wrong-doer?
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap _corruption_."
Verse 8. "_Tribulation_ and _anguish_, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." Rom. 2:9.
4. What will be the recompense of the righteous?
"But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap _life everlasting_." Gal. 6:8. "But _glory, honor, and peace_, to every man that worketh good." Rom. 2:10.
5. What general rule of recompense is laid down in the Bible?
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For _with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again_." Matt. 7:1, 2. "With the _merciful_ Thou wilt show Thyself _merciful_; with an _upright_ man Thou wilt show Thyself _upright_; with the _pure_ Thou wilt show Thyself _pure_; and with the _froward_ Thou wilt show Thyself _froward_." Ps. 18:25, 26.
6. In view of this, what are we warned not to do?
"Recompense to no man _evil for evil_." Rom. 12:17. "Not rendering _evil for evil_, or _railing for railing_: but contrariwise blessing." 1 Peter 3:9.
7. What is said of those who render evil for good?
"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, _evil shall not depart from his house_."
Prov. 17:13.
8. What principle of justice should govern us in our dealings?
"Withhold not good from them _to whom it is due_, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." Prov. 3:27.
9. Where are all to be recompensed?
"Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed _in the earth_: much more the wicked and the sinner." Prov. 11:31.
10. In meting out the final awards, what may we be sure G.o.d will do?
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth _do right_?" Gen. 18:25. "_Justice_ and _judgment_ are the habitation of Thy throne: _mercy_ and _truth_ shall go before Thy face." Ps. 89:14.
O that the Lord would guide my ways To keep His statutes still!
O that my G.o.d would grant me grace To know and do His will!