A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

EDUCATION

Today there is much seeking after knowledge. A good education for boys and girls, young men and young women, is uppermost in the minds of many. But what is a good education? None can deny that today our young people should be equipped with the “tools” needed for their future occupations in order to support themselves and their families. Few people would suggest that a farmer of today make use of the equipment and machinery of half a century ago, and this is likewise true in the construction of buildings, bridges, roads, etc. Therefore much more knowledge is required today for these occupations, as also in business, accounting, law, teaching, nursing, etc.

However, there is a knowledge which is of far greater value. We refer to the knowledge of “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom He hast sent” — for this is life eternal. It is our wish and prayer that there may be many seekers of this knowledge among our young people. It is a God-given knowledge, and for this we need the Holy Spirit as our instructor. The deceitfulness of knowledge without true wisdom is clearly set forth by J. C. Ryle in his explanation which follows of what Paul saw in the city of Athens, a city known for its scholars.

What did Paul see at Athens?

“The answer of the text is clear and unmistakable. He saw a “city wholly given to idolatry.” Idols met his eyes in every street. The temples of idol gods and goddesses occupied every prominent position. The magnificent statue of Minerva, at least forty feet high according to Pliny, towered above the Acropolis, and caught the eye from every point. A vast system of idol-worship overspread the whole place, and thrust itself everywhere on his notice. The ancient writer Pausanias expressly says that “the Athenians surpassed all states in the attention which they paid to the worship of the gods.” In short, the city, as the marginal reading says, was “full of idols.”

And yet this city, I would have you remember, was probably the most favourable specimen of a heathen city which St. Paul could have seen. In proportion to its size, it very likely contained the most learned, civilized, philosophical, highly educated, artistic, intellectual population on the face of the globe. But what was it in a religious point of view? The city of wise men like Socrates and Plato, — the city of Solon, and Pericles, and Demosthenes, — the city of Eschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Thucydides, — the city of mind, and intellect, and art, and taste, — this city was “wholly given to idolatry.” If the true God was unknown at Athens, what must He have been in the darker places of the earth? If the eye of Greece was so spiritually dim, what must have been the condition of such places as Babylon, Ephesus, Tyre, Alexandria, Corinth, and even of Rome? If men were so far gone from the light in a green tree, what must they have been in the dry?

What shall we say to these things? What are the conclusions to which we are irresistibly drawn by them?

Ought we not to learn, for one thing, the absolute need of a Divine revelation, and of teaching from heaven? Leave man without a Bible, and he will have a religion of some kind, for human nature, corrupt as it is, must have a God. But it will be a religion without light, or peace, or hope. “The world by wisdom knew not God” (1 Cor. i. 21). Old Athens is a standing lesson which we shall do well to observe. It is vain to suppose that nature, unaided by revelation, will ever lead fallen man to nature’s God. Without a Bible, the Athenian bowed down to stocks and stones, and worshipped the work of his own hands. Place a heathen philosopher, — a Stoic or an Epicurean, — by the side of an open grave, and ask him about a world to come, and he could have told you nothing certain, satisfactory, or peace-giving.

Ought we not to learn, for another thing, that the highest intellectual training is no security against utter darkness in religion? We cannot doubt that mind and reason were highly educated at Athens, if anywhere in the heathen world. The students of Greek philosophy were not unlearned and ignorant men. They were well versed in logic, ethics, rhetoric, history, and poetry. But all this mental discipline did not prevent their city being a “city wholly given to idolatry.” And are we to be told in the twentieth century, that reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, history, languages, and physical science, without a knowledge of the Scriptures, are sufficient to constitute education? God forbid! We have not so learned Christ. It may please some men to idolize intellectual power, and to speak highly of the debt which the world owes to the Greek mind. One thing, at any rate, is abundantly clear. Without the knowledge which the Holy Ghost revealed to the Hebrew nation, old Greece would have left the world buried in dark idolatry. A follower of Socrates or Plato might have talked well and eloquently on many subjects, but he could have never answered the jailor’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts xvi. 30). He could never have said in his last hour, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Ought we not to learn, for another thing, that the highest excellence in the material arts is no preservative against the grossest superstition? The perfection of Athenian architecture and sculpture is a great and undeniable fact. The eyes of St. Paul at Athens beheld many a “thing of beauty” which is still “a joy forever” to artistic minds. And yet the men who conceived and executed the splendid buildings of Athens were utterly ignorant of the one true God. The world nowadays is well-nigh drunk with selfconceit about our so-called progress in arts and sciences. Men talk and write of machinery and manufactures, as if nothing were impossible. But let it never be forgotten that the highest art or mechanical skill is consistent with a state of spiritual death in religion. Athens, the city of Phidias, was a “city wholly given to idolatry.” An Athenian sculptor might have designed a matchless tomb, but he could not have wiped a single tear from a mourner’s eye.

These things ought not to be forgotten. They ought to be carefully pondered. They suit the times in which we live. We have fallen on a sceptical and an unbelieving age. We meet on every side with doubts and questionings about the truth and value of revelation. “Is not reason alone sufficient?” — “Is the Bible really needful to make men wise unto salvation?” — “Has not man a light within, a verifying power, able to guide him to truth and God?” Such are the inquiries which fall thick as hail around us. Such are the speculations which disquiet many unstable minds.

One plain answer is an appeal to facts. The remains of heathen Egypt, Greece, and Rome shall speak for us. They are preserved by God’s providence to this very day as monuments of what intellect and reason can do without revelation. The minds which designed the temples of Luxor and Carnac, or the Parthenon or Coliseum, were not the minds of fools. The builders who executed their designs did better and more lasting work than any contractor can do in modern times. The men who conceived the sculptured friezes, which we know as the Elgin Marbles, were trained and intellectual to the highest degree. And yet in religion these men were darkness itself (Eph. v. 8). The sight which St. Paul saw at Athens is an unanswerable proof that man knows nothing which can do his soul good without a Divine revelation.”

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

This month our quiz is about the 9th commandment and again you will find an article in this issue which tells us some things about the meaning of it. We hope that all of you are reading as many of the articles as you can, or have your father or mother read them to you, as well as doing the Bible quiz each month. It is in this way that we learn so much more.

The first letters of the answers will spell out four words of the ninth commandment. Here are the questions: The complete ninth commandment reads — “Thou shalt not bear false

witness against thy_________”

Judah said unto Joseph, “What shall we say unto my lord? or how shall we clear_________God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants.”

In the book of John, we read that Pilate said unto Jesus, “What is _________.”

Cain said, “I know not (where Abel is). Am I my_________keeper?”

And Jacob said unto his father, “I am ___________thy firstborn.”

Peter said, “_________, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?”

Zacchaeus said, “If I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I________him fourfold.”

Joseph’s brothers took his coat, dipped it in blood, and brought it to their father, and said, “This have we________”

Luke tells us that John the Baptist told the soldiers who came to him, “Do violence to no man, neither ________any falsely.”

A certain________asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”

To what woman did Peter say, “How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?”

Matthew tells us that the chief priest, and_________and all the council sought false witness against Jesus, but found none.

Against Stephen were set up false ___________which said, “This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words…”

When__________dwelt in Gerar and they asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.”

In instructing the people, the Lord Jesus said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as_________”

Jezebel instructed the rulers of a city to set two men, sons of Belial, to bear witness against_________

To whom did King Ahab say, “Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?”

When Philip preached in Samaria, there was a man called_________ who had before bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one.

Stephen was cast out of the city, and they_________him.

The answers to the quiz of last month are as follows —

“Thou Shalt Not Steal” Exodus 20:15

Treasures Matthew 6:20

Hid Joshua 7:20–21

Observed Mark 10:17–22

Unjust Luke 18:10–11

Subtilty Genesis 27:33–35

Hebrews Genesis 40:9–15

Ai Joshua 7:1–12

Labour Ephesians 4:28

Thieves Luke 19:45–46

Night Matthew 28:11–15

Ox Exodus 22:1

Thieves Luke 10:30–37

Servant Genesis 44:15–17

Thief John 12:4–6

Exact Luke 3:12–13

Accusation Luke 19:8

Laban Genesis 31:26–30

Answers to the Bible quiz were received during the past month from the following boys and girls —

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Jonathan Van Beek

David Van Beek

Mary Van Tilburg

Leah Van Tilburg

Doris Vande Hoef

Arnold Rus

Shirley Rus

Harlan Rozeboom

Richard Rozeboom

Joanne Beeke

Cheryl Kalee

Karel Kalee

Debbie Kalee

John Verhey

Dave Verhey

Carol Van Bemden

Denise Zaremba

Donna Zaremba

Marilyn De Maagd

Gordon Boluyt

Steven Boluyt

Mary Vander Male

Lilly Ann Vander Male

Sandy Van Giessen

Gary Van Giessen

Randy Van Giessen

Laura Rosendall

Jimmy Rosendall

Henry Rosendall

Christine Koppert

Elizabeth Koppert

Alice Koppert

Nelly Koppert

Susan Van Ess

Richard Van Ess

Peter Koppert

Billy Van Wingerden

Kenny Van Wingerden

Larry Van De Vendel

Howard Van De Vendel

Linda Van De Vendel

Sharon Van De Vendel

Robert Kamp

Rich Kamp

Barbara Kamp

Mary Van Zweden (2)

Janet Van Zweden (2)

Denise Van Ravenswaay

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Albert Bouma (2)

John Van Zweden (2)

Ralph Van Zweden (2)

Joan Van Zweden (2)

Mark Van Zweden

Gary Roozenboom

Bill Moerdyk

Bruce Blok

Gary Blok

Ruth Meeuwse

Kay Meeuwse

Arline Kieboom

Ella Kieboom

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Amy Mieras Wendy Van Egdom Amy Lou Kaat

Tim Van Stelle Janet Van Driel

Gretta Noorlander

Patricia Noorlander

Ken Noorlander

Teresa Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Shirley Slotsema

Tim Westrate

James Westrate

Billy Blaak

Hans Kuperus (2)

Arlene Kuperus (2)

Miriam Kuperus (2)

David Kuperus (2)

Karel Boonzaayer

Ruth Boonzaayer

Esther Boonzaayer

Maria Boonzaayer

Marilyn Van Grouw

Nicholas J. Bush

Adrian Bush

Mary Frens

Sharon Frens

Julie Frens

Kaye Vande Berg

Mark Vande Berg

Ruth Vande Berg

Neeltje Heykoop

Cornelia Heykoop

Helen Heykoop

Nick Greendyk

Beverly South way

Barbara Southway

Janet Remus

John Remus

Linda Remus

John Korevaar

Adrian Korevaar

Andy Korevaar

Abraham Korevaar

Joanne Overeem

Jerry Overeem

Kathy M Overeem

Gywen Hoogendoorn

LaRae Hoogendoorn

Jeanette Slingerland

John Blok

Lisa Carlson

Marcia Spaans

Sheryl Spaans

Ken Spaans

Albert Van Grouw

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Karl Van Oostenbrugge

Carol Wallenburg

Wanita Wallenburg

Arlene Wallenburg

Henrietta Stapel

Betty Kamp

Henry Kamp

Mary Kamp

Linda Kamp

Andy Walma

Jackie Walma

Tom Greendyk

Billy Greendyk

David Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

Richard Rosendall

John Rosendall

Dan Meeuwse

Mark Meeuwse

Mark Heystek

Joanne Geerling

Janet Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Randy Teunissen

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Todd William Vande Stouwe

Sue Vander Boon

Kenneth Rus

Ruth Ann Marie VanDalen

Jacob Van Dalen

Joan Spaans

Jim Van Giessen

Kathy Van Giessen

Anna Moore

Leah Moore

Carl Moore

Joanne Vande Waerdt (2)

Linda Vande Waerdt (2)

Wayne Vander Waerdt (2)

Carolyn Van Koeveringe

Gary Kwekel

Hermina Faye Hubers

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Mareia D. Hubers

John Marinus Goeman

David M. Goeman

Karen Goeman

Jeanette Vandenberg

Henry Vandenberg

Cordy Vandenberg

John Vandenberg

Paul Vandenberg

Neil D. Mast

Jane R. Mast

Joylynn Mast

Judy Slingerland

William Slingerland

linda Bleeker

Mark Bleeker

George Van Strien

Donna Lynn Densel

Rhonda Van Voorst

Gerarda Grisnich

? Hoogendoorn

Raymond Rieder

Kristine Rieder

Debbie Droogers

Bill Droogers

Conny Boesterd

Francina Boesterd

Alfred Hup

Marlene Van Veldhuizen

Marinus Slingerland

Meta de Peuter

Jeanette Slingerland

Marianne Van Hoepen

John Van Hoepen

Dave Pluim

Karen Easterhoff

Gladys Van Bochove

Delia Vanden Brink

Stephan Brink

Roy Brink

Ruth L. Boerkoel

Neal Boerkoel

Barbara Berkenbush

Thomas Berkenbush

Arlene Southway

Peter Southway

Kevin Verbeke

Robert Verbeke

Willem Den Boer

Margaret Den Boer

Willy de Leeuw

John Martin Vander Wiele

Jane Ellen Vander Wiele

Gerrit de Leeuw

Christon de Leeuw

Janet Groen

And now let us see if we can answer our mail —

KRISTINE RIEDER — How well is your garden doing, Kristine? Have you been able to pick some of your crop already? Then all the hard work of planting and weeding is forgotten, and you can enjoy the results. What are you doing during your vacation?

WENDY VAN EGDOM — It was nice to hear from you, Wendy. How far are you from Norwich? Do you also help on the farm? What are your jobs? Your answers were all correct. Do you have any problem finding the answers?

MARGARET DEN BOER — Congratulations with the new brother, Margaret. Does he still cry a lot? I am sure he wants to let you know that something is bothering him, or perhaps he is just hungry. Our family is all well.

JOANNE GEERLING — At the moment we are having real cool weather for this time of the year, Joanne. It seems to be the same in most parts of the country. How did you do on your exams? Are you quite happy that school is finished for a while?

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — When do you plan to go to Canada, Janet? Perhaps you will already have been there by the time you receive this issue. I saw your grandfather and grandmother in Grand Rapids this past week. We hope they arrived home safely again.

CAROLYN VAN KOEVERINGE — What a nice long letter, Carolyn. Is everyone feeling better again at your house? We are quite busy here in Kalamazoo, too. In the Bible we read that those who are not willing to work should not eat. Perhaps your father will show you where to find this.

FRANCINA BOESTERD — It was real nice to hear from you again, Francina. We are wondering whether you had to move out of your house because of the water. At one time the Lord sent a great flood because of the wickedness of the people. Do you think that people are better today than they were then?

DEBBIE DROOGERS — We were glad to hear that Marsha was home from the hospital, Debbie. Did you have to replant your garden because of the frost? Even. in this we see that all things to our good are dependent upon the Lord’s blessing.

DELLA VANDEN BRINK — If you are working on the 25th book of “Words of Wisdom,” you are doing real well, Delia. The story of Jeroboam, just like many other Bible stories, has a lesson for all of us. Did your aunt and uncle and cousins arrive yet?

HENRIETTA STAPEL — Have you had enough rain of late, Henrietta? It was quite dry here for a few weeks,

but then we had ample rain again. I suppose you miss your minister when he is away for several weeks. Say Hello to your parents and the rest of the family for us.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — Do you like to visit the farm, John? There are always so many new and different things to see and do, and especially if you have always lived in the city. Can you tell me of some of the people in the Bible who were farmers?

GARY ROOZENBOOM — Eight and one-half inches of rain during a month is quite a lot of rain, Gary. We can see that farmers are very dependent upon the Lord’s blessing in providing rain, sun, and warmth in order for things to grow. But what about those in other occupations — are they also so dependent upon the Lord?

CONNY BOESTERD — How is the minister’s new house coming along, Conny? Where is it located? I can imagine that everyone in the congregation is anxious to have it finished. How are your grandfather and grandmother at present?

RUTH ANN MARIE VAN DALEN — Your answers were received in ample time, Ruth Ann. Are you planning to take another trip this summer, if all is well? It is a good thing that we don’t have to depend on horses for travelling, as then we wouldn’t go very far. RICHARD ALLEN ROZEBOOM — Wasn’t your church air-conditioned before, Richard? Or did they get a new air conditioner? Your answers were all correct. Did you find the questions were easy this time? How is the corn crop coming this year?

RAYMOND RIEDER — We don’t have a garden this year, Raymond. We don’t have too much space for one, and also seem to lack time to take care of it. How far is it to Connecticut? Do you like to travel? Perhaps some day you could make a trip to Michigan.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — What are you doing during the summer months, Joan? Do you ever hear from the friends you met in New Mexico? We were glad to see that your grandfather was able to be at the Synod after being in the hospital so recently.

GERARDA GRISNICH — It was nice that your grandparents could make a trip to British Columbia, Gerarda. Did they have a good trip? I am sure they were happy to be home again. Give them our greetings, also your parents.

MARY VAN ZWEDEN — Your letter is the last one, Mary. There are not quite so many this time, but I am sure everyone is busy outdoors much of the time. They say that the days are longer at this time of the year. It is true — it is light longer, but they also pass by as a shadow or as a tale that is told.

Again we have reached the end for this month. May the Lord guide and protect us during the summer months, whether we travel or stay at home. We again thank all of you for your answers and letters, and hope that God’s Word will not be put aside, as is done with your school books during the summer months, but that you will find more time to read and to study it and to pray for His blessing upon it.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

(Once more - my address is 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.)

A YOUNG SERVICEMAN’S LETTER TO HIS MOTHER

Wednesday —10:00 P.M.

MY DEAREST MOTHER:

Here it is after ten o’clock, the lights are out upstairs, so I am in the Latrine writing this to you. Many a time 1 have started to write to you, and every time something came up.

Mother, how I really like to hear from you; I really am glad to hear from you, especially when you write about the church and the sermons. I miss them so and on Sundays I am always thinking of you. Sometimes on Sunday nights I walk around, wishing that I could go to church, and that some day I may return to again hear the true Word.

I am lonely at times, thinking of you, Dad and my dear brothers, and above all that we all have a soul. Mother, tell my brother much about these things. I know that we can do nothing; because we are helpless with ourselves; but it may be that the Lord may work in his heart. He has to go to the Army soon; the sin and wickedness that lies therein, and we know not of the future. Who can yet spare anyone of us, but the Lord. Many times I think of my brothers and pray for them, but only the work of the Lord can spare us.

I miss my home and parents, but yet I like the Army because I have to be in it, so I might as well make the best of it. You don’t know what it is to have good parents like I have when you’re in the Army, and, especially, a mother who loves her children with a Christian love; who prays for them, and who desires for them the greatest of all gifts, the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and Redeemer; not in the way of the modern beliefs, but in the true new life. Mother, as I look over the boys in camp here, I say to myself; none has a better mother than I have; because my mother has that desire in her heart that her children may be safe for time and eternity. Truly, then, I have the best mother and I can say that I feel it and appreciate it. Yet why am I to have such a mother as you. Mother, I can only say it is a great blessing.

When I received your package a few weeks ago, I was very glad for everything, and very thankful, but I was more pleased with those little religious sermon booklets than with anything else. I really mean it, I was happier with those booklets than with all the niceties of the package. I read the booklets whenever I have an opportunity, I also read my Bible, and before I go to bed, I read my books and pray. Oh, how much those books mean to me; the more I read them, the more there is to know and understand, and yet I don’t read them enough.

We went on a ten-mile hike today, and I am a bit tired. Here it is ten-thirty and I am all alone thinking of you all. I’m doing my best to get ahead and will try to get ahead, but we never know what is in store for us. There is only one thing that matters and that is if we are prepared to die. Worldly positions and money mean nothing, church rolls and records mean nothing, for the Lord looks within and not on the outside. We are not prepared so easily as most people believe in accepting the Lord. Nay, we cannot come, will not come, we haven’t that desire to seek the Lord, unless it pleases the Lord to give us that desire. In ourselves, we have nothing, there is no good in us, and as I read tonight yet — “Yea Lord, what is man that Thou thinkest upon him.” Truly we live in a terrible condition, and so carelessly let the time go by. The days are also bad, we talk of peace when there is no peace, for we are still fighting a war.

Yet today, I heard a General talk and he said that we would be doing good, if we won the war by the end of 1945, so mother, the battle is long, the course is hard, and who may yet see the outcome? Well, dear mother, I am getting sleepy so I will start to close now and hope that you may receive my letter, that the Lord may bless you, that His Holy Face may shine upon you, and that you may feel the Lord’s presence within your heart. I know you have a burdened heart with two boys so far away and another ready to go, but what can I do to make your burden lighter? I know that you will go to church much and never forget that I am always thinking of you, and pray that some day all of us may return to a mother we love — Love — Your Son

Albert B.

Shortly after Albert wrote this letter to his mother he was killed in action on January 16, 1945, at the age of 20. He was buried in Epinal, France and awaits the resurrection morn.

HOW WOULD YOU PERSONALLY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

CHILDREN:

Do you honor the Lord as Albert tried to do?

Do you read your Bible daily?

Do you attend God’s house on the Sabbath day?

Do you respect your parents as Albert did?

PARENTS:

Do you take your children to church — not send them?

Do you have the spiritual welfare of your children at heart as Albert’s mother did?

Do you pray for their soul’s salvation?

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT IN VERSE

I must not let my tongue a word of falsehood speak,
Which may my humblest neighbor wrong and God’s commandments break.
Nor must I seek to throw suspicion on his deeds,
For I may not the motive know from which the act proceeds.

I must not harshly judge when others go astray,
Or in my spirit bear a grudge to prompt the words I say.
For when I look within and see the evil there,
I scarcely think another’s sin can with my own compare!

Then let the law of love my guide in all things be,
And may I by its judgment prove the good and ill I see.
Dear Savior, let me keep Thy pattern in my view,
And always strive to think and speak as Thou would’st have me do.

(Young People’s Magazine)

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

This commandment is about bearing witness. At once the question arises — what is it to bear witness? As commonly understood, this refers to what takes place in courts of law where a person is being tried for some offence. Suppose you are at the market and while you are standing there, two men start quarrelling. From words they turn to blows. At last one of them seriously injures the other. If the wounded man were to die, the other will be brought into court by and by and be tried for his life. Then you and the rest of the people who saw the fight would be summoned to court as witnesses. This means that you would have to stand up there and tell all you know about the quarrel and all you saw and heard. When you were telling this you would be bearing witness. If you gave a correct account, you would be a true witness, but if you kept back part of what you saw and heard, you would be bearing false witness. It is a great sin to bear false witness because, before a person begins to speak as a witness in court, he is obliged to take a solemn oath that he will tell nothing but the truth; and to tell a lie after this is very dreadful. Simple-minded persons and very young children are not allowed to appear as witnesses in court because they are not supposed to understand how solemn the oath is which they are required to take before they speak as witnesses.

We should feel as if we were in court at all times when we open our lips to speak. This world is like a great court. God is the Judge. Whenever we speak, we speak as witnesses about some person or thing. God the Judge keeps a record of everything we say. Whenever we say anything that is not true, we are bearing false witness. God says, “For every idle word we speak, we must give account in the day of judgment.” And if for every idle word, much more for every false word. This commandment requires us to keep our tongues from evil speaking, lying, and slandering. Slandering means saying anything that will injure the character of another person. Those who do this break the commandment.

This commandment is so plain that it needs very little explanation. In talking about it then, it will only be necessary to give some reasons why we should not tell a lie or bear false witness. Whether I speak of breaking this commandment or bearing false witness or of lying, I mean the same thing.

One reason why we should never tell a lie or bear false witness is because it is a base thing. Who was the first person of whom we know that ever told a lie? Satan. Where was this lie told? In the garden of Eden. Satan bore false witness against God. He contradicted God. He told Eve that she would not die if she ate of the forbidden fruit — that it would do her good instead of harm. Satan will be known forever as the first liar. This is the reason why the Bible calls him the “father of lies.” In this way he got Adam and Eve turned out of Eden; and filled the world with misery, sorrow and death. This was base of Satan. But every liar or slanderer, every one who bears false witness is becoming like Satan. To lie is to do Satan’s work. This is his mark. Who wants to bear it? No greater offence can be given to a respectable, honorable person, than to call him a liar. And the reason is that all such persons know how contemptible it is to tell a lie. A false tongue is a disgraceful thing; but one that speaks the truth is an honor and glory.

Another reason that we ought not to do it is, because it is wicked. There are two things which show us how wicked it is to bear false witness. What God says of those who do it, and what God does with them. These both show how wicked it is. Look at what God says of those who lie or bear false witness. He says in one place — “Ye shall not deal falsely, neither lie one to another.” (Leviticus 19:11). He says in another place — “The Lord hates a false witness that speaketh lies.” (Proverbs 6:19). Again He says — “He that speaketh lies shall not escape.” (Proverbs 19:5). And in another place — “Lying lips are an abomination unto the Lord.” (Proverbs 12:22). How fearfully wicked that must be about which God uses language so strong as this!

But then look at what God does with liars. You know we read in the last two chapters of the New Testament of a glorious vision which the Apostle John had of heaven. As it appeared before him, it was more beautiful than anything he had ever seen or thought of. It was like a great city. Its foundations were of precious stones. Its wall were made of jewels. Its gates were made of pearls. Its streets were paved with golden stones, but the gold was like crystal, as transparent as glass. A river of clear water flowed through the city. On each side of the river the tree of life was growing. He saw the throne of God and of the Lamb within the city. There is no night there, no sorrow, no crying, no sin. He saw the angels going in and out of the city. He saw the redeemed from among men there too. They were clothed in white raiment and were walking with Jesus beside that beautiful river.

Presently he came to the gate of the city, and there he learned who they were who should never go into that beautiful place. Liars were among those debarred. “There shall in no wise enter herein, anything that maketh a lie!” Think of this. No admittance for liars. This is written as with a sunbeam over the gate of heaven. Bear this in mind when you are tempted to tell a lie. But if liars cannot enter heaven, what becomes of them? If God does not let them go into that glorious city, what does He do with them? There is one dreadful passage of Scripture which tells us. We read, “All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21 v. 8). This is fearful indeed. What God says of liars and what God does with them both help to prove how wicked a thing it is to lie. In conclusion let me entreat you to make it a point, on every occasion, to speak the truth. Let this be a settled rule with you, a rule too, that shall never be broken. Let nothing ever tempt you to tell a lie. God calls Himself, “The God of truth.” He loves the truth and while “lying lips are an abomination to Him,” those that speak truly are said to be “His delight.” Speaking the truth is the thing that especially distinguishes Him. And this is one of the ways in which we should strive to be like God. What an honour it is for any young person to have it said of him, “he always speaks the truth!” A crown of gold upon the head would not be half so desirable an ornament as a crown of truth. If you ever find yourself saying what is not true, repent of it as a great sin. Pray God for Jesus sake to forgive you. And ask Him to give you grace to forsake every false way and word, to hate lying, and always to love and speak the truth.

(Young People’s Magazine)

A PARABLE OF HUMAN NATURE

Once upon a time … there was a guinea pig. He was soft and furry, the beloved pet of two little boys who fed him from day to day, carried water to him, and kept his cage clean.

One day one of the little boys very carefully saved a nice juicy piece of steak from his dinner. Clutching it tightly in his fist, he ran to the guinea pig’s cage, popped the top open, and tossed his prize to his wooly friend. Then he sat and watched. Nothing happened ... Nothing!

The guinea pig sniffed at the meat and then moved away to his usual familiar diet of lettuce and cabbage leaves. Even stale lettuce was better than that stuff.

Next day the little boys’ father rushed out to go to work, and as he passed the cage, the piece of meat caught his eye. “Strange,” he thought … “I wonder who gave the guinea pig meat to eat?”

He reached in the cage, picked out the meat, cleaned it off, and tossed it to the dog. The dog snatched the meat in mid-air, gulped it down, and wagged his tail, hoping for more.

You see that by his very nature the guinea pig had absolutely no desire for meat! And had the little boy tried and tried and tried, he could never get that guinea pig to do something that was contrary to his nature! Nor could he have offered the dog a pile of lettuce leaves!

And we are just like that guinea pig. We are born, we grow up, we go our way through life, and someone offers us his greatest possession, the “bread of life,” and we sniff and turn away. We have no nature to appreciate his prize! We have no desire to taste it or to experience it.

The Bible tells us that we are born in sin; that we are by nature the children of wrath; that we need to be born again, made new creatures, have our nature and our desires changed, and our old sinful nature repented of. Then, and only then, can we by God’s grace, turn from our sins, turn from what we formerly desired to that which, by His grace, He causes us to desire.

Then the prize, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who purchased that redemption by His death at Calvary, becomes precious to that born-again one, precious beyond all human prizes. (Sword and Trowel)

THE PARROT AND THE CROWS

The crows one spring began to pull up a farmer’s young corn, which he determined to prevent. He loaded his gun and prepared to give them a warm reception.

Now the farmer had a sociable parrot, who, discovering the crows pulling up the corn, flew over and joined them. The farmer saw the crows but did not see the parrot. He fired his gun among them and hurried to see what execution he had done. There lay three dead crows, and his pet parrot with ruffled feathers and a broken leg. When the bird was taken home, the children asked, “What did it, Dad? Who hurt our pretty Poll?”

“Bad company? bad company!” answered the parrot in a solemn voice.

“Yes, that it was,” said the farmer. “Poll was with those crows when I fired, and he received a shot intended for them.”

“Remember the parrot, children, and beware of bad company.” With these words the farmer turned around, and with the aid of his wife, bandaged the parrot’s broken leg. In a few weeks the parrot was as lively as ever.

This was one parrot that never forgot its adventure in the cornfield. And, if ever the farmer’s children engaged in play with quarrelsome companions, the parrot would always warn them with its cry, “Bad company! bad company!”

(Youth Living Ideals)

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