patriarchs and prophets-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in harmony with Heaven。 For three centuries he had walked with God。 Day by
day he had longed for a closer union； nearer and nearer had grown the
communion； until God took him to Himself。 He had stood at the threshold of
the eternal world； only a step between him and the land of the blest； and
now the portals opened； the walk with God； so long pursued on earth；
continued； and he passed through the gates of the Holy Citythe first from
among men to enter there。
88
His loss was felt on earth。 The voice that had been heard day after day in
warning and instruction was missed。 There were some； both of the righteous
and the wicked； who had witnessed his departure； and hoping that he might
have been conveyed to some one of his places of retirement； those who loved
him made diligent search； as afterward the sons of the prophets searched for
Elijah； but without avail。 They reported that he was not； for God had taken
him。
By the translation of Enoch the Lord designed to teach an important lesson。
There was danger that men would yield to discouragement； because of the
fearful results of Adam's sin。 Many were ready to exclaim； 〃What profit is
it that we have feared the Lord and have kept His ordinances； since a heavy
curse is resting upon the race； and death is the portion of us all？〃 But the
instructions which God gave to Adam； and which were repeated by Seth； and
exemplified by Enoch； swept away the gloom and darkness； and gave hope to
man； that as through Adam came death； so through the promised Redeemer would
come life and immortality。 Satan was urging upon men the belief that there
was no reward for the righteous or punishment for the wicked； and that it
was impossible for men to obey the divine statutes。 But in the case of
Enoch； God declares 〃that He is； and that He is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him。〃 Hebrews 11：16。 He shows what He will do for those who
keep His commandments。 Men were taught that it is possible to obey the law
of God； that even while living in the midst of the sinful and corrupt； they
were able； by the grace of God； to resist temptation； and become pure and
holy。 They saw in his example the blessedness of such a life； and his
translation was an evidence of the truth of his prophecy concerning the
hereafter； with its award of joy and glory and immortal life to the
obedient； and of condemnation； woe； and death to the transgressor。
By faith Enoch 〃was translated that he should not see death； 。 。 。 for
before his translation he had this testimony； that he pleased God。〃 Hebrews
11：15。 In the midst of a world by its iniquity doomed to destruction； Enoch
lived a life of such close communion with God that he was not permitted to
fall under the power of death。 The godly character of this prophet
represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall
be
89
〃redeemed from the earth〃 （Revelation 14：3） at the time of Christ's second
advent。 Then； as in the world before the Flood； iniquity will prevail。
Following the promptings of their corrupt hearts and the teachings of a
deceptive philosophy； men will rebel against the authority of Heaven。 But
like Enoch； God's people will seek for purity of heart and conformity to His
will； until they shall reflect the likeness of Christ。 Like Enoch； they will
warn the world of the Lord's second coming and of the judgments to be
visited upon transgression； and by their holy conversation and example they
will condemn the sins of the ungodly。 As Enoch was translated to heaven
before the destruction of the world by water； so the living righteous will
be translated from the earth before its destruction by fire。 Says the
apostle： 〃We shall not all sleep； but we shall all be changed； in a moment；
in the twinkling of an eye； at the last trump。〃 〃For the Lord Himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout； with the voice of the Archangel； and with
the trump of God；〃 〃the trumpet shall sound； and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible； and we shall be changed。〃 〃The dead in Christ shall rise
first： then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds； to meet the Lord in the air： and so shall we ever be
with the Lord。 Wherefore comfort one another with these words。〃 1
Corinthians 15：51； 52；
1 Thessalonians 4：16…18。
（90）
Chapter 7
The Flood
In the days of Noah a double curse was resting upon the earth in consequence
of Adam's transgression and of the murder committed by Cain。 Yet this had
not greatly changed the face of nature。 There were evident tokens of decay；
but the earth was still rich and beautiful in the gifts of God's providence。
The hills were crowned with majestic trees supporting the fruit…laden
branches of the vine。 The vast； gardenlike plains were clothed with verdure；
and sweet with the fragrance of a thousand flowers。 The fruits of the earth
were in great variety； and almost without limit。 The trees far surpassed in
size； beauty； and perfect proportion any now to be found； their wood was of
fine grain and hard substance； closely resembling stone； and hardly less
enduring。 Gold； silver； and precious stones existed in abundance。
The human race yet retained much of its early vigor。 But a few generations
had passed since Adam had access to the tree which was to prolong life； and
man's existence was still measured by centuries。 Had that long…lived people；
with their rare powers to plan and execute； devoted themselves to the
service of God； they would have made their Creator's name a praise in the
earth； and would have answered the purpose for which He gave them life。 But
they failed to do this。 There were many giants； men of great stature and
strength； renowned for wisdom； skillful in devising the most cunning and
wonderful works； but their guilt in giving loose rein to iniquity was in
proportion to their skill and mental ability。
God bestowed upon these antediluvians many and rich gifts； but they used His
bounties to glorify themselves； and turned them into a curse by fixing their
affections upon the gifts instead of the Giver。 They employed the gold and
silver； the precious stones and the choice wood； in the construction of
habitations for themselves； and endeavored to excel one another in
beautifying their dwellings with the most skillful workmanship。 They
91
sought only to gratify the desires of their own proud hearts； and reveled in
scenes of pleasure and wickedness。 Not desiring to retain God in their
knowledge； they soon came to deny His existence。 They adored nature in place
of the God of nature。 They glorified human genius； worshiped the works of
their own hands； and taught their children to bow down to graven images。
In the green fields and under the shadow of the goodly trees they set up the
altars of their idols。 Extensive groves； that retained their foliage
throughout the year； were dedicated to the worship of false gods。 With these
groves were connected beautiful gardens； their long； winding avenues
overhung with fruit…bearing trees of all descriptions； adorned with
statuary； and furnished with all that could delight the senses or minister
to the voluptuous desires of the people； and thus allure them to participate
in the idolatrous worship。
Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of their own
imagination； and as the result； they became more and more debased。 The
psalmist describes the effect produced upon the worshiper by the adoration
of idols。 He says； 〃They that make them are like unto them； so is every one
that trusteth in them。〃 Psalm 115：8。 It is a law of the human mind that by
beholding we become changed。 Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of
truth； purity； and holiness。 If the mind is never exalted above the level of
humanity； if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and
love； the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower。 The worshipers of
false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and
