NICHOLSON MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22099, 1 November 1933, Page 5

NICHOLSON MISSION

“ To-night I wish to speak on the subject ‘ Does God Give Men Up? ’” said the Rev. W. P. Nicholson as he opened his address to a large audience in the Concert Chamber last night. “ Men and women to-day cannot five in sin, riot in crookedness, and revel in unrighteousness, and play fa£t and loose with the things of God and then, whenever they wish, turn to God and be converted. There is abroad to-day the firm impression among large numbers of people that no matter how they live and how they act they can be saved on their own terms, at their own time, and at their convenience.

“ I cannot see such 'in God’s word,” continued the speaker. “ I read, ‘ Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.’ Does God let a man go then, does He bid him good-bye, does He give him up? you ask, said Mr Nicholson. “ For your answer turn with me to Romans, i, where three times in a few verses we read, ‘God gave them up,’ When you find a thought repeated three times in a single chapter you can be sure that this is a most important matter. Now, I want to show you more clearly just how these men and women spoken of in this chapter forced God to give them up, and how in the days in which we are now there are men and women acting in an exactly similar way. Let us consider the attitude of mind they had that provoked God to give them up so we may be warned. In verse 24 we read that God gave them up because, although they had a knowledge of Him, they were not thankful, they would not worship , Him. How many young men and 7/omen to-day are in the same position when they say, ‘ I had too much religion when 1 was young.- I want no more.’ 1 want to warn you, friends, u you are taking this attitude, just how dangerous it is. You may be getting near the line where God says. Go. The speaker pointed out that through these people “ vain in their imaginations and professing themselves to be wise, they became . fool«.”_ They changed the glory of God and their minds were darkened. “In verse 26,” he continued, “we read, ‘ They _ changed the truth of God into a lie,’ just as to-day people exchange the truth of God as given in God’s word for the lies and falsities of all the theories and cults and ‘ isms that abound at the present time. God gave them up, and He just as surely gives up people who do likewise to-day. Men and women nowadays do not want to know God as He is revealed in the Bible, and if they persist in their attitude God will let them go, for we read, ‘ For this cause God shall send them a strong delusion that they might believe a he that they all might be damned ’ (li Thess. u, 11). These are strong-, terms, but 'they are from God’s inspired word,’ continued the' speaker, “ I plead with you people present who may havg_adopted this attitude not to force God’s hand. 'God is not mocked; whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.’ But remember that God’s word also says, God is long-suffering and merciful, not willing that any should perish. He that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved,’ ” concluded Mr Nicholson. The meetings will be continued during the week. To-night’s meeting will be in the Town Hall, where Mr Nicholson will speak on ‘ The Second Coming of Christ.