Turning
“I will overturn, overturn, overturn,
it: and it shall be no more,
until he come whose right it is;
and I will give it him.”
Ezekiel 21:27
“And I will stretch over Jerusalem
the line of Samaria,
and the plummet of the house of Ahab:
and I will wipe Jerusalem
as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it,
and turning it upside down.
And I will forsake the remnant
of mine inheritance,
and deliver them into the hand
of their enemies;
and they shall become a prey
and a spoil to all their enemies;
Because they have done
that which was evil in my sight,
and have provoked me to anger,
since the day their fathers came forth
out of Egypt,
even unto this day.”
2 Kings 21:13-15
The sun is setting on this wicked planet. The sunlight of truth is being rejected by most of its inhabitants and the blackness of midnight is settling upon the hearts of man as never in history. As Jesus said the mind of man is only evil continually. The Holy Spirit is withdrawing because of man’s rejecting His sweet call. Now where do we go to from here to find the heavenly sunshine and lift the deep heavy fog of sin and despair from the life?
In the past there have been preachers of truth who where devout and honest in their sermons. They were what used to be called hell fire preachers. They meant what they said and believed and lived the Bible out in their life.
In the courtroom you hear the sounds of bringing the court to order. The judge has to be firm and steadfast in his law-abiding words.
When Jesus came to the people in the temple He used more than His fist or hammer pounding on the table to get the attention of the people and show that he meant what he said and came to this world for. Jesus made a whip and turned the tables over and so the money scattered all over the floor. His eyes beamed with pure justice that alerted the people of their own evil selfish lives. And they knew Jesus was reading their minds.
Today in our listless world of complacency and care-less attitude, we do not see very often someone who is really in great earnestness who will express the truth in deep urgency of the fact that we have this moment and the next one may be too late. Every day many are dying without hope of eternity with Jesus.
Our house is on fire! Do we want some one to warn us of our danger before it is too late, and suffocate in the inferno. We all have a duty to pass the warning along to others in earnestness so people see that you mean business for real and not just a game or idle tales.
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"As Jesus came into the temple, He took in the whole scene. He saw the unfair transactions. He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness for their sins. He saw the outer court of His temple converted into a place of unholy traffic. The sacred enclosure had become one vast exchange.
Christ saw that something must be done. Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon the people without the proper instruction as to their import. The worshipers offered their sacrifices without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect Sacrifice. And among them, unrecognized and unhonored, stood the One symbolized by all their service. He had given directions in regard to the offerings. He understood their symbolical value, and He saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood. Spiritual worship was fast disappearing. No link bound the priests and rulers to their God. Christ's work was to establish an altogether different worship.
With searching glance, Christ takes in the scene before Him as He stands upon the steps of the temple court. With prophetic eye He looks into futurity, and sees not only years, but centuries and ages. He sees how priests and rulers will turn the needy from their right, and forbid that the gospel shall be preached to the poor. He sees how the love of God will be concealed from sinners, and men will make merchandise of His grace. As He beholds the scene, indignation, authority, and power are expressed in His countenance. The attention of the people is attracted to Him. The eyes of those engaged in their unholy traffic are riveted upon His face. They cannot withdraw their gaze. They feel that this Man reads their inmost thoughts, and discovers their hidden motives. Some attempt to conceal their faces, as if their evil deeds were written upon their countenances, to be scanned by those searching eyes.
The confusion is hushed. The sound of traffic and bargaining has ceased. The silence becomes painful. A sense of awe overpowers the assembly. It is as if they were arraigned before the tribunal of God to answer for their deeds. Looking upon Christ, they behold divinity flash through the garb of humanity. The Majesty of heaven stands as the Judge will stand at the last day,--not now encircled with the glory that will then attend Him, but with the same power to read the soul. His eye sweeps over the multitude, taking in every individual. His form seems to rise above them in commanding dignity, and a divine light illuminates His countenance. He speaks, and His clear, ringing voice--the same that upon Mount Sinai proclaimed the law that priests and rulers are transgressing--is heard echoing through the arches of the temple: "Take these things hence; make not My Father's house an house of merchandise."
Slowly descending the steps, and raising the scourge of cords gathered up on entering the enclosure, He bids the bargaining company depart from the precincts of the temple. With a zeal and severity He has never before manifested, He overthrows the tables of the money-changers. The coin falls, ringing sharply upon the marble pavement. None presume to question His authority. None dare stop to gather up their ill-gotten gain. Jesus does not smite them with the whip of cords, but in His hand that simple scourge seems terrible as a flaming sword. Officers of the temple, speculating priests, brokers and cattle traders, with their sheep and oxen, rush from the place, with the one thought of escaping from the condemnation of His presence.
A panic sweeps over the multitude, who feel the overshadowing of His divinity. Cries of terror escape from hundreds of blanched lips. Even the disciples tremble. They are awestruck by the words and manner of Jesus, so unlike His usual demeanor. They remember that it is written of Him, "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up." Psalm 69:9. Soon the tumultuous throng with their merchandise are far removed from the temple of the Lord. The courts are free from unholy traffic, and a deep silence and solemnity settles upon the scene of confusion.
DA 158
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Are we ready to listen to the warning? Or are we going to do like most people do? They go in their merry way saying to all, if not in word, at least by their actions that all is well. But, the fact is Jesus is coming to put an end to sin and sinners. All who hold onto one speck of sin, or anything of this world are doomed for destruction. It’s not a matter of what we believe It is the fact, because Jesus said it and it will happen at His time. We love His appearing and can hardly wait for the day when Jesus will appear to the salvation of His tried warriors of faith. Glorious day that will be, when there is no more sin!
At one time ignorance was an excuse, but not now, with all the writings everywhere of the truth and light from heaven. So we can’t stick our head in the sand and think we can be saved. It will never happen like that.
