SOMETHING has been at work in the Duke of Wellington's park at Strath-fieldsaye, tearing, twisting, wrenching, and smashing an oak-tree. It darted between the branches, striking the top of the trunk, which it split clown to the root; at the same moment causing the bark to fly about in all directions, and the top of the tree to fall to the ground with a crash.
On nearer approach I discovered that, hard as its trunk had been, the oak was shivered into a thousand fragments. My first thought was, "Who did this?”
No man could have done it; but it was a little thing to the great God, the Maker of heaven and earth. But a little of the destroying element had been used in working the ruin I beheld; and it were easy for Him to fill the whole atmosphere with this element, spreading destruction all around-
"He can create, and He destroy.”
At some distance, under the shade of a wide-spreading tree, a party of haymakers were assembled at their dinner. To them I spoke of the power and goodness of the God who can thus in one instant destroy the sturdy king of the forest. He shows us thus how easy and quick His judgments may fall upon the wicked, of whom you know it is written, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God " (Psa. 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17)). PSA 9:1717The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalm 9:17)
But judgment is the "strange work" of Him whose power and justice are thus displayed.
It was with all His heart that He sent His Son into the world that we might live through Him. Think of that blessed Jesus, Himself the Creator and Judge of all, nailed to the cross between two thieves, and suffering there in our stead. He drank for us the bitter cup of God's wrath against sin. God's holy judgment alighted upon Him that we might find in Him a shelter from the storm. “And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa. 32:22And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)). ISA 32:22And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. (Isaiah 32:2)
It is only by the rejection of this love, by refusing this Saviour, that you can fall under the storm of God's judgment at the last.