WHY BEHOLDEST THOU? by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 26.

“WHY BEHOLDEST THOU?”

By T. E. Bowen

By beholding we become changed. A person usually is what he contemplates continually—with what he chooses to be associated and behold. That man who delights in the scenes of the barroom, who finds enjoyment in listening to the vulgar jests and stories there told, seldom rises above his surroundings. He soon becomes one of the rest, and is lost in the crowd thronging the broad road. Why does he choose to behold such scenes?—He loves to do so.

Some people who would consider it a disgrace to be seen in a barroom, who would take no delight in beholding scenes of this character, delight in beholding continually the mistakes, or what to their perverted visions are the mistakes and imperfections of others. In this class may be found many whose names are attached to church registers. They take delight in devouring people. Not exactly South Sea cannibalism, but so much like it God calls it “bite and devour one another.” In plain English such acts might be called “cannibalism.” Usually the flesh of other people’s backs has the best flavor to this class, as they almost invariably attack their victim in the back.

Before this disease reaches these last stages, it usually begins in a small affection in the eyes. With great care small objects are discovered in other people’s eyes. Somehow with peculiar cleverness great skill is attained by these people; for at quite a distance they can discover in another’s eye so small an object that in Bible lore it is called a “mote.” But why do they see them?—It comes from long practise in looking for them? And the very fact they can so accurately detect them, at once pronounces them experts themselves in their line. Were they free from this eye affection themselves, nothing would be heard from them, at least in the way they deal with the disease.

Why behold? There are many beautiful things to look at. There are many noble qualities in our friends to admire. Why not put in our time looking at these? Yes, unfortunate friend, you are self-condemned, by your conscience, your better sense, and your compassionate Redeemer, for beholding these things. “But are they not plain to be seen?”—Yes, yet you do not have to behold them.

Here is our “beholding” object. “And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he [John] saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” The pure eye never will tire beholding Him. In Him is the perfection of all beauty. In Him centers every perfect object and trait of character, everything in our world that is lovely. From Him all that is good in us, in our neighbors, and friends, came. Why not behold these things? Why honor the devil by beholding his blemishes upon the works of God? This pleases his Satanic majesty well.

Christians, shall we not with Job make a covenant with our eyes not to behold these things? At our table one morning some conversation passed between older members of the family regarding speaking evil of others. The mother checked the father from a remark about to be made by touching his toe, unobserved. He changed the remark so markedly that the little six-year-old girl came forth with the

pertinent wish that she had some “hooks and eyes for her lips.”

It might not be out of place to have a set also for the eyes. Surely by beholding we become changed, and by our words we shall either be justified or condemned. If, using our lips and words, we condemn, we shall be condemned; but if we justify and forgive, we shall be freely justified and forgiven. What are you beholding? T. E. BOWEN.