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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July, 1939
• Pictured with their instructors at the right is the Class of 1939 of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, whose seventy members were granted their diplomas on the evening of June 8 at the hand of Roy L. Laurin, Vice-President of the Institute. Of this number fourteen per sons received degrees. The class motto ap pears in the foreground of the photograph. The commencement address was delivered by R. S. Beal (pictured at right of pulpit), pas tor of the First Baptist Church of Tucson, Ariz. At the baccalaureate service on Sunday, June 4, David M. Dawson, pastor of the First Baptist Church of San Jose, Calif., was the speaker. At the Class Day exercises, June 7, Mr. Laurin, representing the Institute, received from Gurney M. Harris, class president, long term pledges totaling $12,560.00. These prom ises of support for Biola were made by mem bers of the class in appreciation of the training they have been receiving without tuition cost.
Our Sacred Trust By ARVID CARLSON Representing the Men of the Class of 1939
S TEWARDS of the grace of God! What a divine mystery! W e readily recognize the mystery in the manifestation of this grace of God in the Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, but we must also recognize an equal ele ment of mystery in His appointment of "earthen vessels” to the stewardship of this grace. This truth becomes all the more amazing and wonderful when we consider the Source of grace, as well as the bearers of its message. It is inconceivable to think of our God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, as having to depend upon mere human means for the promulgation of His glorious salva tion. For, has He not suspended the “earth upon nothing”? Has He not "measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance”? "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” (Isa. 40:12,18). Not only is He the Creator of all the universe of matter, but its Sustainer as well. For, “He is before all things” (Col. 1:17), and by Him are all things held together as a unit. Thus, when we consider the wonders of His creative power, we exclaim with the Psalmist, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son [The two messages appearing on these pages are condensed from addresses given at thé class day exercises on June 7. W e regret that lack o f space precludes pub lishing the message representing the class as a whole, given by James' Brown o f Ireland .—E dito S.]
of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psa. 8:4 ). The visitation was a wonderful act of con descending grace, indeed a mystery, but thus also is the placing into our hands this ministry of reconciliation. It was this truth which the inspired Apostle Paul had constantly before him as an incentive to faithful service. Was he not “less than the least of all saints” to whom "this grace” was “given”? Was he not the “chief" of sinners, and does he not thank Christ Jesus for counting him faith ful, putting him into the ministry? And was he not, at least in a measure, fearful that this precious trust should be taken from him, when he wrote, “I keep my body under . . . lest . . . when I have preached to others, I myself should be disapproved”? “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor. 4 :7 ). A Precious Privilege Ponder the incomparable joy and bless ing of bearing His message where He Him self never trod! The last words of the Lord Jesus, before He ascended from a Judean hilltop to take up His work of intercession at the Father’s right hand, were these: “Ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the ut termost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8, R. V .) . Think you this is not a privilege? For us, who are naught but sinners saved by grace, it is the most honored, the most highly exalted, and the best-rewarded position in all the world. Representatives of the King of Kings! What a privilege! Not only is this privilege precious from the standpoint of the glory, power, and
prestige of the One we serve, but it is also a joy to bear His message of redemptive grace to a world which lies in sin and dark ness. Meditate on the wondrous truth of being "dispensers” of His household goods to a sin-ravished humanity, whose eager hands would welcome even a crumb from our Master’s table! There is no greater thrill on this side of glory, than to see precious souls come out of spiritual star vation into a life of spiritual satisfaction. As Joseph in Egypt, we have been set over all the household to distribute to famished souls the riches of His storehouse of grace and plenty. As in the parable of the steward and his servants, we have been appointed “to give them their portion of meat in due season” (Lk. 12:42). The Class of 1939 counts it all joy to occupy this favored and honored position until He comes. I speak in behalf of the men of the class, when I say that no greater privilege has been afforded us, than to be the "stewards of the grace of God,” and that by grace, not of ourselves, lest any man should boast. We leave this God- honored institution with precious memories, indelibly written upon our hearts and minds, which we shall cherish through the future years of service in the Lord’s vineyard. We are deeply grateful to all those who have had a part in equipping us for our life’s work. W e have been given, not only a thorough working knowledge of the Bible, but also an opportunity to put it to a practical test. Among the young men, some have served as Sunday-school teachers: others have been members of deputation teams, traveling here and there giving out the gospel story. Still others have served
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