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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 25, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 43.

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EDUCATION IN THE HOME, NO. 23

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

"THERE is one text I would like to study with you, if you have no objection," suggested Mr. Gray, "but I don't know exactly where to look for it,—but something is said about the spirit going to God;—now, what is the spirit?"
"Yes, Mr. Hartman, what is the spirit?" asked Mrs. Wilber. "What is the spirit?" she repeated eagerly.
"First, let us read the text of scripture mentioned by Mr. Gray. Walter, will you please turn to Eccl. 12:7, and read?"
"'Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.'"
"Now, Mrs. Wilbur asks, 'What is the spirit?' We are sometimes assured that, when our friends die, they are not in their graves, but that THEY are in heaven. Let me read Eccl. 9:10: 'For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither THOU goest.' So that makes it certain that WE lie in the grave when death comes, instead of going at once to heaven, and that then we are utterly unconscious. So that whatever it is which returns to God, it can have neither wisdom nor knowledge! hence knowing positively nothing whatever, it must be unconscious after the death of the man."
"Perhaps you believe that the spirit is merely the breath, do you?" queried Mrs. Gray.
"I will read Job 12:9, 10: 'The hand of the Lord hath wrought this; in whose hand is the soul [margin, "life"] of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.' Again, please turn to Ps. 146:4. Elsie, will you read?"
"'His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.'"
"Perhaps, then," said Brother Hartman, "it is the breath (the life) of man, which goeth forth and returns to God who gave it. This view harmonizes completely with the Scriptures. Now, when the spirit is separated from the body, what occurs? Billy Black, what happens then?"
"We die, sir," replied Billy, with great emphasis.
"What else, then, besides spirit does Inspiration name the thing that God takes at death? Mrs. Wilbur, please read Ps. 104:29."
"'Thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust.'"
"Then that which returns to the Almighty is that which He gave,—the spirit of life, or the breath of life,—no more conscious than before it entered the human body. Further: When the spirit is separated from the body, and death occurs, what does Inspiration say is the condition of the mental faculties? Josie, please read Eccl. 9:5, first clause."
"'For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything.'"
"So it must take the combination of spirit and body to be conscious; and even then, under certain conditions, such as deep sleep, or when under the influence of deadening drugs, man becomes unconscious. Is this true, Mr. Jones?"
"It certainly must be."
"Then it must logically follow that, when this combination no longer exists, there is utter unconsciousness. Josie, is it possible for a dead man to love any body or anything?"
"Humph! that's a queer question," interrupted Billy.
"Why is it a queer question, my lad? if people are conscious after death, they can surely love, and hate, and envy just as much as ever, don't you agree with me, Miss Josie?"
"I suppose they could, Mr. Hartman," replied Josie, glancing at her mother, who appeared deeply absorbed in thought, "I suppose so—only—it does not seem to me that they do. It isn't reasonable, is it?"
"You are right, entirely so; but please read a little further, for I assure you God has not left us in the dark on this most absorbing question. Will Mr. Wilbur read Eccl. 9:4-7."
"'For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.'"
"Now I must ask, Is this plain to you? Mrs. Wilbur, have we made it plain?"
"I am surprised, Mr. Hartman; I thought I knew the Bible a little myself,—but—"
"Well," said Mrs. Jones, "I feel the same way. Really I had no idea there was anything of this sort in the whole Book."
"There is much in the blessed Volume for all of us," said grandma; "it is like a mine of gold or hidden diamonds; but we must search for the gems of truth as for hid treasure."
"You won't forget to ask some one to read that text where the word 'immortal' is used, will you, father?" asked Elsie.
"Thank you, daughter; I had quite forgotten it. The word immortal is used but once in the Bible, and so it is very interesting in this connection to note that it is not applied even to the mighty angels—much less to poor, mortal man: Will grandma read the text? 1 Tim. 1:17."
"Yes," repeated grandma, "the term immortal is only applied to the great Jehovah—the Creator of all things: 'Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.'"
"I had supposed," said Mrs. Gray, "that this word was used very frequently in the Bible."
"Only once; and the word 'immortality' is used but four times; and in not a single instance is it applied to the soul or the spirit of man."
"Let us find these four texts," proposed Mrs. Gray, "and read them."
"Certainly; it will be very profitable. Mattie, can you tell us where one of these texts may be found? What? you have forgotten? John can tell us, I think, can't you, my son?"
"Romans 2:7 is one text, father. Let Walter read it, please;" and the lad read slowly and thoughtfully:
"'To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.'"
"Well, Walter, if you already have anything, would it not be very foolish to expect you to seek for it?"
"In other words," interrupted John, "if your soul was naturally immortal, do you think this expression would occur in God's Book?"
(To be continued in next Special.)