The Book of Books.
The study of the Bible will give
strength to the intellect. Says the psalmist, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple.” [Psalm 119:130.] The question has often been
asked me, “Should the Bible become the important book in our schools?” It is a
precious book, a wonderful book. It is a treasury containing jewels of precious
value. It is a history that opens to us the past centuries. Without the Bible
we should have been left to conjectures and fables in regard to the occurrences
of past ages. Of all the books that have flooded the world, be they ever so
valuable, the Bible is the Book of books, and is most deserving of the closest
study and attention. It gives not only the history of the creation of this
world, but a description of the world to come. It contains instruction
concerning the wonders of the universe, and it reveals to our understanding the
Author of the heavens and the earth. It unfolds a simple and complete system of
theology and philosophy. Those who are close students of the word of God, and
who obey its instructions, and love its plain truths, will improve in mind and
manners. It is an endowment of God that should awaken in every heart the most
sincere gratitude; for it is the revelation of God to man. If the truths of the
Bible are woven into practical life, they will bring the mind up from its
earthliness and debasement. Those who are conversant with the Scriptures, will
be found to be men and women who exert an elevating influence. In searching for
the heaven-revealed truths, the Spirit of God is brought into close connection
with the sincere searcher of the Scriptures. An understanding of the revealed
will of God, enlarges the mind, expands, elevates, and endows it with new vigor,
by bringing its faculties in contact with stupendous truths. If the study of
the Scriptures is made a secondary consideration, great loss is sustained. The
Bible was for a time excluded from our schools, and Satan found a rich field,
in which he worked with marvelous rapidity, and gathered a harvest to his liking.
The understanding takes the level of the things with which it becomes familiar.
If all would make the Bible their study, we should see a people further
developed, capable of thinking more deeply, and showing a greater degree of
intelligence, than the most earnest efforts in studying merely the sciences and
histories of the world could make them. The Bible gives the true seeker an advanced
mental discipline, and he comes from contemplation of divine things with his
faculties enriched; self is humbled, while God and his revealed truth are
exalted. It is because men are unacquainted with the precious Bible histories,
that there is so much lifting up of man, and so little honor given to God. The
Bible contains just that quality of food that the Christian needs in order that
he may grow strong in spirit and intellect. The searching of all books of
philosophy and science cannot do for the mind and morals what the Bible can do,
if it is studied and practiced. Through the study of the Bible, converse is
held with patriarchs and prophets. The truth is clothed in elevated language,
which exerts a fascinating power over the mind; the thought is lifted up from
the things of earth, and brought to contemplate the glory of the future
immortal life. What wisdom of man can compare with the grandeur of the
revelation of God? Finite man, who knows not God, may seek to lessen the value
of the Scriptures, and may bury the truth beneath the supposed knowledge of
science. Those who boast of wisdom beyond the teaching of the word of God, need
to drink deeper of the fountain of knowledge, that they may learn their real
ignorance. There is a boasted wisdom of men, that is foolishness in the sight
of God. Let no man deceive himself. “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in
this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He taketh the wise in their
own craftiness.” [1 Corinthians 3:19.] Those who have only this wisdom, need to
become fools in their own estimation. The greatest ignorance that now curses
the human race is in regard to the binding claims of the law of God; and this
ignorance is the result of neglecting the study of the word of God. It is
Satan’s determined plan to so engage and absorb the mind, that God’s great
guide book shall not be the Book of books, and that the sinner may not be led from the
path of transgression to the path of obedience. The Bible is not exalted to its
place, and yet of what infinite importance it is to the souls of men. In
searching its pages, we move through scenes majestic and eternal. We behold
Jesus, the Son of God, coming to our world, and engaging in the mysterious
conflict that discomfited the powers of darkness. O how wonderful, how almost
incredible it is, that the infinite God would consent to the humiliation of his
own dear Son! Let every student of the Scriptures contemplate this great fact,
and he will not come from such a contemplation without being elevated,
purified, and ennobled. The Bible is a book which discloses the principles of
right and truth. It contains whatever is needful for the saving of the soul,
and at the same time, it is adapted to strengthen and discipline the mind. If used
as a text book in our schools, it will be found far more effective than any
other book in the world, in guiding wisely in the affairs of this life, as well
as in aiding the soul up the ladder of progress which reaches to heaven. God
cares for us as intellectual beings, and he has given us his word as a lamp to our
feet and a light to our pathway. “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it
giveth understanding unto the simple.” [Psalm 119:130.] It is not the mere
reading of the word that will accomplish the result that is designed by Heaven,
but the truth revealed in the word of God must find an entrance into the heart,
if the good intended is obtained. The best educated in the sciences are not
always the most effective instruments for God’s use. There are many who find
themselves laid aside, and those who have had fewer advantages of obtaining
knowledge of books, taking their places, because the latter have a knowledge of
practical things that is essential to the uses of every-day life; while those
who consider themselves learned, often cease to be learners, are
self-sufficient, and above being taught, even by Jesus, who was the greatest
teacher the world ever knew. Those who have grown and expanded, whose reasoning
faculties have been improved by deep searching of the Scriptures, that they may
know the will of God, will come into positions of usefulness; for the word of
God has had an entrance into their life and character. It must do its peculiar
work, even to the piercing asunder of the joints and marrow, and discerning the
thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s word is to become the nourishment by
which the Christian must grow strong in spirit and in intellect that he may
battle for truth and righteousness. Why is it that our youth, and
even those of mature years, are so easily led into temptation and sin?—It is because the word of
God is not studied and meditated upon as it should be. If it were Appreciated, there would be an
inward rectitude, strength of spirit, that would resist the temptations of
Satan to do evil. A firm, decided will-power is not brought into the life and
character, because the sacred instruction of God is not made the study, and the
subject of meditation. There is not the effort put forth that there should be
to associate the mind with pure, holy thoughts and to divert it from what is
impure and untrue. There is not the choosing of the better part, the sitting at
the feet of Jesus, as did Mary, to learn the most sacred lessons of the divine
Teacher, that they may be laid up in the heart, and practiced in the daily
life. Meditation upon holy things will elevate and refine the mind, and will develop
Christian ladies and gentlemen. God will not accept one of us who is belittling
his powers in lustful, earthly debasement, by thought, or word, or action.
Heaven is a pure and holy place, where none can enter unless they are refined,
spiritualized, cleansed, and purified. There is a work for us to do for
ourselves, and we shall be capable of doing it only by drawing strength from
Jesus. We
should make the Bible our study above every
other book; we should love it, and obey it as the voice of God. We are to see
and to understand his restrictions and requirements, “thou shalt” and “thou
shalt not”, and realize the true meaning of the word of God. When God’s word is
made the man of our counsel, and we search the Scriptures for light, angels of
heaven come near to impress the mind, and enlighten the understanding, so that
it can truly be said, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple.” [Psalm 119:130.] It is no marvel that there is
not more heavenly-mindedness shown among the youth who profess Christianity,
when there is so little attention given to the word of God. The divine counsels
are not heeded; the admonitions are not obeyed; grace and heavenly wisdom are
not sought, that past sins may be avoided, and every taint of corruption be
cleansed from the character. David’s prayer was, “Make me to understand the way
of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” [Psalm 119:27.] If the
minds of our youth, as well as those of more mature age, were directed aright
when associated together, their conversation would be upon exalted themes. When
the mind is pure, and the thoughts elevated by the truth of God, the words will
be of the same character, “like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
[Proverbs 25:11.] But with the present understanding, with the present
practices, with the low standard which even Christians are content to reach,
the conversation is cheap and profitless. It is “of the earth, earthy,” and
savors not of the truth, or of heaven, and does not come up, even to the
standard of the more cultured class of world lings. When Christ and heaven are
the themes of contemplation, the conversation will give evidence of the fact.
The speech will be seasoned with grace, and the speaker will show that he has
been obtaining an education in the school of the divine Teacher. Says the
psalmist, “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before
me.” [Psalm 119:30.] He treasured the word of God. It found an entrance to his
understanding, not to be disregarded, but to be practiced in his life. Unless
the sacred word is appreciated, it will not be obeyed as a sure and safe and
precious text book. Every besetting sin must be put away. Warfare must be waged
against it until it is overcome. The Lord will work with your efforts. As
finite, sinful man works out his own salvation with fear and trembling, it is
God who works in him, to will and to do of his own good pleasure. But God will
not work without the co-operation of man. He must exercise his powers to the
very utmost; he must place himself as an apt, willing student in the school of
Christ; and as he accepts the grace that is freely offered to him, the presence
of Christ in the thought and in the heart will give him decision of purpose to
lay aside every weight of sin, that the heart may be filled with all the
fullness of God, and of his love. The students of our schools should consider
that through the contemplation of sin, the sure result has followed, and their
God-given faculties have been weakened and unfitted for moral advancement, because
they have been misapplied. There are many who admit this as the truth. They
have cherished pride and self-conceit, until these evil traits of character
have become a ruling power, controlling their desires and inclinations. While
they have had a form of godliness, and have performed many acts of self-righteousness, there has
been no real heart change. They have not brought their life practices into definite
and close measurement with the great standard of righteousness, the law of God.
Should they critically compare their life with this standard, they could not
but feel that they were deficient, sin-sick, and in need of a physician. They
can only understand the depth to which they have fallen, by beholding the
infinite sacrifice that has been made by Jesus Christ, to lift them out of
their degradation. There are but few who have an appreciation of the grievous
character of sin, and who comprehend the greatness of the ruin that has
resulted from the transgression of God’s law. By examining the wonderful plan
of redemption to restore the sinner to the moral image of God, we see that the
only means for man’s deliverance was wrought out by the self-sacrifice, and the
unparalleled condescension and love of the Son of God. He alone had the
strength to fight the battles with the great adversary of God and man, and, as
our substitute and surety, he has given power to those who lay hold of him by
faith, to become victors in his name, and through his merits. We can see in the
cross of Calvary what it has cost the Son of God to bring salvation to a fallen
race. As the sacrifice in behalf of man was complete, so the restoration of man
from the defilement of sin must be thorough and complete. The law of God has
been given to us, that we may have rules to govern our conduct. There is no act
of wickedness that the law will excuse; there is no unrighteousness that will
escape its condemnation. The life of Christ is a perfect fulfillment of every
precept of this law. He says, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.” [John
15:10.] The knowledge of the law would condemn the sinner, and crush hope from
his breast, if he did not see Jesus as his substitute and surety, ready to
pardon his transgression, and to forgive his sin. When, through faith in Jesus
Christ, man does according to the very best of his ability, and seeks to keep
the way of the Lord by obedience to the ten commandments, the perfection of
Christ is imputed to cover the transgression of the repentant and obedient
soul. There will be an effort made on the part of many pretended friends of
education to divorce religion from the sciences, in our schools. They would
spare no pains or expense to impart secular knowledge; but they would not
mingle with it a knowledge of what God has revealed as constituting perfection
of character. And yet a training in the truth of God would develop the mind,
and impart secular knowledge as well; for the very foundation of true education
is in the fear of the Lord. Says the psalmist, “The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.” The living oracles of God reveal the deceptions of the
father of lies. Who of our youth can know anything of what is truth, in
comparison with error, unless they are acquainted with the Scriptures? The
simplicity of true godliness must be brought into the education of our young
people, if they are to have divine knowledge to escape the corruptions that are
in the world through lust. Those who are truly the followers of Christ, will
not serve God only when it is in accordance with their inclination, but, as
well, when it involves self-denial and cross-bearing. The earnest counsel given
by the apostle Paul to Timothy, that he might not fail in doing his duty,
should be set before the youth of today: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be
thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
spirit, in faith, in purity.” [1 Timothy 4:12.] Besetting sins must be battled
with, and overcome. Objectionable traits of character, whether hereditary or
cultivated, should be taken up separately, and compared with the great rule of
righteousness; and in the light reflected from the word of God, they should be
firmly resisted and overcome, through the strength of Christ. “Follow peace
with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” [Hebrews 12:14.]
Day by day, and hour by hour, there must be a vigorous process of self-denial
and of sanctification going on within; and then the outward works will testify
that Jesus is abiding in the heart by faith. Sanctification does not close the
avenues of the soul to knowledge, but it comes to expand the mind, and to
inspire it to search for truth, as for hidden treasure; and the knowledge of
God’s will advances the work of sanctification. There is a heaven, and O, how
earnestly we should strive to reach it. I appeal to you students of our schools
and colleges, to believe in Jesus as your Saviour. Believe that he is ready to help you by his
grace, when you come to him in sincerity. You must fight the good fight of faith.
You must be wrestlers for the crown of life. Strive, for the grasp of Satan is
upon you; and if you do not wrench yourselves from him, you will be palsied and
ruined. The foe is on the right hand, and on the left, before you, and behind
you; and you must trample him under your feet. Strive, for there is a crown to
be won. Strive, for if you win not the crown, you lose everything in this life
and in the future life. Strive, but let it be in the strength of your risen
Saviour. Will the students of our schools study, and endeavor to copy the life
and character of Him who came down from heaven to show them what they must be,
if they would enter the kingdom of God? I have borne you a message of the near
coming of the Son of God in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. I
have not presented before you any definite time, but have repeated to you the
injunction of Christ himself, to watch unto prayer, “For in such an hour as ye
think not, the Son of man cometh.” [Matthew 24:44.] The warning has come
echoing down the ages to our time, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is
with me to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the city.” [Revelation 22:12-14.]
WRITTEN
BY
Christian
Education
Ellen
G. White
1894
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