Jeremiah 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh… I. GOD PLEADS WITH MEN CHIEFLY THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. This part of our life is a probation, like being at school; it is an apprenticeship to eternal life, a life in which we are to be journeymen and masters of the work of being good and doing good. We are learners here. Some learn their life's lesson thoroughly, and others only partially. God means us to learn; and if a man will not do God's will, he can only learn by the bitter pain of experience. There are only two ways of learning — either by doing God's will, or by disobeying it; either way will bring us to our senses at some time or other, either in this world or in that which is to come. II. CHRISTIANITY URGES THAT IF WE BE WISE EVERY ONE WILL CHOOSE THE HIGHEST AIM OF LIFE. Unless we have some great object in view, our life is a task which is hard to bear; it is like being rubbed with sandpaper, everything seeming to be in unpleasant friction with us. Yet you cannot get a polish without friction; and so the friction of daily life that vexes and torments us, is an experience which is good for us. It is one of God's means of polishing us; but it is unpleasant, like having small pebbles in one's boots. It is, however, a needful discipline. But were we humbly and lovingly to do God's will, as you would have your little child do your will, life would not be a painful task, nor would it be a state of perpetual friction. III. CHRISTIANITY ALSO TEACHES US THAT GOD IS WORTHY TO BE BOTH ESTEEMED AND LOVED. IV. CHRISTIANITY SWEETLY TEACHES US OF THE OTHER LIFE. Have you ever lived in the country, and after being away for a time felt the joy of returning home? (W. Birch.). Parallel Verses KJV: A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. |
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