Dear Judy: My trip east was a pleasant one. The missionary conference I at tended in New York was a great blessing to me, and I was glad to have the opportunity of seeing you again. However, since our little discus sion — there in your apartment — last week, I have thought much about your spiritual problem, and your desperate need for someone to give you sound advice. In fact, you have been upon my mind almost con stantly. At first, I found myself wishing that I could have had more time to spend with you, before my plane again took off from your city for California. But now I think per haps it is best that I discuss this important matter more fully in this way, and I trust I may be used of God to help you. Frankly, it was a great shock (though I did try to retain my com posure) when you told me that you were going to marry a college pro fessor, who is an atheist. Truly, Judy, it seems incredible that you could have gotten so mixed up in your thinking, in just four short years! The change which has taken place in you, since you left your home town to attend that university, from which you will soon be gradu ating, has caused me such deep con cern I feel impelled to write this type of letter — which I am sure will be quite unlike any you have ever received in the past. Now the task, which I have set be fore me at this particular time, is not exactly a pleasant one. But I dare not keep silent—when God has commanded every Christian to be at least a little candle, to help shine away the spiritual darkness, here in this world. On my way back home, it seemed that everything was sort of blurry, like a troubled dream that somebody else is dreaming: yet, each time I closed my eyes—up there above the clouds— I could see your face clearly.
This made it very difficult for me to hold back my tears. For I did not see you smile; I could not find that light of joy in your eyes, which I used to see, all your waking hours. Once, Judy, your future looked so promising. It seemed God had espe cially favored you, had given you ad vantages far above all the other girls here, who were of your age. You had a sunny disposition, and you were popular; you were healthy, beauti ful, and very talented. Furthermore, your consecrated Christian parents (who lost their lives in that terri ble automobile accident, just two weeks before you graduated from high school) took you to Sunday school and church regularly. They faithfully tried in every way possi ble to build a solid Scriptural foun dation beneath your feet. Why you have wandered so far away from it, I do not know. I can only say, as I look back tonight over the years, that my heart is exceedingly heavy, for I love you, my dear! Now it is certain, Judy, that no one can read the Bible with an open mind, and remain unchanged. If we walk in the light we receive from it, God will give us more light. On the other hand, if we turn away from that light, which He has provided for us, our path will grow even darker. I am sorry to say that is exactly what you have done. Judy, you have deliberately turned away from the light of the glorious Gospel! In God’s sight, that is such a serious thing to do. And He demands re pentance, to escape His holy wrath. Nevertheless, I want you to know that whatever I have to say in this letter, it is not my purpose to cen sure you for your present unbelief. Instead, I am writing with the aim of persuading you to place your con fidence in “ thus saith the Lord!” You were so fortunate to be loved so dearly; to have the privilege of being so carefully brought up in a godly Christian home. (Few young people, today, are that lucky!) But Satan is endeavoring to rob you of
your rightful heritage. For he is the one who puts doubts in the mind and heart; who cleverly lays traps and snares before the feet of the chil dren of men to keep them from com ing to the Lord! What the future holds for you, I cannot accurately predict. For all your tomorrows, like mine, must un fold one by one to reveal the joys and sorrows which lie ahead: the big and little triumphs in life; the pa thetic failures; all the mysteries hidden at this time from our mor tal eyes! But this, dear Judy, I know: You now have no peace with in ; and inward peace is so essential to true happiness. Of course, when I say this, I real ize it is easy to find pleasure here in this world. Furthermore, I am quite aware of the fact that we can even have temporary joy : but only the Lord can give us lasting peace in our souls, that deep, sweet peace, which passeth all understanding! Your father and mother certainly had this blessed serenity o f heart and they walked together, hand in hand, throughout their lifetime. In the past, Judy, I have often heard them pray for you. Yet, not once, did I hear them ask God to give you wealth and fame. Neither did they plead with Him to lead you always in pleasant pastures. Instead, they made it plain in their prayers that they desired, above all else, that you should be obedient to God’s Word, and live for His glory. Now you have fallen in love with a man who is an agnostic, a popular young man, who is considered by many to be very wise for his years, but who will not accept the Biblical account of creation, and does not be lieve in a hereafter. He says there is no God, no Heaven, no judgment ahead! Today, Judy, you are standing on shifting sand. Oh, of course, you admit that you still believe in God, yourself; yet you confess that you no longer believe all the Bible. For instance, you insist that hell is an unreality; (For God, you say, would
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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