i. 4. _They have forsaken the Lord._
How many souls are guilty of forsaking the Lord? They forsake Him by
yielding to what are called "little sins."[1] Then they are further
removed from Him by habitual wickedness.
+I. This conduct is surprising.+ Is it not most surprising that men
should forsake the great God, their Creator and Benefactor? He is
all-powerful. He is all-wise. He is all-loving. The soul cannot have
a better helper in difficulty, or a truer and wiser friend in sorrow.
From the Godward aspect of the case nothing is more surprising than
that men should forsake God; but from the manward aspect of things
this is not surprising, for man is carnal, and the carnal mind is
enmity against God. Satan draws the soul from God. It chases a
phantom into the great darkness, and finds in the end that it has
wandered from the Infinite Being.
+II. This conduct is criminal.+ We should esteem it criminal to
forsake a parent, to forsake a benefactor, to forsake a master. But
this offence is small compared to that of the soul when it wanders
from the Lord. It exhibits _insubordination._ It rejects the Supreme
Moral Ruler of the universe. It exhibits _ingratitude._ It forsakes
its Redeemer. It exhibits _folly,_ for away from Christ the soul
cannot obtain true rest.
+III. This conduct is inexcusable.+ The soul can give no true reason,
or valid excuse, for such unholy conduct. The Lord has dealt
bountifully with it, and therefore it has no ground of complaint. He
is attractive in character. He is winning in disposition. He is
kindly in the discipline of life. He gives holy influences to draw
the soul to Himself. Hence man has no excuse for forsaking God.
+IV. This conduct is common.+ The world of humanity has forsaken God.
One by one souls are returning, and are being welcomed to Christ and
to heaven. Many agencies are at work for the return of souls to the
heavenly kingdom. Let us seek to make them efficient. Let us pray
that they may be successful. Have you forsaken God?--_J. S. Exell._