How Strength Is Gained
By F. G.
STRONG young people are needed now as never before, and never again can they be in greater demand; for time is about to be no longer. Strong young people are those in whom the word of the Lord abides, and their glory is in their strength. We learn to do by doing. We gain our strength by working. All the records of the deeds of strong men, taken together, will never make one strong,—they can only be an inspiration to become strong,—unless they are those of the Word of God. The records in the Scriptures are a motive, and an actual force in the gaining of strength. But even the accounts in the Scriptures of the works of strong men will be of no benefit unless the reader permits them to work in him a spirit of energy. Energy exists in two forms, potential and kinetic. Potential energy is stored-up energy. Kinetic, is a working energy. A stone resting at the top of a hill, is an example of potential energy; while that same stone rolling down hill, gaining each moment an increased momentum, and doing a work great or small according to its size and the height of the hill, is an example of kinetic, or working, energy. Before there can be kinetic, or working, energy, there must be stored-up, or potential, energy. Enoch was translated because he recognized this law. He took time to be holy. He went away and alone with his God to store up strength and energy for his work with the people. After he had received a supply of more strength from God through humiliation of heart and the exercise of faith, he used his strength in lifting up those who were stumbling or had fallen. His receiving strength and expending it were proportionate, and consequently increasing. Our schools are designed of God to be places where our young people can store up strength. But as with Enoch, so with those connected with these schools, the capacity to receive will always be directly proportionate with the expenditure of that which is received. With the continued using of the force and energy which may be received in these schools, will be a constant increase in strength; and thus there is a steady growth in character. The power of beginning and completing a work is always an element of a strong character. This is what the week of prayer ought to mean to all the students in all our schools. It has been a time for the gaining of new strength for greater conquests. But strength is not gained unless we use that which we have. God is to be sought for a new experience. And this new experience is but a greater power. This is the power that is unto salvation, the power of the gospel, the power of an unselfish love. It is so great that it will compel to unselfish deeds, and to lives of service. It is to the doers, and not to those who simply hear, that the reward is to be given. The reward is nothing more nor less than stalwart, noble manhood, and pure, helpful womanhood, in God's own meaning of the words. To this end let our young people drink deep draughts from the ever-flowing fountain of life, that they may be strong and valiant to sacrifice and to do for the sacred cause of truth. F. G.