Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 243, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1913 — Lot’s Question [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lot’s Question

By REV. PARLEY E. ZARTMANN. D.D.

Spcret®ry of ExtcsMon DcpGrtmtßt Moody RiMe institute, Oncaoo

TEXT-Is it not a little one’-tienesM. 19:20.

Though Loti lived in the dawn of human history and in a far-away , land, he is a modern character and seems like a citi-> zen of our own, community, so? frequently do ww' meet men of sim -‘ liar character aodconduct. He es-> teemed silver ot, more value than-, a soul, and that; variety and ex-i citement of life ini

Sodom to dwelling in peace and quietj in the tents with Abraham. He i*i an Illustration of the swift descent <4l the soul into the vortex of sin. Hefj got into Sodom, which was not evil,' necessarily, but then Sodom got intoj him, and that is evil always. W«t| know from the record that it was aU wicked town, full of sin apd abomw nation, so wicked that even the plead-! Ing of righteous Abraham, the of God, could not spve it; though Loti was saved, yet so as by fire.

Lot’s question was asked as he wa»j being led out of the city by the mes-j senger from God. It was a crisis day-U The men plead with Lot to bring his) family out with him; to bls sons-in-j law he seemed as one that mocked,) so useless was his testimony. The) angels constrained Lot to flee witbj his wife and two daughters. “But hel lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, And upon the hand of htafi wife, and upon the hand of his two, daughters, Jehovah being merciful, unto him;.and they brought hinsj forth, and set him without the city* . . Escape to the mountains, lest. • thou be consumed." But Lot does not want to go all the way in and as he comes to Zoar he says, “Be-?-hold now, this city is near to flee unto.Is it not a little one? Oh let me escape thither.” . f

How often have we asked Lot’squestion about our Life, when GodLhas given some clear command. Something is under sentence, ww know it. but we think it unimportant Is it not a little one? For examples lack of love, irritability, worldlinessu a sharp tongue, falsehood, uncleanness, grieving the Holy Spirit, lacs of forgiveness or apology, unconcern about our own souls. You excuse these; you palliate them; you laugh at them; you have them yourself, and. encourage those who do them. Your say, “Is it not a little one?" And 1 many of your fellow-men are as unconcerned and indifferent as you am.“ But God—let me pause to think of* him —calls these things sin. He says* these things are fit for destructions and this' warning to you has been timely, amble and urgent.' You make, light of sin, but God’s just outweighs your selfish opinion prompted by carnal desires. No sin is smalt. In his sight, and he knows the fuW measure and meaning of it. Thin* little one may be the seed of a vastand vicious brood. Beware of anysin. Fear it, hate it, flee from it, Say "No" to sin. Burn the witches, which seek your destruction. More — it is an awful thing to have any known, sin and be determined to keep fL>

You ask about your pet Bln, as Lott* did about Zoar. Yes, God did sparer the city, but he does not spare star. He knows what it is and what it means, toward God and toward men. He knows what it does —robs of peace, shuts the soul out from God, makes cowards and'makes tools forSatan, brings helplessness, hopelessness and death. He knows what pin costs—Christ and Calvary, for Christ was manifested to take away Bin; Is he doing it In you? Can you face these facts and then stand up andl say, “Is it not a little one?” You maymake a mock of sin now, but what will you say in that day when the Judge will be on the throne?

And we know how little influence; power and happiness people have who cling to their sins and who refuse to obey the command of God to escape to the mountain. Thie weakness of testimony appears in the home. In the church, and in the community. The world has no use for a sinful member of the church. It finds fault, it cries shame, and it stays away from the church, from Christ and from heaven. Are you responsible for afiy such? Do you meet complaint, criticism or censure with "Is it not a. little one?” God pity you! T|iese things ought not so to be. They need not be eo. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus.” Grace enough for all, and free. Grace for salvation, for keeping, for perfection in the presence of Jesus at the last. “By grace are ye saved.” Do you not see how great and grievous a thing sin is? Do you not want to come into right relation* with God? I declare emanclpatina from that sin, by Je»us Christ, who la able to the uttermost Don’t stay in slavery, but come out into th* large place provided by Jesus Christ.