The Wicked During the Plagues

And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, “Too late! too late!”
Christ [on the cross] felt much as sinners will feel when the vials of God’s wrath shall be poured out upon them. Black despair like the pall of death will gather about their guilty souls, and then they will realize to the fullest extent the sinfulness of sin.
Those who had not prized God’s Word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the Word of the Lord. Said the angel, “They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval from God! . . .
Many of the wicked were greatly enraged as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony. Parents were bitterly reproaching their children, and children their parents, brothers their sisters, and sisters their brothers. . . . The people turned upon their ministers with bitter hate and reproached them, saying, “You have not warned us. You told us that all the world was to be converted, and cried, Peace, peace, to quiet every fear that was aroused. You have not told us of this hour; and those who warned us of it you declared to be fanatics and evil men, who would ruin us.” But I saw that the ministers did not escape the wrath of God. Their suffering was tenfold greater than that of their people.
In the time when God’s judgments are falling without mercy, oh, how enviable to the wicked will be the position of those who abide “in the secret place of the most High”–the pavilion in which the Lord hides all who have loved Him and have obeyed His commandments!
Maranatha p. 271
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that A and D will be protected and have success in their venture. L
—– I earnestly ask for your prayers, my friends, as I write a very serious article during the GC session. Rich
—–Please pray for Chris that things will work out for his good and according to God’s will.
—–Please pray for Melanie whose dog is dead. It had been her mother’s dog so she felt a special tie to it.
—– Please keep the Blue Mountain SDA Elementary school in your prayers. A tornado destroyed the school last night around 6 pm. Principal and BMA alumnus Rachel W was able to escape unharmed. Nayon
—–I stopped at a motel in a city that had a boil water because of an e-coli warning. I didn’t know this and drank the water. Please pray that I don’t get sick. RJ
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Dear Friends,
When Esther Marie lived in California while attending the Amazing Facts School, she and her Bible study partner were driving to the next study. Suddenly, their car felt like all four tires went flat at once. Then they noticed that the road was moving under them. Thankfully, it was not a serious earthquake, but it was enough to completely scare the two girls.
How many times we are shaken up by the happenings of life. How often the earthquakes of life catch us as off guard. Those “earthquakes” surprise and frighten us as much as they were that day. We feel overwhelmed because this world offers no solid foundation on which to place our feet. The things of this world are constantly changing until we feel that there is nothing on which we can rely.
Praise God! There is one solid, unchanging, reliable source that we can hold onto in this ever-changing world. The Bible tells us who we are and why we are here; and, more importantly, it’s pages are full of the good news of salvation. From Genesis to Revelation we can find the Rock of Ages, our dear Saviour. We can safely build our life upon Him. He assures us, “I am the LORD, I change not.” Mal 3:6 “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47-49
God’s Word is reliable: it never changes. We can place our feet solidly upon it for it will never shake and quake and cause us to stumble. ” Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Ps 119:105; 12:6,7 Our Great Creator watched over His Word and preserved it, so that we may know that it has not been changed. It is the same as when “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21 God oversaw the copying of the Scriptures by faithful men who counted every letter, every word. If the count did not come out right, they started over again. What dedication and patience they had!
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Ps 19:7-11 There is life-changing power in God’s Word. As we read it, the Holy Spirit moves upon our heart and by beholding we are changed. (2 Cor 3:18)
Let us determine to spend time each day studying God’s Word. Let us place our feet solidly upon it during both the good times and the earthquakes of life. Let us hide it’s words in our heart, that we will not stray from the path and fall into the sinful world below.
Rose