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PART V
“LET NO MAN SEEK HIS OWN,
BUT EVERY MAN ANOTHER’S WEALTH.” I Cor. 10:24.
Among the most compassionate incentives to prepare for the SLE is the fact that we are called to give comfort to the young, the elderly, the sickly and ill, the mentally impaired, the blind and the crippled. For we cannot expect them to suffer at the hands of those fully surrendered to Satan's control. And we shall witness the loss of much life within our refuge. The LORD ordained this work for their safety as well as the able bodied.
To not make efforts in this simply humane principle, and in this time of peace is to excuse Satan's cruelty to life. “What saith the Scripture?” “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.” “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” Deut. 15.7,8; Prov. 14:31; 11: 17
For us to allow the suffering of those who we know are to suffer, without our intervention to avert as much of their pain as is humanly possible is to become an accomplice with those who inflict the suffering (Prov.1:10-19). In Christ’s day it was a maxim among the Jews that to neglect to save life is to kill. On this principle Jesus gave the parable of the good Samaritan (Lu.10:30-36).
Both godly compassion and essential logic require that it is better that those who are not strong enough to stand through the “time of trouble” be laid to rest in our common embrace. Their next waking moment will be The Resurrection (Dan. 12:2); and, being at our side once more, witness Jesus return, and ascend to heaven with all the saints (I Thess.4:17). The only other option for these dear Christian souls is to force upon them the sure result of being cruelly treated at the hands of the deceived “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3), thus, fulfilling a profound meaning to the Saviour’s words: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matt. 7:6.
In summation, Christians cannot claim to care for their fellow man while withholding truth or provisions that are needful for their spiritual or temporal safety. This is why the LORD admonishes: “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Eze.3:18. |