"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger." (Lamentations 1:12)

The Prophet that spoke these words, "Is it nothing to you," was such a sad, solitary man of God, in the midst of a sinful and corrupt nation, running head-long into destruction, and was to brokenhearted by the wickedness of his generation. His soul was so burdened down because of the sins of his people that throughout history he has been known as Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.

He could wish his head was waters, and his eyes were fountains of tears, that he might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of his people.

In fact, once he cried out to God, "Wilt thou be to me a lier and as waters that fail?" He even tried to keep still. He tried to keep silent but God's word was like a fire shut up in his bones, and he could not remain content.

I am sure the other preachers looked upon Jeremiah as a highly nervous, overreacting, excited fellow, over the sins of his day. They probably said, "Jeremiah, you can't convert the world, so take it a little easy. Don't get upset and worked up over what you can't help. If you continue the way you are going, you'll have a nervous breakdown."

The people thought him to be a well meaning man, but a calamity howler, specializing in doomsday messages. I imagine they said, "Why can't he be like the other preachers. They prophesy smooth sayings and say PEACE."

Jeremiah was not that kind of preacher. Others might be able to take it easy and see prosperity around the corner. Others might be able to plant the clouds with sunshine and hail the coming of the brotherhood of man.

But Jeremiah knew which way the wind was blowing. He saw the handwriting of God on the wall. He saw the doom of Jerusalem in giant letters across the sky.

As he looked upon that scattered multitude through tear-dimmed eyes, he cried out, "Is it nothing to you?"

You can see a parallel here of our day because we are living in the midst of a nation that has all the characteristics of the times of Jeremiah.

In fact, it would seem if ever there was a time when men and women would be wide awake with a sense of crises, it's today. When astounding world events tumble over each other in rapid succession.

When governments crash and foundations of society crumble. When there are wars and rumors of wars rumbling around the globe Ä it would seem that a generation living on the edge of a world-wide eruption, could scarcely sleep at night for fear of what the new day would bring.

Yet, on the contrary, the world rushes madly by as it did in the days of the Weeping Prophet. If some faithful watcher dares to sound a danger signal, they brand him as a rabble-rouser, as a doomsday preacher, disturber of the peace, but we cannot keep silent.

The Word is a fire in our bones and we must speak out and warn the people.

INDIFFERENT PASSERS-BY

"Is it nothing to you." Is it nothing to the people of this country that America, without leadership is heading for destruction? Patriotism, if nothing else, should lead us to examine ourselves. Love of country should cause us to check the national emergency.

Multitudes know little about what is wrong and care less. Multitudes dance and drink their time away in the modern palaces and at the dining tables of Belshazzar, while God's finger writes their doom on the wall.

Others run after politicians with promises. How many believe that our iniquities have separated us from our God and that our sins have hid His face from us, that He will not hear.

How many are turning to God's plan for national recovery?

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

We do not expect people at large to understand the cause and cure of the world's distress, for the god of this world has blinded the eyes. But let us turn to the people of God. Those that pass by, indifferent Ä Is it nothing to them?

FAMILY OF GOD

Jeremiah would probably take first things first and ask the preachers of God's family, if he had the opportunity to speak today, "Is it nothing to you?"

Pulpits across this nation are filled with good, honest, educated preachers, but we are not meeting the situation head-on. Some are being pressed between the vice jaws of a daily routine and small duties. They have become cumbered about with much serving," and spend all their time in administrative duties.

They spend more time at the country clubs than they do the church house. They spend more time at the social gatherings than they do in studying and searching the scriptures daily.

They have not time to sit at the feet of the Saviour. They are so busy there is not time for the best things.

Others have gone after the social gospel. It looks like the very thing for such an hour, but is it? It is really only a substitution of preaching rosewater, for repentance.

We are not stricken with sufficient sense for the crises. Distress is all around us. Drought is within us. Poverty is in our own souls. We meet in conferences and agree that something needs to be done. If God does raise up one with the spirit of the Weeping Prophet, he is looked upon as a pessimist.

We declare that God is in the Heaven and all is right with the world. We need to go to our knees and stand in the gate and declare, "all is not well with the world, prepare to meet thy God."

In times of special emergencies, we must tear up roots and climb sycamore trees and press through the crowd. That time is now.

We look back and marvel at the preaching of Finney, Edwards, Whitefield and ask the question, "Where do we have such preaching today?"

I'll ask you Ä "Where do we have such men today who will seek through prayer, until the Word of God becomes a fire in his mouth and people are consumed by it. We need to pray again, "Grant unto thy servant that with all boldness they may speak thy Word."

May we turn to professing Christians at large in the Family of God and ask, Is It Nothing to You?" Ä when pool halls and nightclubs are packed and Hollywood theaters are crowded to the limit? The servants of God who should be sowing, sit comfortably at home on visitation night and never seem to consider they are to be concerned. We need not be surprised that a spiritual awakening revival has not come.

The devil packs out the pleasure places of this world, while churches sit half empty.

Church members sit in a movie or around a television set and cry tears over some divorcee, yell at the top of their voice at a football game, and yet, on Sunday, when some man of God pleads for the souls of men, the silence is so evident you think you are in a graveyard.

"Is it nothing to you?" Ä that Christ came to seek and to save those which are lost? Is it nothing to you that Christ came and called us to be fishers of men? Is it nothing to you and so you live your life as if He had never lived and as if He had never died? Is it nothing to you that souls perish in eternity that you might could have rescued Ä that one who was perishing Ä had you been awake?

Jesus said, Don't say there is yet four months, then comest the harvest."

Some years ago I watched a preacher friend of mine, who was a coin collector, as he worked with his collection. He was very enthusiastic when it came to collecting coins. But I am a collector of lost souls and I ought to be excited about collecting brands from the burning, as he was about collecting coins.

"Will there be any stars, any stars,

in my crown,

When at evening the sun goeth down,

When I wake with the blest, in the

mansions of rest,

Will there be any stars in my crown?"

SINNER

Is it nothing to you that you are living in the closing days of grace and that the wrath of God is upon you?

Is it nothing to you that according to John 3:18 you are condemned already? Does it not matter that Christ died for your sins?

Preacher friend, have you failed to warn them that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God? Knowing the terror of the Lord, do we fail to persuade men? Do we fail to tell of the horrors of hell? Christ said, You will not come to me that ye might have life."

Is it nothing to you that He pleads and

waits for you?

"In the strength of the Lord, let me

labor and pray,

Let me watch as a winner of souls,

That bright stars may be mine in the

glorious day,

His praise like the sea's billows roll."