Tobacco Makes Men Selfish.
By H. A. St. John
TALKING about the average man’s selfishness, a Washington Street gentleman’s furnisher is of the opinion that “there’s nothing in the world that makes a man so selfish as smoking. I smoked from the time I was fourteen till six years ago, thirty years all told. I thought about nothing but my pleasure in smoking. When once my day’s business was off my hands, when I went anywhere, socially, my chief aim was to get hold of a cigar and be off in a corner by myself. In traveling and on street-cars I know from experience that the average smoker thinks of nothing more than his own comfort.”—Indianapolis News. STUDENTS attending school are always pleased to obtain good reports. Good reports point to promotion sooner or later. Every Christian is in the school of Christ. Jesus has made it possible for every student to obtain good reports from time to time; and if his school-days here end with a good report, a student is sure of promotion to the glorious school of Christ in the paradise of God for one thousand years. And then will come another promotion, when the school-grounds are enlarged to embrace the beautiful earth made new. That will be God’s greatest university, the highest school in the universe. From that university the inhabitants of unfallen worlds, and even the holy angels, will be eternally learning lessons in the greatest of all sciences, the science of salvation. No other school will be, or can be, so well equipped to teach that most glorious science of sciences. And the New Earth university will itself be a lesson book, and indeed the only text-book on that important and sublime subject. Surely we must be there. But let us return to the present world and learn how we may obtain good reports here, and then see to it that we give all diligence to the all-important matter. This alone will be our truest and highest wisdom. The inspired letter to the Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.” Heb. 11:1, 2. Then in the same chapter special mention is made of a long list of ancient worthies who obtained a good report in the school of Christ through faith. Christ was the Author and Finisher of their faith. It was faith to begin with, faith to continue with, and faith to end with. The anchor faith, which includes hope, never lets go. As no one can please God without faith, it is obvious that no one can live a life that will please God, and thus obtain a good report, without constant, abiding faith. Unswerving faith in God, in His word, revealed in loving obedience, will insure a good report. We must fight the good fight of faith to the finish. Paul says when he finished his course, that he had “kept the faith.” And he was sure of promotion when the Lord comes. And the day of the Lord’s appearing is the appointed time for the promotion of all who have obtained and retained the faith of Jesus till the end, and thus obtained a good report. Glorious day erelong to come, when all the faithful will hear the welcome plaudit, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” To be faithful is to be full of faith. In fighting the good fight of faith, there are many diligent and dangerous foes to meet, so we will need to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. The same faith is delivered to us. In this conflict, the great Captain of our faith provides us with an invincible armor. In its make-up, there is the breastplate of faith and love, and over all the shield of faith, which, if rightly adjusted and used, will quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. Are you in the school of Christ? If so, are you obtaining good reports daily by faith? If you have not yet entered the school, be entreated to apply at once for admission. Jesus will turn none away if they will come in the way He has appointed. Repent, and be converted, and thus be born again, and then, as a little child, you will be received, and at once enter upon the only course that leads to true and eternal exaltation. Whatever may be your achievements or success in this world, your life will be a most wretched and miserable failure if you do not secure a final good report by faith in the school of Christ. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” O, the faith of the just will very soon end in the perfect day. Then all the overcomers will be made perfect at once. They will be saved to the uttermost. Their personal and eternal salvation being then secured, they will go on in the study of the attributes of the divine Being, ever learning more of His justice, mercy, truth, and love. In like manner His wisdom and power and wonderful works, will ever be unfolding to their enraptured view. Students in the school of Christ, with gratitude and praise, let us ever remember that our adorable Teacher has made every provision necessary for our constant triumph here and our eternal triumph hereafter.