“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side?” Exodus 32:26. The trumpeters caught up the words, and sounded them through the trumpet, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” Exodus 32:26. All who were repentant had the privilege of taking their stand beside Moses. “And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.” Exodus 32:27, 28. There was no partiality, no hypocrisy, no confederating to shield the guilty. For the terror of the Lord was upon the people. (TM 102.1) MC VC

Those who had shown so little sense of the presence and the greatness of God, and who, after the exhibition of His majesty, were ready to depart from the Lord, would be a continual snare to Israel. They were slain, as a rebuke to sin, and to put a fear upon the people to dishonor God. (TM 103.1) MC VC

Danger of Self-Pleasing VC

I cannot now consider this history further, but I ask you in every city, in every town, in every household, I ask every individual, to study the lesson of this scripture, bearing in mind the words of inspiration, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12. Here is presented the only election that is brought to view in the word of God. It is those who take heed lest they fall that will be accepted at last. There can be no presumption more fatal than that which leads men to venture upon a course of self-pleasing. In view of this solemn warning from God, should not fathers and mothers take heed? Should they not faithfully point out to the youth the dangers that are constantly arising to lead them away from God? Many allow the youth to attend parties of pleasure, thinking that amusement is essential for health and happiness; but what dangers are in that path! The more the desire for pleasure is gratified, the more it is cultivated and the stronger it becomes. The life experience is largely made up of self-gratification in amusement. God bids us to beware. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12. (TM 103.2) MC VC