Useful and Lasting Education
By William Covert
THE essential things to learn in getting an education are those which will be used most, and will last longest. The Christian in his life-work will more frequently appeal to the Bible for information, consolation, and admonition than to any other source. His feet are guided by the light of the Bible, from the beginning of his day until he takes the latest tottering steps in the shades of its evening. From the dawning of his morning till the setting of his sun, the divine promises of the sacred oracles furnish him with grace and joy. Should not the Word of God, therefore, be the basis and the stay of his learning? Should he not devoutly study every word on all its leaves, and seriously ponder the bearing of all it says? Does the reader ask for other reasons why this strong ground is taken? A partial answer is found in the following statements and propositions: From the Bible man learns the origin of himself and the purpose of his existence. In it he is told the truth about the creation of our world, and the place it is destined to fill in the great plan of the universe. Only in the Bible can he learn the foundation truth for all things which he can ever truly know, or safely be, or do. That which he gets from the Word of God not only serves him here, but its effect abides with him during the eternal ages. Should the student who has made God’s Word the basis of his education in this life, be given a home with the redeemed in the eternal kingdom, he will there proceed with his studies on the same basis that he prosecuted his school work here. All the error he may have imbibed, from whatever source, must be eliminated before he is in full possession of a true education. It is possible that some of the redeemed of Adam’s race may have to unlearn many things after they have reached the school of Eden restored. If students now would constantly heed the admonition of the Great Teacher which says, “Learn of me,” they would be spared the effort required in trying to learn many things which are not true. They would avoid the danger of being poisoned by drinking from the many polluted pools provided by schools of infidelity. The youth are easily caught in the snares and pitfalls of the enemy. Infidel seeds readily grow in the soil of unconverted hearts, and this makes it altogether unsafe to expose their minds to the planting of tares. The only safe course for parents and guardians to pursue is to bring up their charge in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The student is unsafe who does not know by personal experience that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He needs the gift of the Holy Spirit to seal to him the truth of every lesson which finds an abiding-place in his mind. The learner who is not moved upon by the divine Mind can not know the truth. Many try to maintain a kind of agnosticism, therefore are never certain of anything. With these, all things which they try to know are tested by a baseless philosophy which makes nothing sure. What, then, can they know? How can they believe when their reasonings are constantly increasing their doubts? Can they become Christians without believing? How can they find wisdom when this searching leads them away from the only place of its hiding? It is true that infidel authors and higher critics (?) give much that would be excellent if placed in its primary relation to truth, but it is quite unsafe to go to these to learn the truth. The angler places the most tempting food before the fish which he wishes to take, but the hungry fish that swallows the coveted morsel, soon feels the barbed point of the cruel hook. Because of the hook in the food, some of the wary among the finny tribe have learned to swim shy of the allurements when hunting for food. So should the seeker after truth be very circumspect as to the setting in which he receives a choice thought. When asked to locate the place of wisdom, the patriarch Job said that he could not find it in the rivers, nor the rock, nor the floods. It was not concealed in the seas, nor found in the ocean’s depths. It could not be secured with merchandise, nor bought with gold or precious stones. But “God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.” “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28: 23, 28. As stated by David, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Ps. 111:10. God’s servant Moses said, “Keep therefore and do them [the commandments of God]: for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” These are the things to be taught to our sons and daughters. “Teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all22the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.” Deut. 4: 9, 10. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut. 6: 6, 7. Paul, in speaking to Timothy of the excellencies of the Bible, said, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” It was upon this Word that the mother of Timothy found a basis for her education in the days of her childhood, and being brought up in this way, she felt it best to train her son to follow in the path which she had trod. His early education placed him in the way of the Lord, so that in him the great apostle found most excellent help for the Christian ministry. Thousands of young people in this generation, trained in Bible lore from their infancy, are needed to give the third angel’s message to the world. Our schools exist for the purpose of doing this kind of work. The Lord wants it done thoroughly, and done quickly.