The Signs of the Times
May 27, 1903
Man's Responsibility
Justice requires that man shall have light, and it also requires that he who refuses to walk in this heaven-sent light, the giving of which cost the death of the Son of God, shall receive punishment. It is a principle of justice that the guilt of the sinner is proportionate to the knowledge given him, but not used, or used in a wrong way. “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin,” Christ said to the Pharisees; “but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.” “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” ST May 27, 1903, par. 1
Christ came that we might have life, and that we might have it “more abundantly.” God expects human beings to accept His Son as the propitiation for sin, and to receive into their lives the truths He came to bring. Those who are overcome in the struggle with sin are without excuse, for the Saviour offers to all power that will enable them to overcome the evil that assails them. ST May 27, 1903, par. 2
If God had failed to act His part, if He had given human beings any reason for neglecting the great salvation offered them, man might plead ignorance as a valid excuse. But He has made the way plain. When has He required any one to do anything without giving him full directions as to what He requires him to do? God would have all men to be saved. He communicates to all a knowledge of His will, that each may say, I know what the Lord desires me to do. ST May 27, 1903, par. 3
To some is given greater light than to others. Each will be judged by the light given him. The degree of light bestowed is the measure of responsibility. Mark the woe pronounced on those who, having seen great light, refused to walk in God's way. Speaking of the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, Christ said, “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” ST May 27, 1903, par. 4
To those busy towns about the Sea of Galilee, Heaven's richest blessings had been freely offered. Day after day the Prince of Life had gone in and out among them. The glory of God, which prophets and kings had longed to see, had shone upon the multitudes that thronged the Saviour's steps. Yet they refused the heavenly Gift. And as they rejected the Son of God, so God rejected them. ST May 27, 1903, par. 5
The people of each age will be judged by the light they have received. The church of today has been favored with great light and many opportunities—favored even as Chorazin and Bethsaida were favored. How Christ longed to see some fruit from the labor He expended on these cities! And today how greatly He longs to see His church standing in freedom from sin! O that those for whom He has wrought so mightily would strive to be like Him in character! How it would cheer His heart to see them partaking of His nature, their works testifying to their faith in God, and to their realization of the obligation resting on them to work for Him! ST May 27, 1903, par. 6
Many wonder at the blindness of the Jews in rejecting Christ. Had we lived in His day, they declare, we would gladly have received His teaching; we would never have been partakers of the guilt of those who rejected the Saviour. But when obedience to God requires self-denial and humiliation, these very ones stifle their convictions and refuse obedience. ST May 27, 1903, par. 7
God expects us to gain every day a clearer understanding of His will. He asks for the consecration to His service of all that we have and are. We are not our own; we have been bought with a price; and we are to use for God all the gifts He has entrusted to us. He places us where we have opportunity to know His will, and He offers us power to fulfil it. If we choose, we may be witnesses for Him. He who ignores his duty, and neglects his opportunities must bear the consequences of his neglect. ST May 27, 1903, par. 8
If you have caught a glimpse of Heaven's truth, turn not away. Be not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Walk in the light you have received, and your pathway will grow brighter and brighter. In the light shining from Calvary you will see the sinfulness of sin, and you will see also God's willingness and power to save from sin. ST May 27, 1903, par. 9