The Opportune Time by O. J. Graf

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 2, 1908

The Opportune Time

By O. J. Graf

When the city of Rio Janeiro, Brazil, was founded several hundred years ago, little care was given to the laying out of its squares and streets. Crooked and narrow streets, with their extreme inconvenience and unhealthfulness, were the result.

Now the city authorities have found it necessary to borrow sixty million dollars with which to cut four broad avenues through the city. These were cut through the most thickly populated districts, and many an old house and stately mansion had to give way before the seemingly destructive hands of the engineers.

This expensive method has only partially accomplished what might have been, had the founders, when the city was in its infancy, laid out the streets as they should have done. Hundreds then would have accomplished what now requires millions.

How like the unseeing founders of that city are we. Worldly influences are permitted to wield a powerful influence on the lives of those of tender and receptive years, and, later, when worldliness has gotten a firm foothold, we stand ready to make great sacrifices to redeem the wayward, misinstructed youth.

Our colleges and academies may not in later years be able to correct what evil association and false instruction did for the child while under the influence

of the worldly schools. Brother, sister, have you children in your church? Where will they spend six hours a day five days in the week during the coming school year? Now is the opportune time to implant the truth in their little hearts. You can not afford to give them to the world to be trained; a soul is too precious, and God's work too needy. Let us heed the instruction the Lord has given us through his Spirit.

If your church supported a school last year, by all means plan to let the good work go on. If you have not had a school before, arouse yourself and the brethren and go forward in the strength of God. Read the first chapter of Joshua.—O. J. Graf, in Northern Union Reaper.