LESSON XXV

Questions to Lesson 25^{*Of what is great wickedness a sign? What said Paul? What does perilous mean? Repeat a part of the reason given. Among these sins, which is particularly noticed? By what can we test our submissiveness to God? Repeat 1 John 4:20. What is well-pleasing to the Lord?}

Great wickedness is one of the signs of the last days. Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5. On account of this, there will be great danger that our love to God will be grow cold. Our Saviour said, Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Said Paul, In the last days perilous times shall come. Perilous, means fall of danger. And why are the times perilous? What is the cause of danger? The Apostle gives the reason. For, says he, men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, etc. The danger is, that living among such people, we shall be led astray by their example and be lost. And what increases the danger is, that these same persons have a form of godliness. Professing religion while they are lovers of themselves, lovers of the world and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.BIC 58.1

Among the sins which are a sign of the last days, is disobedience to parents; a sin which is so common at the present day, that the young are in great danger on this account. You cannot, my young friends, by looking at the examples around you, form any just estimation of the honor that is due to parents, form their children. Therefore unless you carefully cultivate a due respect for your parents, you are in danger of being swept away by this flood of iniquity. May God help you to realize the danger.BIC 58.2

Perhaps there is no better way to try ourselves, to know whether we love God and are willing to obey him, than by our willingness to submit to our parents. An apostle says, If a man say, I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? Now if any one says, I obey God, and does not obey his parents, does he not prove himself a liar? How can we say we submit to our Father in heaven, whom we have not seen, while we are unwilling to submit to our earthly parents whom we have seen, and whom God has commanded us to honor and obey? We shall do well to ask ourselves questions like these whenever it seems hard to heed the advice, or yield to the authority of our parents.BIC 59.1

My dear young friends, do you wish to please God? Then listen to the voice of inspiration. “Children obey your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord.” Colossians 3:20.BIC 59.2