A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

A LETTER TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

My Dear Young Friends,

As the time has come for some of you to leave your schooldays behind and to enter another stage of your life’s journey, there are important factors to be considered. For some of you, this will mean leaving home for the first time, with the attendant problems of settling down in a new environment among, it may be, complete strangers. Others, although remaining at home, will also be coming face to face with new situations.

You all have plans, and, no doubt. were we to be told individual ones, we would find them quite different in many respects. As varied as your plans will be your future experiences. But certainly you will have both smooth and hard things to meet with. Sin so marred this world that there must be a crook in every person’s lot, so that no one can escape trials in some form or other. You will find it so easy to look at others and think that their paths are so much more pleasant than yours, and that if you had their opportunities things would be so different for you. But, as we observed, “everybody’s lot has some crook in it, and this crook in our lot inseparably follows our sinful condition till, dropping this body of sin and death, we get within heaven’s gates” (that is, of course, in respect to the Lord’s people, while the crook in the lot of the unregenerate is but a very, very, slight foretaste of the eternal misery which is their just lot). The foregoing quotation is from that excellent book, “The Crook in the Lot,” by Thomas Boston, and those of you who can procure a copy would do well to read it.

The advice of Kind David to his son Solomon is very applicable to you in your present positions: “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever”. You have presumably been brought up in a home where family worship is observed night and morning, where you were required to respect the things of God, and, we hope, were required to attend the public means of grace regularly on Sundays and weekdays. These things in themselves, as you ought to know, will not save your sinful souls for the quickening operations of God, the Holy Spirit, convincing of sin, enlightening the mind in the knowledge of Christ and renewing the will are essential to the New Birth, but the Lord has promised to bless the means of His own appointment — “If thou seek Him He will be found of thee: but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever.” Therefore do not forsake those means of grace, at the outset of your adult career, as is the conduct of many. You cannot expect the blessing of the Lord if you wilfully forsake the paths of righteousness and turn aside into the paths in which destroyers go, and, after all, what have we, worth anything, if we do not have the blessing of the Lord?

Timothy Mission Fund

Again we are happy to acknowledge the receipt of gifts in the amount of $20.00 during the month of April. During that month we were able to send a check in the amount of $50.00 to Mr. D. Polder in the Netherlands for mission work through our churches there. According to the acknowledgement, this amounts to 178.15 gulders. We hope we may continue to receive your support.

A letter was received from Rhodesia, which we are including in this issue. That the Lord may bless the labors performed in those distant lands.

Use all diligence in the things of God. Be sure that your place in church on Sundays is never empty but for unavoidable reasons. Take heed that you do not fall into the error of many, who leave the church of their fathers because it is too “straight-laced” for their liking, and seek a denomination where a “gospel which is not another” is declared. “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Esteem it a great privilege that you have been brought up in a church, which seeks to declare the whole counsel of God without equivocation, and to adhere strictly to the Word of God. Shun every appearance of evil, and if you cannot ask the blessing of the Lord on anything you intend to do, do not do it. “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” It is good to learn your own helplessness and how dependent you are upon the Lord for life, health, strength, and every other blessing which you enjoy in providence, and in grace. “Without me, ye can do nothing.”

Although stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant, for the moment, there must come a day of reckoning either here or hereafter, when the pronouncement, “Unclean, unclean,” will be made. “Now therefore hearken unto Me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep My ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth Me, watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death.”

Young People’s Magazine

BAD MANNERS CURED

One day, when Tom was playing in the yard, he saw a boy standing by the gate. He was ragged and dirty, his hat was torn, and his feet were bare. But he had a pleasant face. In one hand he carried a pail half full of blackberries.

“Go away from here,” said Tom, running to the gate. “We are rich and don’t want ragged boys around.”

“Please give me a drink,” said the boy. “If you are so rich, you can spare me a drink of water.”

“We can’t spare you anything,” said Tom. “If you don’t go away, I will set the dog on you.”

The boy walked away, swinging the tin pail in his hand.

“I think I will get some blackberries, too,” said Tom to himself. He went out of the gate into a meadow where there were plenty of berries. He saw some fine large ones growing just over the ditch. He thought he could leap over it very easily, and so he gave a run and a big jump. But the ditch was wider than he thought, and instead of going over it, he came down in the middle of it. The mud was thick and soft, and Tom sank down in it to his waist. He was very much frightened, and screamed for help until he was completely exhausted.

Tom began to think he would have to spend the night in the ditch when he heard steps on the grass. Looking up, he saw the ragged boy he had driven from the gate.

“Please help me out!” said Tom. “I will give you a dime.”

“I don’t want your dime,” said the boy; but lying down flat, he held out both his hands to Tom and drew him out of the ditch. Tom was covered with mud, his hat was gone, and one shoe had been lost in the ditch. He looked very miserable.

“Who is dirty now?” asked the boy.

“I am,” said Tom; “but I thank you very much for helping me out of the mud, and I am sorry I sent you away from the gate.”

The next day when Tom saw the boy going by the gate, he called him in, showed him his rabbits, and gave him a ride on his pony.

“You have good manners now,” said the boy.

“Yes,” said Tom, “I found them in the ditch.”

NEGRO CONTRIBUTION TO LITERATURE

Only ten years ago, the idea of the Negro as an artist was strange and underdeveloped. In the past decade, the Negro has come to be recognized in our way of life.

The place of the Negro in the United States depends upon the feeling of the nation toward the race. One of the best ways to raise this opinion is through the Negro’s contributions in art and literature.

Negro poetry did not catch on easily because the Negro dialect was commonly associated with the slapstick minstrel. Some Negroes have tried to break this mold, but most don’t seem to think it worth the effort.

ADDRESSES FOR TIMOTHY CORRESPONDENCE:

Timothy section —

Thomas Moerdyk

1222 Vassar Drive

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Timothy Mission Fund —

933 S. Burdick Street

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Bible Quiz —

Garret J. Moerdyk

1104 Roseland Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Missionary Corner

Egedde

Idoma

via Oturkpo

Northern Nigeria

27th January, 1965

Dear Friends,

It was last month, (Dec.) we received your letter and the check. Thanks to all. We are grateful for your help.

You will be interested to know that the building of the new clinic has been started. We are very happy because the present situation is very difficult, the room we use for clinic is very small and many people are coming for treatment, every day about 100 to 200 patients.

Our new clinic will have a waiting-veranda, clinic room, delivery room, maternity ward, nursery, stores and a small room for laboratory work. We will have some separate buildings for our helpers and our own house. It is small but it will be a great improvement with the present situation.

We are only permitted to have three maternity in-patients. It will be difficult with other cases. Often we get very sick children in our clinic we should like to take in but we have to send them home after treatment and let them come back the other day. It only will be allowed to take those cases in if we have a doctor and of course we need another building then as well.

It may be you are thinking we want too much, but we here see the great need. As I wrote you before, there is no hospital here in Egedde and the population is about 100,000. Think this situation over and compare it with yours in America, and I am sure you will realize the great need.

We hope and pray that there may be soon a doctor from America or Holland who is willing to come to Egedde. May we ask you again to pray for this and the people in Egedde.

With Christian greetings,

Coby van Rossum and

Dim Sonneveld

WARNINGS BY THE WAYSIDE

(continued)

MIND THE STEP. I have another warning now to lay before you: Mind The Step. How often we meet with such a caution, and how needful to “Mind the Step” when a fall may mean broken bones. I am sure this warning is full of good counsel to boys and girls. Mind the step which leads to the theatre; mind the step which leads you into bad company. It can be said of these steps, “These Steps are Dangerous”.

My dear young friends, Mind the FIRST step. It is the first lump of sugar taken from the bowl; it is the first spoonful of jam taken from the cupboard; it is the first lie you tell; it is the first act of deceit which is the first step in what may prove to be the road to ruin. I say, Mind the Step!

If you could visit the gloomy cells of the prisons in our land, and talk with the poor prisoners, you would find it was because they neglected the warning to “Mind the Step” that they took the road that leads to the prison cell. It would be a mercy, my dear young friends, if you could remember the solemn fact, “Thou God seest me.” “The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good.”

Mind the step when tempted by ungodly companions to break the Sabbath day. The Word of God is very plain, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” It is a sad sight to see so many thousands in pleasure on the day which belongs to the Lord. Do we not see a sad sign of the last days in this breaking of the Sabbath: “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”? Boys and girls, “Ponder the path of your feet,” and mind the step which leads you to disregard the house of prayer and break the command, “Remember the Sabbath.”

One step which often leads to sad consequences is “Disobedience to Parents.” I feel sorry when I see boys and girls who do not obey their parents; boys and girls who do not willingly do that which father and mother have asked them to do; and boys and girls who do not show the respect which is due to their parents, but answer them back when they wish them to do little duties and errands. My dear young friends, mind the step: “Honour thy father and thy mother.”

The step which leads to the theatre and so-called houses of pleasure, is full of danger to those who do not “Mind the Step.” It would be an impossibility to conceive the evil which has been done among the young people by the influence of the theatre. I know some boys and girls will think I am narrow-minded and old-fashioned, but I am convinced that little good can be obtained in a theatre. I would warn all boys and girls to “Mind the Step.” “Avoid it; pass not by it.” The reformatory schools and the prisons contain many sad evidences that the theatre is an evil, — a trap for boys and girls. The newspapers frequently tell of young people brought before the judge for breaking the law, which they have done through attempting to imitate something they have learned through visiting the the theatre. A tree which bears such sad fruit must have an evil root.

I earnestly hope you may be enabled to pay attention to the warning, “Mind the Step.” I will tell you about a little servant maid who did take a step on the downward road, and then was led to “Mind the Step,” and confess her folly in doing wrong.

This little girl had left school, and entered upon a situation as a servant to a mistress who was very kind to her. She soon gained a good character, and earned the praises of her mistress for her dutiful behaviour, and all went well until one day she was washing up a valuable tea-set, and broke some cups and saucers in so doing. What did the little servant do? She feared that her mistress would be angry with her, and instead of telling her the truth she began to think what she could do to hide the broken china. At last she thought of a plan, and she went out into the garden, and buried the broken cups and saucers out of sight, and thus took the first step in deception and dishonesty. She went to bed, but she could not sleep, and the next day when she was attending her daily duties she carried a guilty conscience, and could not look her mistress in the face. On the second evening she retired to rest, and again a guilty conscience would not allow her to sleep, and at length she resolved to tell her mistress, and beg for her forgiveness. She arose from her bed, went to the room of her mistress, and knocked at the door ,and confessed her act of deception in seeking to cover up her carelessness in washing up the tea-set. Her mistress listened to her sad tale, and then said, “I would rather have all my costly china broken to pieces than have a servant maid who would deceive me, and be afraid to tell me the truth.” Forgiveness was granted, and the girl went back to her room, and, having lost her guilty conscience, she soon fell asleep. I would like to have told that little servant maid that, while her mistress could forgive her for breaking her china, only the precious blood of Jesus Christ could wash away the sin which brought her a guilty conscience. Speak the truth, dear boys and girls, and when tempted to do what is contrary to the Word of God, “Mind the Step.”

“God is in heaven! Can He see
When I am doing wrong?
Yes, that He can; He looks at thee
All day and all night long.”

JOHN WELSH AND THE FRIAR

While John Welsh, the Scottish minister exiled to France, was in one of the French villages, one evening a certain popish friar traveling through the country, because he could not find a lodging in the whole village, addressed himself to Mr. Welsh’s house for one night. The servants acquainted their master, and he was content to receive the guest. The family had supped before he came, and so the servants conveyed the friar to his chamber; and after they had made his supper left him to his rest. There was but a timber partition between him and Mr. Welsh, and after the friar had slept his first sleep, he was surprised with the hearing of a silent but constant whispering noise, at which he wondered very much, and was not a little troubled.

The next morning he walked in the fields, where he chanced to meet with a countryman, who, saluting him because of this habit, asked him where he had lodged that night. The friar answered, he had lodged with the Huguenot minister. Then the countryman asked him what entertainment he had. The friar answered, “Very bad,” for, said he, “I always held that devils haunted these ministers’ houses, and I am persuaded there was one with me this night, for I heard a continual whisper all the night over, which I believe was no other thing than the minister and the devil conversing together.” The countryman told him he was much mistaken, and that it was nothing else than the minister at his night prayer. “Oh,” said the friar, “does the minister pray?” “Yes, more than any man in France,” answered the countryman; “and if you please to stay another night with him, you may be satisfied.” The friar got home to Mr. Welsh’s house, and pretending indisposition, entreated another night’s lodging, which was granted him.

Before dinner Mr. Welsh came from his chamber and made his family exercise, according to his custom. And first he sung a Psalm, then read a portion of Scripture, and discoursed upon it; thereafter he prayed with great fervour, to all which the friar was an astonished witness. After exercise they went to dinner, where the friar was very civilly entertained. Mr. Welsh forbearing all question and dispute with him for the time. When the evening came Mr. Welsh made exercise as he had done in the morning, which occasioned more wonder to the friar, and after supper they went to bed; but the friar longed much to know what the night whisper was, and therein he was soon satisfied; for after Mr. Welsh’s first sleep the noise began. The friar resolved to be certain what it was, and to that end he crept silently to Mr. Welsh’s chamber door, and there he heard not only the sound, but the words distinctly, and communications between God and man, such as he thought had not been in this world.

The next morning, as soon as Mr. Welsh was ready, the friar came, and confessed that he had lived in ignorance the whole of his life, but now he was resolved to adventure his soul with him; and thereupon declared himself a Protestant. Mr. Welsh welcomed and encouraged him, and he continued a Protestant to his death.

From “The Scots Worthies”

Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls:

A few months ago our quiz included questions about the 5th commandment. This month we have chosen the 4th commandment, of which the first three words will spell out the first letters of our answers.

In these days how many families will use the Sunday for outings, golfing, recreation, etc.? Or how many businesses are remaining open on the Lord’s day to do more business? I am sure you will agree that this is not “keeping the Sabbath day holy.”

That we may put aside our daily duties, such as studies, games, and pleasures, and especially on His day, may seek the honour of God, and those things that concern the welfare of our never-dying souls.

A Sabbath well spent
Brings a week of content,
And health for the toils of tomorrow,
But a Sabbath profaned
Whatsoe’r may be gained
Is a certain forerunner of Sorrow.

And now our quiz — the initials or first letters of the answers spell out the first three words of the 4th commandment.

What did God do on the seventh day, after six days of creating?

What did the disciples of Jesus pluck on the Sabbath day, when they were hungry, which the Pharisees complained of to Jesus?

For whom was the Sabbath made, as told to the Pharisees by Jesus?

Where did God plant the garden in which he placed Adam?

What was one of the things the camels of the Ishmaelites were carrying, unto whom Joseph was sold?

What was the impotent man, who had been healed by Jesus, carrying when rebuked by the Pharisees?

In what city did King Saul find a woman with a familiar spirit, when the Lord did not answer him?

Where was the house of Samuel, where he built an altar unto the Lord?

How many omers of manna were the Israelites to gather for each person on the sixth day in order to provide for the Sabbath day?

What part of the man’s body was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath day?

What name did Samuel call the stone which he set up, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”?

How many days of the week are we to do our work, as commanded in the 4th commandment?

What was the name of Samuel’s second son?

Of what tribe of Israel was King Saul?

To what city did Samuel go to anoint David to be king?

What king of the Amalekites did Samuel kill, whom King Saul had spared alive?

When the apostle John was in exile on the island of Patmos, he heard a voice on the Lord’s day as of what instrument?

Before whom did Mordecai refuse to bow?

Answers were received from the following boys and girls since our last issue —

Mike Meeuwse . . Ben Van Beek . . Tom Blok . . Joe Beeke . . Joanne Beeke . . Martha Vander Male . . Kris Vander Male . . Joyce Fluit . . Donna Jean Post . . Maria Stryd . . James Boluyt (2) . . Gloria Boluyt (2) . . Julia Ripma . . Dennis Vander Stel . . Gerrit Bleeker . . David Bleeker . . Linda Bleeker . . Michael Mol . . Joanie Mol . . Leonard Mol . . Linda Sue Vissia . . Jacqueline Vanden-Berg . . Willis Van Den Top . . Jane Van Zweden . . John Kamp . . David Kamp . . Karen Bleeker . . Adrian Van Driel . . Archie Van Wingerden (2) . . Margaret Van Wingerden (2) . . Sjaane Van Wingerden (2) . . Carol Moerdyk . . Betty Moerdyk . . Geraldine Moerdyk . . Alice Moerdyk . . Harry Koppert . . Alice Koppert . . Mary Moerdyk . . Sandra De Visser . . Sharon De Visser . . Joanne De Pater . . Susan De Pater . . Jennie De Pater . . Alvis B. Koedam . . Carol Arnoudse . . Marilyn Arnoudse . . Arie Vandenberg . . Johnny Stubbe . . Wilma Droogers . . Cathy Droogers . . Nelly Droogers . . Dick Van Pagee . . Dick Westrate . . Jay Mol . . Mary Verhey . . Charlene Kwekel . . Thomas B. Rose . . Pete Vander Jagt . . Mary Vander Jagt . . Herbert Van Den Houten . . Patty Boluyt . . Sheryl Van Giessen . . Kathy JohnSon . . Peter Kievit . . Gary Roozen-boom . . Jane De Meester . . Ruth De Meester . . Donna De Meester . . Agnes De Meester . . Betty Jo Mast . . John Mast . . Alan Verbeke . . Brenda Fletcher . . Corinne Van Veldhuizen . . Laurie Easterhoff . . Russell Easterhoff . . Albert J. Etelman . . Corinne Etelman . . Gary Koedam . . Marsha Koedam . . Sally Slotsema . . Jackie Harskamp . . Dianne Harskamp . . Dave Friesema . . Ruth Moerdyk . . Joanne Rus . . Gilbert Rus . . Beverly Vroegindewey . . Doris Van Der Weile . . Dianne Van Ravenswaay . . Gary Van Peenen . . Joanne Van Peenen . . Betty Ann Van Peenen . . George Van Peenen . . Jake Van Peenen . . Tunis Van Peenen . . Andrew Van Den Toorn . . Mariene Jo Van Den Toorn . . Russell Vanden Toorn . . Mark Teunissen . .Randy Teunissen . . Diane Teunissen . . Judy Teunissen . . Herman Sinke . . Lois Vander Wiele . . Connie Mol . . Geraldine Van Dyke . . Melvin Blom . . Betty Vander Waal . . Trudy Hegeman . . Neal Hegeman . . Ben Hegeman . . Albert Van Grouw . . Janet Van Grouw . . Harlan Spaans . . David Spaans . . Joyce Kamp . . John W. Kamp . . Kay Kamp . . Alice Schoneveld . . Nellie Jo Courtright . . Bobby Courtright . . John Van Wingerden . . Bill Van Wingerden . . Carol Ann Van Tilburg.

Answers for our quiz in the May issue were as follows:

The first letters spelled out — “O sing unto the Lord”

Obededom — II Samuel 6:11

Solomon — Song of Solomon 1:1

Idols — Psalm 96:5

Noah —Genesis 8:20

Glory —Psalm 96:7

Uz —Job 1:1

Nineveh — Jonah 3:4-8

Trumpets — Joshua 6:8

Olives —Mathew 26:30

Trumpet—Judges 7:16

Harp —I Sampel 17:23

Eli —I Samuel 1:14

Lamps — Judges 7:16

Ophrah — Judges 6:11

Red — Exodus 15:4

Deborah — Judges 5:1

Many thanks, boys and girls, for the response to our quiz. You are all doing real well. Once in a while I see a little mistake, but I’m not going to tell anyone, as I know you are trying real hard.

And now the mail —

BETTY VAN DER WAAL — Glad to hear from you again, Betty. Yes, we can be real thankful if our homes are high and dry, while so many others are flooded out. It was nice of your neighbor to bring you seashells from Florida. They are all different, aren’t they?

JUDY TEUNISSEN — Happy to hear your mother is feeling better again, Judy. Next time they come to Michigan, maybe you can make the trip, too. Do give our regards to your parents.

BEN HEGEMAN — I am fine, too, Ben. That is really summer weather when it’s 97 degrees before the first of May. But I know from experience that it gets quite hot in Iowa. I see in the paper that the Black Hills had lots of snow recently. Did you get any of that?

ALICE SCHONEVELD — I am glad you are enjoying our quizzes, Alice. It always makes our work easier when we hear that they are being put to good use, and that you are learning from them. Write again when you have time.

DONNA JEAN POST — Another nice long letter, Donna, and real interesting, too. It doesn’t seem possible that your niece is already a year and a half. When you started writing to me, she was just born. Don’t let her fall down the stairs, will you? No, we haven’t had any floods in this area.

HARRY KOPPERT — Do you have names for the three calves, Harry? I can imagine it is nice to take care of them as they grow. Does it take very long before they drink out of a pail? I’m not much of a farmer, but I heard that they won’t do this right at the start.

ALICE KOPPERT — It won’t be too long, Alice, and summer vacation will be here, the Lord willing, and we live. Then you can really help your mother. Do you live near Wilma Nap and Kathy Droogers? Are you in the same grade?

SJAANE VAN WINGERDEN — Have you ever been in Holland, Sjaane? I think it would be a nice trip. I can speak Dutch only a little, and I am sure you would laugh if I did, as I don’t do it very often. But I think it is real nice that you can, as you may some day find it very useful.

CATHY DROOGERS — It sounds like you had a nice birthday, Cathy. I hope you may have many more. I’m glad you like the Timothy. I try not to make the questions too hard, but I don’t want to make them too easy either.

ARIE VANDENBERG — You had your answers all written out very nicely, Arie. It is alright that your mother helps you with some of the questions, as I know that some of them aren’t too easy. Did you brothers and sister get the measles yet?

WILMA DROOGERS — Happy to hear from you, Wilma. I imagine that is quite a large airport in Toronto, isn’t it? Have you ever been in an airplane? I’m sure your aunt will have lots to tell about when she gets back to Holland.

JOHNNY STUBBE — Yes, your answers arrived in plenty of time, Johnny. Those 77 pigs must take a lot of food, don’t they? It seems like it would keep someone pretty busy just feeding them. One tornado struck within ten miles of Kalamazoo.

LINDA SUE VISSIA — Thank you for your answers and little letter, Linda. I have seen your school in Grand Rapids, and think it is real nice. What is your teacher’s name? Write again, won’t you?

LAURIE EASTERHOFF — I’m sure your name is in this time, Laurie, as I just checked the list. Generally the names don’t get listed until a month later because of getting to the printers on time. Say Hello to Russell.

CAROL ANN VAN TILBURG — Yes, the weather is real nice in Michigan now, Carol. Are you setting anxious for summer vacation? Then you can take care of your little sister Leah every day. Or do you have lots of other things to do in the summer?

And this again finishes our mail. One more thing — we want to congratulate those who are graduating from the various levels of schooling, whether it be college, high school, junior high, or elementary. You have completed another step along life’s path — that God’s blessing may attend you further and that His word may be your guide.

With best wishes,

Your friend,

Garret J. Moerdyk

“ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE.”

“And it came to pass when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” —Gen. XIX. 17.

The Lord favored the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with great privileges. It appears that they were very wealthy. When wealth is used without God’s blessing, it gives an opportunity to people to dishonor God, which most of the wealthy class do. We see that they sinned most grievously against God. The sins of unclean-liness and extortion were predominant. The strongest were sinning according to their capacities; the weakest as much as possible. Small and great were taken captive by Satan at his will. Forgetting the glorious end of their creation, to glorify and enjoy God, they were provoking the Lord to anger, and forfeiting all hope of happiness at death. The loss to which they were exposing themselves was most appalling and irretrievable, the loss of body and soul forever in torments. This is a loss which will overtake every soul that persists in sinning against God.

I. God left the people of these cities inexcusable, seeing He providentially sent His servant Lot among them, who stood as a witness for righteousness, Lot was in a most wicked city in order to speak of the Messiah and to noise abroad His praise. His spirit was grieved with the wickedness of the people. Although surrounded by all kinds of temptations and evil influences, he still continued faithful. God’s people are grieved with the conduct of sinners, and the more temptations and persecutions they suffer, the more faithful they are to the truth. Lot was faithful for the glory of God and the interests of his own soul. “Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Eev. ii. 10).

The people of Sodom did not believe Lot; they disregarded his voice, and did not give up sinning till they were consumed in the fire of God. Will you continue the same course, not believing in Christ, not giving up sinning, till death shall deliver you over to the flames of eternal fire? As surely as God destroyed Sodom with fire and brimstone, He shall destroy you, if you persist in sinning against Him. He shall destroy you with fire, the pains of which shall be eternal.

Who kept them from obeying God so as to secure the judgment that overthrew them? Satan, their evil heart, and unbelief. No one could avert the judgment of God when it came; but if they had turned to God and cried to Him for mercy, the judgment would have been averted. Oh, begin to cry to God so that the judgment that awaits you shall also be averted. The people of Nineveh, believed the message of Jonah, humbled themselves, and gave up sinning, and God blessed them and averted the judgment.

II. God was provoked, as the messenger whom He sent with offers of mercy was despised and the message disregarded, and so He now sent messengers of destruction, having shut up the offers of mercy in Himself for ever. Justice came in the place of mercy to execute vengeance and to defend the glory of God. Two angels came to Lot’s house. The Sodomites surrounded it; and the first judgment that overtook them was blindness; they were struck blind, probably never again to see the light of day. They went on, however, in their sins till the fire and brimstone were showered upon them. Sin is sweet and agreeable to commit, but how intolerable are the miseries to which it exposes sinners! Doubtless you could hear many of them rejoicing and making a loud noise, sinning in their streets and in their houses. But the first shower of fire and brimstone that touched them caused roars of pain and agony that were bitter and painful to hear.

“Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms,
On sinners he shall rain;
This, as the portion of their cup,
Doth unto them pertain”

(Ps. xi. 6).

It would be a most painful sight to see men, women, and children lying dead in heaps, the streets wholly on fire. Oh, the indescribable trials to which sin has exposed the human race!

Oh, that we were wise to obey God and avoid such calamities in the next world! The pains the Sodomites suffered from this judgment were only temporary, and were not in point of anguish to be compared to the pains of eternal fire. “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isa. xxxiii. 14). Death put a stop to the sinful career of the people of Sodom, and took the weapons they were using against God from them. God is merciful to His people, and He allowed Lot to go out and warn his friends of what was coming, “but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law.” But they were no doubt of a different mind when the first shower of fire touched them; they doubtless exclaimed, “Oh, that we had taken Lot’s advice!” Many such there shall be in hell, regretting eternally that they disobeyed the voices of their godly friends and ministers.

God takes care of His people. The angels hurried Lot out of Sodom before the destruction took place. Perhaps he had become weak-hearted, seeing so many about to be burned with fire. The angels led him out by the hand, as they could not destroy the city till he was out of it. Whatever judgments may overtake the ungodly, God’s people shall be saved. They can claim God as their refuge. “God is our refuge and strength” (Ps. xlvi. 1).

When Lot, his wife, and two daughters were taken out of the city, they were strictly commanded not to look behind them. Lot’s wife disobeyed the injunction; her affections were in Sodom and were still set upon its pleasures. It is possible she was filled with blasphemy against God for destroying the city, her friends, and her wealth. For the world was the object of her love, not God or His law. She was married to Lot, but continued in her natural estate. Judgment came upon her: “she became a pillar of salt.”

There are many like Lot’s wife. They are favored with Gospel ordinances, godly friends, godly parents and teachers, but they never give place to God in their hearts. Their overthrow at last shall be most intolerable, seeing they heeded not the many warnings they got. “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh” (Prov. i. 25, 26).

Lot was commanded not to stay in the plain, but to go to the mountain. The plain is easy to stop in. It is the broad way to hell. The entertainment in this way is the carnal mind wherein all the sinful desires of the ungodly are satisfied. All that will not flee from the broad way to Christ shall be destroyed with eternal fire.

Lot prayed that he might go to Zoar. His prayer was granted, the Lord being merciful to him, and knowing his sorrows. Zoar, though guilty and ready to be destroyed, God spared for Lot’s sake. God averts many judgments from wicked men for the sake of His people. In Zoar he got a temporary shelter from the storm. After a short time Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain. The mountain is God in Christ. A mountain is strong and immovable. So is the Lord. He is Jehovah, and changeth not. His omnipotent power protects His people as at the Red Sea. A mountain affords shelter. Christ is their righteousness, and shields them from the curse of the law. This is the Gospel mount in which they find “a feast of fat things, of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined” (Isa. xxv. 6). It was from this mount Moses beheld the land of Canaan. It was upon this mount he had communion with God forty days and forty nights. His face was changed, and it shone. It is upon the Gospel mount that all the children of God are changed from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord.

—from “Memoir and Remains of Rev. Donald MacDonald”

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