The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in
Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great
instrumentality in the transformation of character. It is the grand
stimulus, the constraining force, that quickens the physical,
mental, and spiritual powers, and directs the life into right
channels.
The reason why the youth, and even those of mature years,
are so easily led into temptation and sin, is that they do not
study the word of God and meditate upon it as they should.
The lack of firm, decided will power, which is manifest in
life and character, results from neglect of the sacred instruction
of God's word. They do not by earnest effort direct the
mind to that which would inspire pure, holy thought and
divert it from that which is impure and untrue. There are
few who choose the better part, who sit at the feet of Jesus,
as did Mary, to learn of the divine Teacher. Few treasure
His words in the heart and practice them in the life.
The truths of the Bible, received, will uplift mind and
soul. If the word of God were appreciated as it should be,
both young and old would possess an inward rectitude, a
strength of principle, that would enable them to resist
temptation.
Let men teach and write the precious things of the Holy
Scriptures. Let the thought, the aptitude, the keen exercise of
brain power, be given to the study of the thoughts of God.
Study not the philosophy of man's conjectures, but study the
philosophy of Him who is truth. No other literature can
compare with this in value.
The mind that is earthly finds no pleasure in contemplating
the word of God; but for the mind renewed by the Holy
Spirit, divine beauty and celestial light shine from the sacred
page. That which to the earthly mind was a desolate wilderness,
to the spiritual mind becomes a land of living streams.
The knowledge of God as revealed in His word is the
knowledge to be given to our children. From the earliest
dawn of reason they should be made familiar with the name
and the life of Jesus. Their first lessons should teach them
that God is their Father. Their first training should be that
of loving obedience. Reverently and tenderly let the word
of God be read and repeated to them in portions suited to
their comprehension and adapted to awaken their interest.
And, above all, let them learn of His love revealed in Christ,
and its great lesson:
"If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
1 John 4:11.
Let the youth make the word of God the food of mind
and soul. Let the cross of Christ be made the science of all
education, the center of all teaching and all study. Let it be
brought into the daily experience in practical life. So will the
Saviour become to the youth a daily companion and friend.
Every thought will be brought into captivity to the obedience
of Christ. With the apostle Paul they will be able to say:
"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me,
and I unto the world." Galatians 6:14.
Thus through faith they come to know God by an
experimental knowledge. They have proved for themselves the
reality of His word, the truth of His promises. They have
tasted, and they know that the Lord is good.
The beloved John had a knowledge gained through his
own experience. He could testify:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of
life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and
bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was
with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which
we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also
may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is
with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3.
So everyone may be able, through his own experience, to
"set his seal to this, that God is true." John 3:33, A.R.V. He
can bear witness to that which he himself has seen and heard
and felt of the power of Christ. He can testify:
"I needed help, and I found it in Jesus. Every want was
supplied, the hunger of my soul was satisfied; the Bible is to
me the revelation of Christ. I believe in Jesus because He is
to me a divine Saviour. I believe the Bible because I have
found it to be the voice of God to my soul."
He who has gained a knowledge of God and His word
through personal experience is prepared to engage in the
study of natural science. Of Christ it is written, "In Him was
life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:4. Before the
entrance of sin, Adam and Eve in Eden were surrounded with
a clear and beautiful light, the light of God. This light
illuminated everything which they approached. There was
nothing to obscure their perception of the character or the
works of God. But when they yielded to the tempter, the
light departed from them. In losing the garments of holiness,
they lost the light that had illuminated nature. No
longer could they read it aright. They could not discern the
character of God in His works. So today man cannot of
himself read aright the teaching of nature. Unless guided
by divine wisdom, he exalts nature and the laws of nature
above nature's God. This is why mere human ideas in
regard to science so often contradict the teaching of God's
word. But for those who receive the light of the life of Christ,
nature is again illuminated. In the light shining from the
cross, we can rightly interpret nature's teaching.
He who has a knowledge of God and His word through
personal experience has a settled faith in the divinity of the
Holy Scriptures. He has proved that God's word is truth,
and he knows that truth can never contradict itself. He does
not test the Bible by men's ideas of science; he brings these
ideas to the test of the unerring standard. He knows that
in true science there can be nothing contrary to the teaching
of the word; since both have the same Author, a correct
understanding of both will prove them to be in harmony.
Whatever in so-called scientific teaching contradicts the
testimony of God's word is mere human guesswork.
To such a student, scientific research will open vast fields
of thought and information. As he contemplates the things
of nature, a new perception of truth comes to him. The
book of nature and the written word shed light upon each
other. Both make him better acquainted with God by teaching
him of His character and of the laws through which He
works.
The experience of the psalmist is the experience that all
may gain by receiving God's word through nature and
through revelation. He says: