TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE by E. A. Sutherland

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1900

TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

By E. A. Sutherland

MORE is required of young people to-day than ever before in the history of the world. There was a time within the memory of many of us when the daughters of the household were content to remain quietly at home, and the sons felt free to enter worldly professions. Perhaps this was never the best thing to do; but to-day it is absolutely out of the question. For every young person who has health and ability there is a place somewhere to work for the salvation of souls.

In the words of 1 John 2:13, 14, God pays high tribute to the young. He says (note well his words): “I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.” “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” Young men and young women are called to fill responsible positions, to enter new fields and do pioneer work; because they are strong; because the word of God abides in them; because they have overcome the wicked one.

How vastly different is the Lord’s description of his young people from the description that must be given of the worldly young man or young woman. The clean, pure hearted are the young; the ones who can withstand all opposition are the young; the ones who should be ensamples unto all the church, in word, act, and deeds of charity, are the young. Do you wonder, then, that schools have been established for the training of the youth? God wants them, and wants them to-day. As I travel through the district, I am pleased to see how many of our young people are already in the work. The sanitarium is yearly preparing a large class of workers. A number of young men have gone into the ministry and the canvassing work. Over one hundred are teaching in the church schools, and in the preparatory schools. Already a number have gone to foreign fields. This is as it should be. But there are still others who should now prepare for work. There are four or five different kinds of work that offer employment to the young: there is urgent need of self-supporting ministerial laborers; the number of canvassers should be multiplied; Christian business men are needed; the medical missionary work always needs recruits; and there should be one hundred teachers where now we have one.

There must be some place for you. Do you need a preparation? If you expect to be among the redeemed, you must understand the living principles of Christian education. This means to live and do. If you are interested in schools, or know of others who should be in school, send for a calendar of Battle Creek College. E. A. SUTHERLAND.