p. 24 | Is Christian Education Worth While ?

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

Is Christian Education Worth While ?

By MAUDE G. HENRY.

DEAR teacher, do you feel that your efforts for some one whom you love, and whom God has entrusted to your care for a little time, are in vain? Thinking that this may be true of you as of me, I will relate an experience of mine, and also give you a few extracts from letters recently received from a former Bible student, over whom I have spent many anxious hours. Perhaps this may bring to your burdened heart new hope and courage to work on a little longer and to offer more earnest prayers for that one who seems so hard to reach just now.

You may be interested to know how this young lady felt after attending a few of my class recitations. She was a member of one of the churches in the city where she lived, and also a high-school graduate of that city. She remarked to me, a few days after joining my class in Bible history, that she did not care to study what she did not believe, and wished to be excused from the class. She said it seemed very old-fashioned, and really quite ridiculous, to even suppose, much less believe, that the Creator made this world in six literal days; and that intelligent men of scientific research had proved this to be a grave mistake. I knew there was no use to endeavor to teach the third angel's message to one whose belief in God's Word was founded upon “sand,” or, “higher criticism.” Miss — was excused from the class, and for about eight weeks the members of our school and home family unceasingly remembered at the throne of mercy and grace this dear one whom we longed to see made free by the pure and simple truth of God's Word. One thing we especially prayed for was that God would so bless us that the effect of simply believing his Word just as it is, might be made manifest in our daily conversation and actions as we associated with her.

Through kindness shown her day by day, and also by the frequent animated discussions upon the various topics studied by the members of the class, she had left, her heart was humbled, and her interest so aroused that she expressed a desire to join the class again. How happy we were to find that she did not care to join the class this time to criticize

but meekly and earnestly to study God's Word, and to accept the precious truth as the Holy Spirit brought it to her. Our prayers were being answered. She is now rejoicing in the privileges of Christian education, and is finishing the normal course this year in one of our colleges, preparatory to joining the ranks of workers in God's great and needy field as a Christian teacher.

Following are the extracts taken from recent letters received from her:—

“I was thinking to-night of where we are in this world's history, and just realized that it has been seventy-five years since the falling of the stars. How little did people back in 1844 think this old world would stand so long. And just because it has stood thus long, many are saying it will continue so. O, how many of our people are lukewarm! And just when they should be bending every energy to the work. Little do we realize how fast prophecy is being fulfilled. The Lord has said through his servant that before the end, the scenes of the Inquisition would be repeated. We have the blessed promise that God will cut short the work in righteousness, and surely it is true. But I feel that I need to labor more earnestly for souls if I would be saved. . . . The teachers here have the correct view of education; but it is such a big question. I feel that it will take eternity to absorb it all. We have chapel talks on the subject now and then. It seems sometimes almost as if an angel were speaking. If human beings on this sinful earth can reach such heights,—can be so filled with the love of God and so united in heart and work,—what must heaven be! If we are fortunate enough to pass that great examination, and enter the university above, surely we shall be satisfied.”

Remember that while you are pleading in agony of soul over some precious one, our Heavenly Father, who notes even the sparrow when it falls, is taking note of your efforts to help save a human soul. He longs to co-operate with you in bringing that dear one to himself. He stands with outstretched arms to receive him; for he loves him with “amazing love.” Therefore “let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

MAUDE G. HENRY.