THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
By M. C. W.
MRS. M. C. W.
(Fair Haven, Conn.) June 20, 1901, it was my privilege to attend a Congregational Sunday-school in one of the Eastern States. As the subject of the lesson was the New Earth, I was much interested. While listening to a class of little ones talking about overcoming, my attention was attracted by a voice, explaining the glories of the new earth. “Now, children, the Lord gave John, who was one of Jesus’ disciples, a vision of our home in heaven. He tells us we are to have beautiful houses, studded with precious stones, and the streets are to be of gold. How beautiful it will be! John also tells us that the new earth will be a land flowing with milk and honey. “Now, children, it doesn’t mean that the streets are to be really made of gold, they are to be beautiful, but that was just as near as John could describe it so we could understand it. Then again, it doesn’t mean that the land will be flowing with milk and honey, because there are so many people who do not like honey. But we can be sure of one thing,—that the Lord will give us just what we like, the food will be nice, and the houses and streets beautiful.” My attention was then called to the little ones discussing the question, Will there be any sun on the new earth? No one seemed to know. At last the teacher turned to a little boy, and asked him what he thought about it. He said there would be no need of the sun, for Jesus would shine brighter than the sun. The answer of the child proved to me that he was a Seventh-day Adventist. The bell tapped, thereby calling the school to order. After a few remarks, the children were dismissed. As they filed out, my heart ached for them. To think that their faith in a “Thus saith the Lord” was being destroyed by one who should feed the lambs! The Lord says to us, “We are under solemn, sacred covenant to God to bring up our children for Him, and not for the world; to teach them not to put their hands into the hands of the world, but to love and fear God and keep His commandments.” Our children should be guarded with a jealous care in these perilous times. Let us as parents take up our God-given work and do it faithfully, not leaving the education of our little ones for some one else to look after.