BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

As I am writing this it is only a few days before the year 1985 will come to an end. Twelve months, fifty-two weeks, 365 days, will soon be behind us. Although it will already be the February issue when this appears in print, every hour and every day speaks to us of an “end.” At school each day and each class period begins at a particular time, but there is also a time when the bell rings to let you know that the class is over or the day is done.

Often we find ourselves speaking about tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. How special occasions are anticipated, but they too are soon events of the past! There is a poem which reads,

Hours and days and years and ages

Swift as moving shadows flee;

As we scan life’s fleeting pages,

Naught enduring do we see.

But I found another poem which speaks of another “time”:

How long sometimes a day appears

And weeks, how long are they!

Months move as slow as if the years

Would never pass away.

But months and years are passing by,

And soon must all be gone;

For day by day, as minutes fly,

Eternity comes on.

Days, months, and years must have an end;

Eternity has none;

It will always have as long to spend

As when it first begun.

Also God’s Word warns us of the shortness of time and the certainty of eternity. Do you take time to think of this? May you use your time wisely, asking the Lord to direct you and to give you a wise heart to walk in that way which leadeth to life.

The first letters of the answers to the quiz will spell out five words which are easy to find in the Bible, but also these words remind us that time shall also come to an end.

Paul wrote in his first letter to Timothy, “Now unto the King eternal, _____, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.”

In the last chapter of the Bible we read, “There shall be no _____ there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun.”

In the psalm written by Moses, he said, “We spend our years as a _____ that is told.”

On the fourth day God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the _____ ,…and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years.”

Solomon said, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the _____ days come not.”

The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor _____.”

King Herod sent for an _____ , and commanded that the head of John the Baptist be brought.

The Lord God prepared a _____, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head.

When Manasseh was brought back to Jerusalem, he took away the strange gods and the _____ out of the house of the Lord.

The Lord Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall _____ thirst.”

He said to Martha, “But one thing is _____ : and Mary hath chosen that good part.”

Moses was to say to Pharaoh, “Thus saith the Lord, _____ is My son, even My firstborn.”

When the foolish virgins cried, “Lord, open to us,” they received the answer, “I know you _____.”

Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem, and Jacob set a pillar upon her _____.

Jacob said to his sons, “I am to be _____ unto my people; bury me with my fathers.”

The Lord Jesus said to John, “I am Alpha and _____ , the first and the last.”

Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of _____

When Hezekiah died, they buried him in the _____ of the sepulchres of the sons of David.

In blessing his sons, Jacob said to _____ , “Thou art the beginning of my strength.”

The psalmist prayed, “Lord, make me to know mine _____ , and the measure of my days.”

We read of Stephen that while he was stoned, he fell _____.

In II Corinthians Paul wrote, “The things which are seen are _____ ; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Caiaphas gave counsel to the Jews that it was _____ that one man should die for the people.

The Lord said by Isaiah, “The mountains shall _____ , and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee.”

Your answers should be sent to:

Garret J. Moerdyk

5211 Woodmont Drive

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.

The answers to the crossword puzzle of last month are:

ACROSS:

2. Why — Matthew 8:26

3. Balm — Genesis 43:11

5. Not — Proverbs 30:25

7. Cloud — I Kings 18:44

9. Ewe — II Samuel 12:3

12. Manna — Exodus 16:14–15

14. Oil — I Kings 17:12

15. Ethan — I Kings 4:31

17. Cake — I Kings 17:13

18. Ewe — Genesis 21:27–28

19. Rod — Exodus 8:17

21. Am — Jeremiah 1:6

24. Let — Ruth 2:7

26. Egypt — Exodus 8:24

28. Little — Proverbs 15:16

30. Moved — I Samuel 1:13

31. Omer — Exodus 16:33

32. Foxes — Song of Solomon 2:15

DOWN

1. To — Luke 18:16

2. Women — Esther 3:13

3. Book — Revelations 10:10

4. Lad — I Samuel 20:35

6. Them — Exodus 23:30

7. Coat — I Samuel 2:9

8. Voice — I Kings 19:12

10. Water — Genesis 24:17

11. Sleep — Esther 6:1

13. Need — I Corinthians 12:21

14. One — Genesis 19:20

16. How — James 3:5

20. Out — I Kings 3:7

21. Age —Genesis 44:20

22. My — Psalm 139:16

23. Maid — II Kings 5:2

25. There — John 6:8–9

27. Poor — Mark 12:42

28. Let — Exodus 17:11

29. Two — Matthew 2:16

30. Me — Ruth 2:10

Answers have been received from the following:

Bernie Bakker

Billie Jo Bakker

Trish Bakker

Cathy Baum

Steven Baum

Carrie Bazen

Daniel Bazen

Ed Bazen

Sharon Bazen

Amy Beeke

Billy Beeke

Karrie Mae Beeke

Katie Beeke

Lori Beeke

Jeff Bisschop (3)

Jodi Bisschop

Yvonne Bisschop (2)

Eric Boluyt

Jeff Boot

Jeremy Boot

Fred Brouwer

John Brouwer

Julia Coates

Neil DeBoer

Peter DeBoer

Melinda DeMeester

Tamara DeMeester

Bruce Den Hoed

Glen Den Hoed

Susan Den Hoed

Tim Den Hoed

Jason De Smit

Julie De Smit

Michael De Smit

Tricia De Smit

Troy De Smit

Keith Brian De Visser

Andy Lee De Vries

Brian De Vries

Fred De Vries

Karen L. De Vries

Kristi De Vries

Stephen De Vries

Hennie Droogendyk

Hilde Droogendyk

Ina Droogendyk

Gordon Eckhardt (2)

John Eckhardt (2)

Peter Eckhardt (2)

Susy Eckhardt (2)

Rachel Ekema

Daniel Eppinga

Robbin Eppinga

Scott Eppinga

Geoff Erkelens (2)

Karen Erkelens (2)

Susanna Erkelens (2)

Jeremy Fluit

Astrid Grisnich

Danny Herfst

David Herfst

Jason Herfst

Kevin Herfst

Carrie Hoogendoorn

Dave Hoogendoorn (2)

Kent Hoogendoorn (2)

Kevin Hoogendoorn (2)

Lisa Hoogendoorn

Shelley Hoogendoorn

Duane Hubers

Howard Hubers

Mary Hubers

Charmain L. Huisman (2)

Brenda Hulshof

Cindy Hulshof

Ronald Hulshof

Steven Johnson

Debbie Kanis

Gary Kanis

Kathleen Kanis

Ken Kanis

Frank Kardux (3)

Janet Kardux (3)

Rosemary Kardux (3)

Brian Kegel

Jody Kegel

Stephanie Kegel

Vonnie Kegel

Gary Kersten

Leann Klarenbeek

Eddy Klok

Jeffrey Knibbe (2)

Kevin Jay Knibbe (2)

Nora Jane Knibbe (2)

Chad Koenen

Greg Koenen

Rick Koenen

Hugo Kranendonk

Joanne Kranendonk

Derek Kreft

loan Lamain

Kristy Lamain

Sara Lamain

Doug Maljaars

Ed Maljaars

Judy Maljaars

Rick Maljaars

Tom Maljaars

Wendy Maljaars

David Marcus

Daniel Markus

Nicole Renee Meeuwse

Marjan Muis

Ria Nieuwenhuis

Craig Phillips

Leah Pluim

Rachel Pluim

Kevin Post

Vicki Post

Heide Remijn

Sonya Remijn

David Rose (3)

Jennifer Sue Rose

Darla Rus

John Schelling

Pam Schelling

Renita L. Schelling

Eric L. Schipper

Kristina Schipper

Joan Seabert

Michele Seabert

Stacy Seabert

Diane Slingerland

Marco Slingerland

Stephen Sporte

Joel Stam

Nelly Stam

Peter Stoutjesdyk

Gerrard Stubbe

John David Systma

Ruth Ann Systma

Jim Talbot

Laura Talbot

Mark Talbot

Sharon Talbot

Wendy Talbot

Jonathan Ten Elshof

Rich Ten Elshof

Tim Ten Elshof

Bruce Van Beek

Deb Van Bemden (2)

Sally Van Bemden (2)

Marvellen VanBrugge

Michelle VanBrugge

Peter M. VanBrugge

William VanBrugge

Lida VandeBruinhorst

Mary VandeBruinhorst

Danny Vande Lagemaat (2)

Louie Vande Lagemaat (2)

Ted Vande Lagemaat (2)

Denise VanDeMoere

Diana VanDeMoere

Elizabeth Vandenberg

Jolene Vanden Berg

Timmy Vandenberg (2)

Jon VandenToorn

Kim VandenToorn

Lisa VandenToorn

Michael VandenToorn

Constance VanderMeulen

Elizabeth VanderMeulen

Bob VanderZand

Rodney VanderZand

Laurie VanEss

Trina Van Tol

Tim Van’t Zelfde

Kristi Van Veldhuizen (2)

Phyllis Van Veldhuizen (2)

Rhonda Van Veldhuizen

Sheila Van Veldhuizen (2)

Janelle Van Voorst

Jeffrey Van Voorst (2)

Rachel Van Voorst

David Van Wingerden

Karen Van Wingerden

Steven Van Wingerden

John Wesdyk

Karen Wesdyk

Eric Wielhouwer

Leah Wielhouwer

Edward Ymker

Jody Ymker

Kevin Ymker

Again we have some letters to answer:

Janet Kardux

I do not know what “pepernootjes” are, Janet, but assume that it is something to eat. Thank you very much for your wishes for the Christmas season and the New Year. What a need there is for a Christmas that is blessed and a truly prosperous New Year. We wish it also for you.

Ria Nieuwenhuis

If we are not mistaken, we met your parents at your grandmother’s house some years ago, Ria. The prophet said, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” Do you know which prophet said this?

Marjan Muis

Yes, Marjan, each name added to the lists causes it to be a longer one. It also gladdens us to think that each name means one more young person who is searching in God’s Word. We hope it is not only for answers to the quiz, but also for answers to the questions of our life.

Charmain Huisman

You wrote a nice long letter, Charmain. Did you have a nice birthday? Birthdays are special days for us, but, as you mentioned in your letter, there is one birthday which should have the greatest meaning for us. The shepherds heard the angel say, “Unto you is born…”

Peter Stoutjesdyk

We are glad to have you join in answering the quiz, Peter. Everyone may need some help at times, but this is especially true when beginning with them. The Bible has so many instructions in it for us, but it also contains hid treasure. Do you know where we read about this treasure?

Derek Kreft

I had to get the map in order to see where Taber was, Derek. I can see that Sao Paulo is quite a city. Have you ever studied about Brazil in school? Now that your parents have been there, you will have first-hand information about it.

Stephen Sporte

It was nice to receive a letter from you, Stephen. Are you managing to keep the driveway cleared of snow? Some perhaps grumble when they wake up in the morning and see that there is quite a lot of snow. But the Bible tells us who has sent the snow. Do you know where this is to be found?

Rosemary Kardux

We were glad to hear from you again, Rosemary. In the Bible we also read about letters which were written. Can you think of some examples? Give our greetings to your aunt. Some who answer the quiz today are sons and daughters of those who were answering as boys and girls some years ago.

Trina Van Tol

Thank you for the New Year wishes, Trina, and for your prayers. The apostle wrote to his friends, “Pray for us,” and that need is also our need. Praying for ourselves and our dear ones is a task of every day, realizing that it is alone from the Lord that all blessings flow.

Peter and Neil De Boer

Did you have favorable weather for getting in the corn? God’s Word speaks quite often about corn. In one of the psalters we sing, “The fields are sown with corn and clover provided by Thy hand.” Do you think of this when you are working in the field?

Danny Vande Lagemaat

Thanks, Danny, for a nice letter, picture and poem. I am including the poem below, as I thought it was very appropriate. When reading your letter, I thought of the prodigal son, who also did “bad.” But he returned to his father to make his confession, and what a lesson this is for each of us. Do write again.

Jeft Bisschop

It has been rather cold here of late, Jeff, and we have also had quite a lot of snow. It is not so bad when we may have warm homes and warm clothing, since then we are well protected against the cold. Do you like the winter weather?

Frank Kardux

Your letter is the last one this month, Frank. What are you studying about in school at the present? There are so many different things, different countries, different customs, that I am sure new subject matter is not so difficult to find.

Many thanks again, boys and girls, for your replies to the quiz. This time in closing I will use Danny’s poem addressed to all of you.

Dear friends, we wish you well indeed,

We wish you well for earth;

We wish for you above all things

A new, a heavenly birth.

Remember, though you prosper here,

Except you’re born again,

The kingdom of eternal bliss

You never can obtain.

Oh may you feel you have a soul,

And in your days of youth

Be led to seek, to know, the Lord,

THE LIFE, THE WAY, THE TRUTH.

You cannot live the Christian’s life,

Nor die as Christians die,

Unless, by God the Spirit taught,

To Jesus Christ you fly.

With love, Your friend, “Uncle Garret”

A FEARFUL END

One summer afternoon a Mississippi steamer, crowded with passengers, many of them miners from California, suddenly struck a sunken wreck. In a moment all was confusion. The boats were able to take off only a quarter of the passengers; but the rest succeeded in swimming to shore.

As they looked back they saw a man appear from below on the deserted deck. He leaped into the water but instantly sunk like a stone. When his body was recovered, it was found that while the other passengers were escaping he had been stealing from the miners’ trunks, and round his waist he had tied bags of gold. In a short time he had gathered more wealth than most men do in a lifetime; but he lost himself in an instant. Just as he preferred gold to safety, so many prefer this world’s goods to salvation.

THE IMPOSSIBLE

There was a building contractor long ago who advertised his services by saying that he would do the “difficult” right away, but that the “impossible” would take a little longer. Are there not some who think that they really can do the impossible in the spiritual realm?

There are, for example, those who think they can please God and win His favor by their religious duties and orderly living. That is a very decided impossibility, for the Bible says that “by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified.” The only way of being justified is by faith — by believing in Christ. Without that faith it is impossible to please God.

There are others (and they are numerous) who think they can enter heaven without being born again. Nicodemus was such a person — in fact he was quite ignorant of the new birth although he was a learned teacher of the Scriptures. The impossibility of arriving in heaven apart from being born again was emphasized by Christ when He said: “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Then there are those who think that they can serve God and at the same time continue enjoying their worldly pleasures and worldly companions. Is that not attempting the impossible? Of course it is, for “no man,” said Christ, “can serve two masters.” “Ye cannot serve God and mannon,” He said.

Do not attempt the impossible but, on the other hand, seek grace to serve God and, in order to do so, ask for that faith without which you cannot be accepted by God nor please Him. Seek with your whole heart that He, with whom “nothing is impossible” would do for you, and in you, what is impossible for you to do.

—Young People’s Magazine

THE WAY

In the east no one is in a hurry. If you stop to ask the way anywhere, instead of giving you full directions the easterner will often turn from where he was going and say, “I am the way; follow me.” And he will take you all the way safely to your destination.

Eastern customs and habits teach us much Bible truth. When a sinner seeks to know the way to God, there is an eternal Guide, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who says, “I am the Way, follow Me.” He left His heavenly home, where myriads of angels with veiled faces worshiped Him, to show poor sinners the only safe and right way.

A PRINCELY SUBSTITUTE

An eastern legend tells us of a young prince who had just ascended the throne. During his minority, for many years, the government had been in the hands of his mother. She was proud and loved to rule; it was not easy for her to put the reins in the hands of her son.

There was a hostile party plotting a revolution. Strange to say, some of the most important decisions of the cabinet, state secrets, leaked out and came into the hands of the enemy. When this happened a second time, the king issued an edict that whoever the guilty person might be should be openly scourged in the market place. Investigations were made, traces led to the royal palace, and it was found that the old queen was the guilty person. This became known. The people said, “The king will not have his own mother punished, there is one law for the rich and another for the poor.”

A public dais was raised on the market place. The judges and nobles had taken their seats, people had come from far and near to witness the trial. At twelve o’clock the gates of the palace were opened; the king appeared and leaning heavily on his arm the trembling woman. The court opened, witnesses were heard and in profound silence the verdict was given: “Guilty.” Already an officer had laid his hand on the shoulder of the guilty woman to lead her to the whipping post. The young king sprang from his throne, bared his back, and blow upon blow fell upon it, till with bleeding back he was carried into the palace. Was it right? The principle of equal justice was more firmly established for the good of the kingdom than ever before. No one could say, “There is one law for the rich, another for the poor.” Nor did the king ask any of his nobles to bear the punishment instead of his mother. He took it himself.

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself” “(2 Cor. 5:19). “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Ps. 85:10). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

— Simple Talks on the Tabernacle

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

School is very important. Some of you, I know, like school very much, but some of you are not fond of it and you are very glad when the bell says it is time to go home. Why is school important? It is important because it is the place where you learn to read and write and count. Would it not be very difficult for you if you could not read an interesting book or write a letter to a friend? Would it not be difficult if you could not count your money? So you really need to be taught, don’t you?

There is another kind of teaching you need. It is only God who can give you this teaching. He teaches the Bible to His own people in a special way by His Holy Spirit. Please be reading your Bible and be asking God to teach you. He teaches His people to know themselves to be sinners who need the only Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you will be praying the same prayer as the Highland girl of long ago, “Lord, show me myself.”

He teaches them to know Himself as the One who forgives sin, and to know His Son as Savior. I hope you will be praying, “Lord, show me Thyself.”

He teaches them how to live day by day. I hope you will be praying, “Show me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.”

He is saying, “Come, ye children, hearken unto Me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Please go to Him for teaching. Ask Him, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord.”

—Young People’s Magazine

THE EYE ON THE CEILING

We are told that in England there is a large hall with a human eye painted on the ceiling. People who enter the hall always seem to be very careful in their behavior and to speak in whispers. They have the feeling that someone is watching them.

There is an eye that never slumbers nor sleeps which does watch us by night and by day.

CHRIST’S PRESENCE

A missionary in the East Indies was once called to the deathbed of an old woman, a native of that country. He asked her regarding the state of her mind while lying upon her sickbed.

Her reply was, “Happy! happy! I have Christ here,” laying her hand on the Bible, “and Christ here,” pressing it to her heart, “and Christ there,” pointing upwards to heaven.

Indeed a happy Christian; to whatever part of the universe she might be removed, the Lord of the universe was with her, and she was secure of a home.

Garret J. Moerdyk serves as elder in the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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