p. 14 | Untitled article by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 11, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 41.

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 22

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

[This series of articles began in our issue of May 17, and has been growing in interest with each number. Brother and Sister Hartman, loyal and fervent Christian parents, had come to realize the terrible influence of the infidelity daily taught in schools, and elsewhere, and so decided to begin evening classes in Bible for the benefit of their children. Each evening some new friend or neighbor was added to the circle until a goodly number were coming regularly, and manifesting deep interest in the different topics considered. Up to the present time they have studied the inspiration of the Bible, the second coming of Christ, the prophecies concerning the great kingdoms of earth, the unchanging nature of the law of God, the Sabbath question, baptism, and the condition of man in death, the last of which is now under consideration.]

"WHAT is my opinion?" repeated Billy slowly. "May be my opinion ain't worth anything; but it seems to me that a body doesn't need the Bible to tell him that dead folks don't know anything any more,—I should suppose they ought to know that without telling!"

It was a long speech for poor Billy to make,—awkward, bashful, uneducated Billy; and by the time he had ceased speaking, his face was very red, and he glanced appealingly first at Brother Hartman and then at grandma—whom he instinctively recognized as a friend.

Mrs. Wilbur's eyes were blazing indignantly. "Why," she exclaimed hastily; "the lad would have us believe that when we die, we must die like the brutes!"

Grandma Hartman was a very tactful woman, and this most happy faculty stood her in good stead now. While she had seen and noted poor Billy's appealing glance, it would never do to allow their pleasant, cozy study to be marred by a shadow of ill-feeling on the part of any. Already Sister Hartman was looking uneasy, and Elsie was fidgeting with her handkerchief. Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Jones exchanged glances, and Brother Hartman did not forget to send up a silent prayer to heaven.

"Why, Billy!" exclaimed grandma. "Surely you are too intelligent a boy to believe that God cares no more for us than for the brutes, when He made us in His own blessed image. And still, my friend,"—turning to Mrs. Wilbur, whose expressive eyes had already lost their fire, "we can hardly blame the poor boy for forgetting to say anything about the glorious resurrection. It all depends on that, you know. If it were not for the resurrection, I'm afraid Billy's diagnosis of the state of the dead would be correct to all eternity. Thank God, thank God for a certain hope of a resurrection from the dead;" and grandma's mild, blue eyes shone with happy tears.

"Have you any scripture to prove that particular point?" asked Mrs. Gray anxiously.

"O certainly; Elsie, can't you find the verse you and I were studying to-day?"

"Here it is, grandma, and its right to the point. I am sure it will answer Mrs. Gray's question; it is the thirty-second verse of 1 Corinthians 15. May be Mrs. Gray would like to read it herself. You see," continued Elsie, as Mrs. Gray turned to find the place indicated, "you see, Paul had a pretty serious time of it, because he tried to follow Christ, and he says plainly that were it not for the resurrection, he would not be profited at all; and he couldn't say that, if he expected to get his reward at death,—now could he, Mrs. Gray?"

But Mrs. Gray made no reply, and began to read: "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die."

"Here is another text equally strong," said John. "It is Luke 14: 13, 14. I would ask Billy to read, but he made me promise long ago that I would not. But Walter will read the verse:"

""But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they can not recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.'"

"Are you sure it does not say at death, Walter?" asked Mattie, roguishly.

"At the resurrection of the just," repeated Walter, solemnly. Mr. Gray, who had said nothing for some time, now exclaimed earnestly:

"Yes, yes, my son; I believe, myself, on evidence which has already been produced, that people do not receive either their reward or their punishment at death. But I think," he continued, "our friend Mrs. Wilbur said something about our dying like the beasts. Now I believe there is something said somewhere in the Book to the effect that as one dieth so dieth the other. I don't remember just where it is—"

"Here is the text, Mr. Gray," said John. "Let me read Eccl. 3: 19, 20: 'For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath. . . . All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.'"

Mrs. Wilbur looked very serious, as John read the words of Inspiration slowly and deliberately. "I never supposed there were such words in the Bible. I am much surprised, to say the least," and the good lady looked full into Sister Hartman's eyes, questioningly.

"I understand somewhat how you feel, my friend," said Sister Hartman. "But we must not forget that it is only in death that we lie as low as the animal creation. Of course, we as well as they, must turn to dust. But as the prophet Isaiah exclaimed victoriously, even so may we:"

""Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust.' Now, Mrs. Jones, I would like you to turn to Job 19: 25, 26, and read what Job says about his hope:"

""For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And tho after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.'"

"Now, Mrs. Jones," said Mrs. Gray, "what would you truly think was the writer's hope, from this language?"

Mrs. Wilbur awaited the reply of Mrs. Jones with great eagerness.

"Why, it actually seems to me that his hope is in the fact that he expects in his flesh to see God,—and not in his disembodied spirit."

"Well, then, that looks as if it must be brought about by a resurrection from the dead," said Mrs. Wilbur musingly.

Mr. Gray smiled, while Brother Hartman said quietly:

"It is the only way he can ever see his God,—and it is the only way any of us will ever see Him, except those who are translated at Christ's coming. When we see Him, it will be in our flesh,—purified and immortalized, and made like our Redeemer after His resurrection."

"All this sounds very strange to me, Mr. Hartman," said Mrs. Gray, "but I must say it looks reasonable, only—"

"But I'd like to ask Mr. Hartman how he knows we are to be like Christ, in the resurrection," interrupted Mrs. Wilbur.

"If you will turn to Psalms 17: 15, I think you will see very plainly that we have good reason for our hope. Josie, will you read the verse?"

""As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.'"

"Yes, yes, praise the Lord," murmured grandma, "yes, I shall be satisfied THEN."

(To be continued.)