The
JUNE, 1969 / Volume 9 / Number 6
MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THF BIOLA FELLOWSHIP
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CONTENTS II TIMOTHY 2 : 1 5 ....................... 3 Al Sanders TRAFFIC CHAOS.......................14 John Hunter YELLOW FLAGS AND NO NAMES ....................... John Hunter 16
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ON THIS MONTH'S COVER Biola College and Talbot Seminary will offer two sessions of summer school on the La Mirada Campus. (See page 36 for information.) Biola leaders involved in the program include Dr. J. Richard Chase, (right) academic vice president, Dr. Robert Crawford, (center) dean of Biola College, and Dr. William Bass, director of the summer sessions.
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II TIMOTHY 2:15 by A l Sanders
guard against the great danger of worshipping at the shrine of intellec- tualism. When anything is put ahead of Christ and the Spirit of God, espe cially man’s intellect, the sin of pride is sure to result. As Henry Ford said, “Any man is a fool when you get him off on the subject on which he was educated.” First of all, the earnest entreaty of II Timothy 2:15 suggests, “Study to show thyself approved.” I heard a well-known educator recently declare that here in our country only five per cent of the people actually think, and about ten per cent think they think, and about eighty-five per cent of these individuals would rather die than have to think. He may be right. Perhaps the observation is amply il lustrated in the fact that today amusements are one of the biggest businesses. The A. C. Nielson Com pany, which is the largest research firm, giving an index of the T.V. viewing and listening habits of the American population, has declared that the average adult spends 3.7 hours a day watching television. No wonder we find a real lack of appre ciation for that which is moral and upright, considering the quality of the medium’s product. Paul’s e a r n e s t exhortation is, “Study to show thyself approved.” The thought can be translated, “Bend your every effort; put everything else 3
C hapter O ne A number of decades ago, God greatly used two men of faith: Dr. Reuben Archer Torrey and Mr. C. M. Alexander. The former was the evangelist, the latter the musical director. In their city-wide crusades, they took as their theme II Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself ap proved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” They would write this verse of Scripture on their letters. They would use it as the slogan of their campaigns. They would greet one another with the saying, “II Timothy 2:15.” Huge posters were printed with this text on it. Never would a telegram be sent without the verse being includ ed. Everyone was made well aware of this blessed theme, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a work man who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” What a positive watchword for Bio- la’s sixty-first anniversary year! Frankly, I’m glad to’ represent a school where students don’t come to major in anarchy. What a commen tary on the times in which we recall that young people used to want to stand up and be counted. Today, however, with all of the protests, it seems their only desire is to sit down and be carried. To be sure, education is vital, but there must be a safe
stand for Question. Begin asking yourself, “What is the purpose of this portion of Scripture? To whom was it written? Why was it placed here?” Use a notebook to jot down ideas. They will always lead to other helpful thoughts. The “R” means to Re-read. Now, in the quietness of your own place selected for private devotions, and this may require get ting up a little earlier, go over the selected portion more slowly and meditatively. Ask the Spirit of God especially to illumine your heart. The “S” we’ll let stand for the word State. Put down what you have learned in your own words. State what you believe this portion of Scripture is teaching, and more par ticularly what you’ve learned from it. Here again, your own notebook will be invaluable. How else will you be able to remember these important things you gain? There’s one thing, too, about writing things down: it helps you to retain it in your own mind. “T” is Test yourself. Begin to probe, “What did I learn from this message? How has it enriched my life? Is it possible to apply some of the things for myself that have come as a result of the study?” These are the five cardinal rules for study. I guarantee that if you follow this sim ple formula, you’ll find it greatly used of the Spirit of God to chal lenge and enrich your life for the Lord. As Paul says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” He is calling for an eager and earnest in quiry to be made in anticipation of what you’ll discover. C hapter T wo The idea behind studying the Word of God is much like that of mining for gold or other precious substances in the earth. It was more than a cen tury ago when men discovered gold in the hills of California. Some struck it rich and came out with treasures. If only they had known that in the dirt and mud which they washed
aside.” We need to apply our own hearts assiduously to the study of God’s Word. Doubtless there may be certain things we’ll have to set aside. They may not be bad things but they’re not the best. Such things as television, radio, magazines, social engagements, even activities of your church, if they stand in the way of that necessary fellowship you must have in the study of God’s Word, must be curtailed. Do not overlook diligence, the bending of every effort to the appli cation of' the Scripture to our own hearts day by day. The gifted pian ist Paderewski testified, “If I miss practice for two days, my family knows it. If I go three days without practicing, the audience knows it. If I go four days without practicing, the whole world knows it!” That’s quite a point, which should bring us to the personal question, “How long has it been since I really studied the Word of God?” How much time elapses between an earnest study of the Bible, which you do, yourself, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit? Thinking about study, let’s make it practical. Keep in mind the letters P.Q.R.S.T. They offer the basic rules for personal study of God’s Word. First, of all, "P” stands for the word, Preview. Try this in your study of the Scripture. Go over a chapter, or even an entire book of the Bible, very rapidly. Take a short epistle like Philippians which would lend itself well for this purpose. Pre view or scan it. In such a perusal you’ll gain an over-all idea as to what’s inside it. Then, let the “Q” 4 It’s much easier to get a good reputa tion than it is to lose a bad one.
away in the panning process there was a substance which today is more valuable than gold. It’s uranium. Sometimes there is a real parallel in Bible study. There are portions of Scripture containing such gold de posits such as the 23rd Psalm and I Corinthians 13, the passage on love. The treasure just falls out as a rich ore. But there are many other por tions of Scripture containing urani um, if we are only willing to take a little more time and effort in pros pecting. What marvelous discoveries await us! This all comes as a result of meditating upon the Word of God. This calls for a continual investiga tion of the Word of God in such a way that the Word really investigates us. Study requires an inquiring mind. Are we really interested to find out what God’s Word has to say to us for these perilous times? It is thrilling when someone digs out a nugget for us, but are we really interested in finding similar precious truths for ourselves ? Years ago Socrates espoused the view that to be successful a man should simply know himself. In actu ality, such a philosophy for life would really only bring torment and frustration. When we see ourselves for what we really are, what agony! What we need to know is the Word of God and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to be able to say with the Apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am per suaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” There are some very important key elements or avenues of Bible study which follow in a progression quite naturally. Use your hand as an example. First of all, hold onto your little finger. Let that represent the word hearing. This is the first ele ment of Bible study, to hear it. The Word of God says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Notice that
the little finger doesn’t contain a great deal of strength. It’s also small er than the other fingers. It needs to stand alongside of the remaining four. The second finger next to the little one, we’ll let represent reading. In I Timothy 4:13, the Apostle Paul reminded his younger brother in the Lord, “Till I come, give attendance to reading.” We need to read the Word of God continually. It’s always a good practice to read through the Bible at least once a year. Keep in mind that it’s not so much a case of just going through the Bible, but rather it’s valuable for our spiritual growth when we let the Bible go through us. The application is the thing which is most significant. As you hold your hand flat, you’ll notice that the middle finger is the longest and most prominent. It stands up above all the others. That middle finger should represent the word study. II Timothy 2:15, this portion of Scripture upon which we have been basing these several messages, urges us, “Study to show thyself ap proved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” So we have hearing, reading, and now study. The next finger, sometimes called the index, represents the word memorize. After we have heard the Scripture, after we have read it, after we have studied it, then we need to memorize it. Psalm 119:11 testifies, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” You see, if we’re con cerned about sinning before the Lord, and certainly we should be, this verse teaches us that the way to keep from 5 It’s better to be despised for the right, than to be praised for the wrong.
One teacher declared, “You remind your children that if they do all right in the dailies, then they’ll have noth ing to fear and no problems or wor ries when the finals come.” I thought at that time how much this is like life itself. As long as we do all right in the dailies, then we’ll have no problem when the finals come. Do you see the spiritual analogy? For the born-again believer, we know that our sins already have been judged on Jesus Christ. That means that no man can rob us of our eter nal salvation. It is forever secure. But we shall stand before the judg ment seat of Christ. At this time it won’t be a case of judging us for sal vation, but rather judging our serv ice. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest.” Just what are we achiev ing in our lifetime? If we haven’t been assiduously a s s ig n in g our hearts to the study of God’s Word, day by day, we’re going to have prob lems when the finals come. This brings to mind the Apostle Paul’s words in the framework of an athlete. In I Corinthian 9:26 and 27, he comments, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I not as one who beateth the air, but I keep under my body and bring it under subjection lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway [or dis approved].” That’s exactly the same word as we find here in II Timothy 2:15, only in the negative. Paul said that he wanted to study to show him self approved. In I Corinthians he is saying that he doesn’t want to be come so busy in the affairs of life, even in the preaching of the Gospel, that he would neglect his own spirit ual maturity and development. This ultimately would lead to being dis approved at the judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ. There’s a great lesson for us here. When we get through with this life, it’s not going to be how much time we spent work ing at church, or at some other Chris
yielding to temptation is to keep the Word of God treasured in our hearts. We must fill our minds with that which is practical and vital. Lastly, for practical Bible study, look at the thumb and think of the practice of meditation. We should have our minds dwelling continually upon the things of God’s Word. Think of several verses which are most precious; indeed, on this sub ject Joshua 1:8 gives the beautiful exhortation of the Lord to His faith ful servant of old, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth. But thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.” Then again there is a most blessed portion of Scripture telling us about the truly contented individ ual from Psalm 1 in that, “His de light is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Look at those five fingers again: Hearing, Reading, Studying, Memorizing, and Meditating. We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. How does one become approved unto God? I heard a fellow comment the other day, who was quite disgusted because he felt no one had ever thanked him for any of his duties he had rendered faithfully, “I guess the only place a person can find approval these days is in the dictionary.” Maybe you’ve felt that way sometimes. Thinking it might be interesting to take him at his word, I went to the dictionary and looked it up. Webster says that “approval” is. “examination to deter mine acceptability.” Several weeks ago, we attended an Open House at a school in which one of our children is enrolled. We fol lowed the daily schedule from class room to classroom, listening to the various teachers. We were quite in terested in their observations on their methods of approach and study. They explained their assignments in order to secure acceptable grades. 6
tian operation, as good and as worth while as that may be. It’s not how many Christian books we read, or even how many people we talk to about the Lord. Our main respon sibility is our own individual rela tionship and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. “Study to show thyself approved.” Try hard to make yourself worthy of God’s approval. Consider all of the things men will do, trying to show off their abili ties before their fellow men. It should be our first aim that we desire above all else to win God’s approval. In the final analysis, it’s not the admiration of the crowd, but God’s recognition that really will count. In II Corinthians 13:5 we are told to “Examine yourself, whether ye be in the fa ith ; prove your own selves.” This means to study the Word of God in order to determine your rela tionship to the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” Dr. Karl Menninger, the famous physician-psychiatrist whose genius in the field of medicine and mental health has been so significant, has pointed out something most percep tive in this area. He says, “The deep- down desire to stand well with our fellows, the laudable hunger to win the public’s ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,’ is inherent in every human soul.” Having read this state ment in a publication, I got on the phone and called a friend of mine who is a Christian psychologist. My question to him was, “Just how im portant to man’s mental make-up is this matter of approval ?” He quickly explained, “Well, probably there’s nothing so important in man’s men tal make-up than approval. He wants to be accepted by others, no matter what his age.” He continued, “You know, when we counsel with individ uals, we look for five basic things; fear, guilt, hate, inferiority, and in security.” His explanation was, “All of these things are actually related
A preacher should tell his people how to get on, and not when to get off!
COGS An untrained eye could never have seen Where a little cog wheel in a great machine Was whirling around at a rapid pace— Until it came loose and fell from its place; But soon as the cog to the floor did drop, The machine slowed down and came to a stop, For it, with its balance all askew, Could not do the work it was meant to do. You may be a cog in a big machine. And feel that your labor’s unnoticed, unseen, That the part you play is so very small, You might just as well not be there at all; But just call to mind that, in God's great plan, There's a place for every woman and man, That if you drop out, (your duty forsake), Another cog then your place must take. The out-of-place cog, its usefulness lost, Like a masterless life, with the scrap may be tossed, But if it’s restored to the place it had been, A new round of service it then may begin; In doing its part, no matter how small, Finds a small place better than none at all; And you’ll learn, if you stick and see the task through, That you must do the work that is yours to do.
Pride often builds the nest In which poverty hatches its sorrows. 7
The Bible has something to say on this important truth, too. In I John 3:21 we are told, “For if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” This is why we need to keep short accounts with the Lord. This means a consistency in our prayer life for real spiritual growth. As a believer, there is a need to confess those sins which have come into our lives. If we bring these transgressions to Him, God is faith ful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unright eousness. David spoke truthfully in saying, “If I regard iniquity in my heart [that is, if I allow some sin to remain unconfessed], the Lord will not hear me.” He meant virtually that his prayers would be cut off. This is what we mean by the fact that obedience to the Word and ap proval of God go hand-in-hand. C hapter T hree The second idea, is that we are to be workmen who need not to be ashamed. Too often selfish pride will sweep our souls. This, of course, is wrong. Pride is a damaging sin with which Satan so quickly tempts us. We all need to apply ourselves to the study of God’s Word so that we might be workmen — that includes preachers, businessmen, housewives, students, salesmen, engineers, what ever your field of endeavor — so that we might be workmen for Christ who need not to be ashamed. One of Britain’s leading surgeons, Sir William H. Ogilvie, talking about recent heart transplants, frankly stated, “The chief cause of heart dis ease actually is due to a lack of exer cise.” While he was referring to a physical situation, we might para phrase what he had in mind. By that I mean the chief cause of spiritual heart disease is a lack of proper ap plication and rightful exercise of that which we have learned. Phillips Brooks, a well-known minister of the Gospel, made this pertinent sugges-
to what happens when an individual fails to gain the approval he thinks he needs or deserves. A person may be fearful because he thinks he’s not approved. Fear may be expressed in many different ways. There are guil ty feelings because of disobedience. We don’t think we’re being approved, as guilt feelings come and are relat ed to approval from others as well as from God.” My psychologist friend went on to point out, “Most of the mental illnesses today are directly re lated to the fact that men may feel that they are truly not approved. An individual may not realize it, but it’s there, behind his ways and activities just the same.” You know, as we study the events of the day, we see that as young people go wrong, be hind their waywardness is generally failure to find the approval or the attention of their parents for which they have craved. Later, of course, it is a desire to find acceptance with their fellow teen-agers. As parents, we must learn early, and it is never too late to apply the fact that, even as we are so prone to criticize, so we must be ready to praise when the opportunity presents itself.
There's always plenty of studyingto do when a student atends any of Blola's schools. Here is Craig Swlneford, a sophomore from Tucson, Arizona, at tendingBiola's ArizonaBible Colege, 3025 West McDowell Road In Phoenix.
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dustrious creatures had come from a cold climate in the Northern part of the United States. When the bees arrived in the Barbados, they in stinctively began going around gath ering honey. It was warm and they considered it to be summer. They knew they should prepare for winter. But, before long, their nature told them that the winter hadn’t come. In this land of perpetual heat and sun shine it would never come. So, ac cording to naturalists in this island paradise, the bees quit gathering honey and started going around stinging the people. Instead of being a blessing, they were a curse. There is a spiritual parallel here for us. If we get our eyes off the fact that this is the summer-time of harvest, and that the winter blasts are sure to come, failing to continue gather ing honey from God’s Word, we’ll soon become sour, critical and cynical in all we do and say. Like these bees
tion, “Don’t pray for tasks equal to your power, but rather ask the Lord for power equal to your tasks.” Isn’t it a fact that too often we’re ready to get by with just the bare essen tials, with just the minimum require ment? Think what could happen if we really let the Lord have His way! We attempt to work for God up to the limit of our incompetency, rather than earnestly expecting that we can serve up to the limit of God’s omni potence. A few weeks ago I was talking to an architect who will be assisting in some of the buildings for Biola. I mentioned a super market out in the San Fernando Valley which had re cently collapsed. People were busy shopping when someone noticed that the wall seemed to move. Another person thought she saw the ceiling tremble. All of the customers and em ployees were hurried out of the store. Before too long, the ceiling collapsed and the walls caved in. My question to the architect was, “In a case like that, who’s responsible for the dam age and huge costs involved? Would it be the architect, the contractor or the engineer?” He replied with a laugh, “Well, let’s just say that for now there are a lot of red faces.” You see, this is exactly what this verse of Scripture is teaching. We should serve the Lord in such a man ner that we might be workmen who won’t have to blush. There’s a verse in the Bible I found only recently in study. I had never really seen it before and it’s one of the most pene trating statements in Scripture. It certainly is one of the most damag ing for my own personal pride, yet it’s one that needs to be applied to our own individual hearts. Look at Jeremiah 48:10, “Cursed be he who doeth the work of the Lord negligent ly.” Some years ago, hives of bees were taken down to the beautiful Barbados Islands, where colonies of the winged creatures were set up. The little in
Mr. Deward Lowrey (right), representing Biola in the state of Washington, as well as the province of British Columbia, looksover development plans with Mr. John Isaac, directorof the Biola Stewardship Department. Looking on is Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, Biola president. Mr. Lowrey is a graduate of the school anda former missionary to Africafrom which field he had to return due to ill health in his family.
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my time to bring spiritual profit to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ?” Our constant complaint is, “I don’t have time. I ’m too busy. There just isn’t the opportunity.” Listen, service without sacrifice, or study without sacrifice, ultimately will prove to be shameful. In Webster’s dictionary we find that “shame” is defined as “a painful emotion, excited by a con sciousness of guilt, short-coming, or impropriety.” C hapter F our The third and final aspect of this verse, II Timothy 2:15, urges us rightly to divide the word of truth. In the first place we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. Then we are to be workmen who will not need to be ashamed. Finally, in this verse, we are told to rightly divide the word of truth. As it’s phrased, it doesn’t mean that there are some portions of the Word which are truth and others which are error. It’s not a case of putting a verse here on this side and the next verse on the other side. The words “rightly dividing” actually appear nowhere else in Scripture. They mean ever cutting a straight path through the Word of God. The picture is that of driving a straight furrow so that there will be not any mistake or mis understanding. As this is seen in the original, it will catch one’s fancy, for this verse teaches a truth taken from farming. In order to get a better picture of it, I called a friend who has a farm in Denver so that I might get a better explanation. I asked my friend one question, “Is a straight furrow im portant to a farmer?” He laughed in responding, “Absolutely! There’s probably nothing else in which the farmer takes such pride. He is anx ious to show his ability to be able to cut a straight furrow. Do you know how much real skill is involved ? It’s not something a person learns over night. Only a farmer with a
in the Barbados, we face the danger of going around stinging people with our back-biting words, instead of looking to the Word and our faithful testimony. Our purpose should be as workmen who are not ashamed. Do you realize that there is abso- GOD IS STILL BOSS! I don’t know how it makes you feel To read what men will say. And how they try to tear God down From off His throne each day; It makes me sick to hear them brag, This- proud exalted race, Because they've got their satellites Somewhere out there in space. I'd like to know how God must feel, And how His thoughts must run When he observes that capsule cone, Revolving 'round the sun; And mingled there with His great works, This thing of sinful man, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. If there is judgment in His plan. God’s proud of everything out there, The stars, the moon and sun, They are His glory, He’s declared, His hands have made each one; And men would dare contaminate His handiwork in space, Just how He holds His wrath, To me, is more than I can face. They’ve learned so much, these brains of man, To think they know it all. But God has met their kind before, To Him they’re mighty small; Don’t let them rob you of your faith With all the scares they toss, Remember, God is on the throne, And He is still the boss. —Walter Huntley lutely no limit to that which we can do, just so long as we don’t care who gets the credit for it? God wants to do His work through us. The ques tion comes then, “Just how much am I working for God? Am I using 10
good eye can determine the proper pattern and hew to the line proper ly.” I wondered, “Well, is it just a case of trying to please your neigh bors, as well as the folks who drive by the farm?” “Oh, no,” he hurried ly replied, “there’s far more to it than that. There’s a very practical purpose in straight furrows. First of all, if you haven’t followed the proper line for watering, you’ll discover too late some low spots in the field that will flood. Perhaps there will be dead furrows, where you’ve taken out too much soil. Here again the water problem will be critical. Again, if the furrows aren’t straight when you go to cultivate, taking out the weeds, it’ll be almost impossible to drive a tractor through the lines. It follows, too that when it comes time for har vesting the crops, some of the rows won’t be straight, and all of the other rows will be off. If one is off, they’re all off! That’s why that first furrow is absolutely important! It becomes essential that it’s very straight.” I asked my Denver farming friend if there had been any improvement in farming since he started forty years ago. He quickly explained, “Oh, of course. Many new strides have been taken in every area. For in stance, the tractor we use now can’t begin to be compared with the horses of the past. It’s much faster. Also, in the seeds we plant, they’ve now become cross-mixed and improved in every strain over many different ways. The fertilizer has been espe cially treated. Of course, we now have all the bug killers and things of that sort. Yes, indeed, farming has come a long way in these four dec ades.” I had one last question, “Tell me, has the method and the ability to plow a straight furrow changed at all over these two-score years?” “How do you mean?” he wanted to know. I suggested in explanation, “Well, when you started forty years ago, digging up your farm and put ting in these long furrows, I pre
sume you did it then by simply using your steady eye.” “That’s right. We put stakes in the ground at either end of the field. Then, using that as the frame of reference, we start heading out. I guess this is the only area of farming that hasn’t changed in 40 years. It’s still exactly the same way as we do it today! As a matter of fact, as far as I know, that’s the way it’s always been.” Doesn’t it seem strange that in this modem age of space development, cybernetics WORK, FOR THE DAY IS COMING Work, for the day is coming Day in the Word foretold. When, 'mid the scenes triumphant, Longed for by saints of old. He who on earth a stranger Traversed its paths of pain, Jesus, the Prince, the Saviour, Comes evermore to reign. Work, for the day is coming! Darkness will soon be gone. Then o'er the night of weeping Day without end shall dawn. What now we sow in sadness, Then we shall reap in joy; Hope shall be changed to gladness, Praise be our blessed employ. Work, for the Lord is coming! Children of light are we; From Jesus’ bright appearing Powers of darkness flee. Soon will the strife be ending. Soon all our toils below, Not to the dark we are tending, But to the day we go. and data processing, that man has still not devised a better electronic scientific method of cutting a straight furrow? It always depends upon the human eye. I mention all of this because when it comes to rightly dividing the Word of truth, our spiritual vision must always be fixed solidly upon the Lord Jesus Christ. He is truly the only frame of reference for life. Only in this way can your life cut straight furrows for God. We need to be 11
stopped to think about it that those who are up for election are usually “me-too” candidates, running on a “yes-but” platform, and probably ad vised by a “has-been” staff. I’m afraid that’s too often true. An ad vertising executive in a class I’ve been attending, seeking ways to pre sent the Gospel more effectively, said something typical of the misleading claims of the day. He represents one of the largest advertising agencies in the country. It’s a secular class and he said the other night “We operate on the principle that you can fool some of the people some of the time, and generally that's enough!” It’s too bad that there’s so much error in the world today. Webster tells us that truth is that which conforms to fact, or reality. It’s not erroneous or in accurate. The Lord Jesus declared, “I am the truth; believe me!” Who can you believe today? In whom can you put your trust? Without ques tion, you can believe the Lord, and trust His Word. Notice verse 14 of the second chap ter of II Timothy. Here we see those who are putting forth words that have no profit but are rather de signed to the subverting of hearers. Then, in verse 16, we are told to shun profane and vain babblings because they increase unto more ungodliness. Right between, in the middle of these negative verses, we are told to study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth. This should be our entire purpose. We need to be able to judge our selves by the Word of God. A preacher was one day waiting in the railroad station of a western town. The train was late so he was pacing back and forth on the plat form. As he walked around the back of the building he noticed that a large group of people was gathering at the foot of a high cliff. Since he felt he had a few moments before the train arrived, he hurried over to see just what exactly was taking place
looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Dividing is basically the major purpose of teaching. We need to give out the proper portion of the Word, unmixed. Too many confuse law with grace, the church with the world, and other similar errors. The old preacher had it right when he said, “What we really need is not good mixers, but good separators, those who are able to divide the Word of Truth so that others may see and believe. To rightly divide means to handle Scripture accurately; to ex pound it soundly, that others may know and may believe. Now, not only is this “rightly dividing” important, but notice the emphasis upon the Word of Truth! We don’t hear much about truth today. During the last election I was amazed at some of the outlandish declarations and prom ises. Some of the political candidates were very misleading and mysterious as to what was right and wrong. It reminds me of the politician who was up for re-election. He tried to im press people and brashly stated, “These aren’t my figures I am quot ing ; they’re the figures of somebody who knows what he is talking about!” He was probably more right than he realized. Have you ever
Fred Martin (left), a junior from Costa Mesa, Calif., atending Biota's Phoenixaffiliate, the Arizona Bible Colege, has a time of fellowship with Hollis Powell, a freshman from Tucson, Ariz. Lifelong companion ships are established during the time of prepara tion and mean a great deal in the ministryof God's Word for the future.
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and about what the people were mill ing around. He pressed his way as close as he could and then he saw stretched out on the ground the form of a man who had evidently fallen over the cliff the night before. Look ing at the pathetic sight, he reasoned that the fellow had perhaps lost his direction in the dark of night. He may not have known that there was a high cliff right there. Then it was too late. In the agonizing moment that followed he lost his life. But there was something else there that caught the preacher’s eye. The man’s right hand was tightly clenched. From the fist there protruded just a few pieces of dead grass. Those few pieces of straw, the preacher reasoned, were evidently all the man could get hold of as he felt himself falling off the cliff. He reached out to grab hold of something which might hold him up. Instead, the only thing there to grab hold of were just those few weeds. Similarly, the world is in the dark of night, mentally, spiritually, moral ly; in every sense. Men are walking toward a certain precipice. It’s our responsibility to rightly divide, to cut a straight furrow, to go down the line on the truth, with our eyes solid ly fixed upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose is that those who know not the Saviour may see Him, whom to know is life eternal. Jesus said, “I am the truth . . . no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” * * ic CORRECTING THE PROBLEM It would be interesting to know how many listeners we may have who can remember pumping water on a farm, rather than just turning on the faucet and having an unlimited supply. There was a man who supposedly purchased a place on which was an old pump. He began immediately drawing water. The neighbors rushed over and warned him that the substance was poisonous and
unsafe for use. The former occupants he was told, the father, the mother, and al^ the children, had actually died from drinking the strangely poisoned water. The man thanked them kindly and then proceeded to remedy the situation, or at least so he thought. He mended the wooden platform over the well. He put a new handle on the pump. He fixed a crack in the spout. Then he painted the whole thing a beautiful bright red. How foolish this was! Such activity, although it enhanced the outward ap pearance a great deal, would never pre vent him from being poisoned. He had problems much more serious. Painting the pump was beside the point. All of his activity was useless. What the man needed was a new well. There’s a real lesson in this for us, too! The Lord Jesus Christ said to one of the finest, most religious, honest, and respected men of his day, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). “Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Matt. 23:26). Salvation is not super ficial. It’s not man’s exterior that needs help, but rather his inner soul. “There fore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17). * 'k * A CHILD’S TEST No doubt there are many of you who like me learned as one of the first golden texts of the Bible that lovely Sunday school truth in our Lord’s words, “Suffer the little children to come unto me; and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” How the Saviour loves boys and girls! They’re never too young to be taught the truths of eternal life and the way of salvation. One little girl learned this verse in a very unique manner. She was to recite it in a church program. The auditorium as well filled and the audience hushed as she tried to think of her part. Then finally she blurted out the only thing she could think of, “Suffer the little children to come unto me; and don’t anybody try to stop them!” 13
by Dr. John Hunter Torchbearers' Fellowship, England
TRAFFIC CHAOS
Moses. They wandered through the wilderness to reach their promised home of Canaan. It was a land of milk and honey, full of blessing and good things. But they had no king. There was no one to tell them what was right so everyone made his own decisions. There was no one who was the human sovereign. It wasn’t just a question of wickedness, but often of people trying to do what was right. This was the same way with the traffic. People will only find chaos if they make up the rules as they go along. In too many cases this is what happens in some Christian lives. The person may be honestly saved, deter mined to do what is right, when sud denly he discovers someone else cut ting across his ways. Somebody has to be wrong. If there had been a king in Israel at this time, every man would not have done that which was right of his own accord. He would have asked, “What does the king say?” This would be the final authority. As I counsel with people, I observe Chris tians who have a Saviour, but who are not willing to give up their own rights for those of the Saviour. This is what the title Lord means. It is not a term of affection but rather one of kingship and ownership. We have no right to do what we think is proper, but only that which is pleasing to Christ. The whole point is this, “What does my Lord say?” If you want to get out of the traffic snarl in your Christian life, and into the place where there is a peace and blessing, you must give up that which you think is right for that which God says is the rule to follow. I should be saying, “What sayest my Lord unto His servant?” Are you listening for the Lord? Will you obey
A nyone who does much travelling on freeways and expressways will rightly feel he knows something about that which this title implies. Frankly, however, and I’ve been all over the world, drivers in America are some of the best to be found any where! Maybe this is because your police are on the job for I find a sense of holding back. In England, where I come from, the driving is really offensive. No one will give an inch. Real traffic chaos is what I’ve seen in countries such as Taiwan, Viet Nam and Ethiopia. I’m not be ing critical. It’s simply a realization that civilization has come remarkably quickly in the method of transport. In Taiwan, as an example, the main streets carry a great variety of vehicles. The police there only walk. They are stationed at the lights, trying to stop violators. There’s no one to bring any chal lenge on the highways. This remind ed me of a verse in the Bible, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” In Judges 17:6 I find the penetrating words, “In those days, there was no king in Israel.” Notice that it isn’t that every one did that which was wrong in his own eyes. Rather he did that which was right in his own eyes. This is what the traffic chaos seemed to me. Any of the motorists would tell you that he was right; the other fellow was wrong. Most courts have seen very few people who are ready to admit their guilt. The other person is al ways wrong. I saw the same thing in Viet Nam. If you know your Bible, you real ize two things about the Old Testa ment. God’s people had been slaves in Egypt, but they had been re deemed by God under the hand of 14
Him? If you trusted Him at the cross, then obey Him in the crisis. Just stop, and let Jesus not only be your Saviour, but also your Lord!
“Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb?” Yes! though I seldom pray or pay, I still insist I am. "Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free?” No! Others, Lord, should do their part, But please don’t count on me. "Praise God from whom all bless ings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below!” Oh, loud my hymns of praise I bring. Because it doesn’t cost to sing! —Ted Voorhees
I LOVE THY CHURCH, O GOD “I love thy church, O God, Her walls before thee stand;” But please excuse my absence, Lord, This bed is simply grand! “A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify.” But, Lord, no cash from me, Thy glory comes too high.
During the week of May 5th, Biola College andTalbot Theological Seminary conducted the annual Missionary Conference. Theme for the week was Rising Crises, Reveal Christ!” More than 200 misionaries were participating. Pictured is the Student Missionary Union Council along with Mr. Clyde Cook, director of missions, for Biola Colege. Students from left to right are: (front row)Carl Martinsin,Jan Archibald,Grer Eagleson, Dave Beckwith, (middlerow) Steve Pearson, Janet Segelke, Larry Keiswender, (back row) Rich Thune, LeRoy Cook, Ken Cowell, Al Siebert.
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O NE OPTHE most fascinating cities in the Orient is busy and bus tling Tokyo. I have never seen such activity with tremendous crowds of people. In the area where I stayed there was always a great deal of traffic. Their pedestrian crossings were most interesting. There was a safety zone marked out and on each side of the. street there was a post with a leather basket fastened to it. In the container were some yellow flags. If you wanted to cross the street, you were supposed to pick out a yellow flag, and hold it high for all the oncoming traffic to observe. Reaching the other side safely, you were to put your flag into the con tainer for the next person to use. The remarkable thing about it all was that during the time I was there I only saw one person using a flag. Most people did what the British are famous for, and that is crossing any where they wanted. Strange, isn’t it, when there is a safe way provided, people prefer to risk their lives? Another thing that was interest ing to me was the fact that the streets had absolutely no names. The area was completely built up but numbers on the houses and names for the streets were missing. How would a mailman find the right house with such a situation in existence? Talk about confusion! To the Japa nese there is not the same confusion as for aliens. A missionary friend told me, “Sometimes we set off to find a certain place, and get hopelessly mixed up. So, we have to give it up and come home!” I understand that only recently they’re adding names and numbers. That will be a real boon! So here were yellow flags nobody used and no names that people could 16
use. It seemed a strange paradox to me. Instead of using the safety flags, even I darted across the street, pre ferring rather to make a run for it. Thinking of those flags, I recalled the words from John 14:6 where Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the F a t h e r but by me.” Throughout the Orient, as well as every other part of the world, I have encountered those who are trying to find their own way to God. In Japan, there’s a high mortality rate among pedestrians. People lose their lives following their own way. All they had to do was to take a flag and hold it high. Jesus says, “I am the way.” Take His cross and hold it high. Has your way been to follow your church or denomination? The perfect way has already been provided. That way is Jesus Christ. Are you using Him? How amazing to find no street names or house numbers! The only way I could remember was by expe rience. I recalled that it isn’t names and numbers which bring me to God. The real test comes in knowing the way. I have to learn to walk with Him by faith. I need to get my hand in the hand of the Saviour and rec ognize His presence. When you come to the cross by faith, you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Sav iour. Some of you may be older peo ple. Life can often be so confusing. You don’t understand the new tech niques. The ways and sounds of this generation are hard to grasp. It all seems so strange to you. All you need is the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “I am the way.” Keep in mind that He’s not only the way you come in but also He’s the way you go through to the end of life and are ushered into all eternity. Trust Him
day by day. As a young person, you may be absolutely brain-beaten by the noise of life and confusion on every hand. You are at a loss as to what you should do. Thank God, there is an answer! When you come to the cross, you can go right on with Him. The Saviour has promised, “I’ll never leave thee nor forsake thee. Lo, I am with you alway.” If you’ve never come to the cross, trusting Christ as your Saviour, why don’t you take this perfect way just now? Then, for those of you who are Christians, yet are bewildered and confused, stop looking for names and numbers. There’s only Jesus. It’s the Saviour who knows the way He’s going. If you’re with Him, all you need to know is that He will never leave or forsake you. Make sure your faith is totally in Him. What if I say, “The Bible is God’s holy Word, Complete, inspired, without a flaw." But let its pages stay Unread from day to day, And fail to learn there from God’s law; What if I go not there to seek The truth of which I glibly speak, For guidance on this earthly way; Does it matter what I say? What if I say That Jesus Christ is Lord divine; Yet fellow-pilgrims can behold Naught of the Master’s love in me, No grace of kindly sympathy? If I am of the Shepherd’s fold, Then shall I know the Shepherd's voice And gladly make His way my choice. We are saved by faith, yet faith is one With life, like daylight and the sun. Unless they flower in our deeds Dead, empty husks are all the creeds. To call Christ Lord, but strive not to obey, Belies the homage that with words I pay. — Maude Frazer Jackson SAFE
THE BUILDER A builder built a temple; He wrought it with grace and skill. Pillars, braces, and arches. He fashioned to suit his will. Men said as they saw its beauty, “It shall never know decay. Oh, great is thy fame, oh, builder, Thy name shall live on for aye.” A teacher built a temple, With love and infinite care. Planning each arch with patience, Laying each stone with prayer, No one knew of her unceasing efforts None knew of her wondrous plan, For the temple the teacher builded, Was unseen by the eyes of men. Gone is the builder’s temple Crumbling into the dust Low lies each stately pillar, Food for consuming rust. But the temple the teacher builded Shall live on while the ages roll; For that beautiful, unseen temple Is a child’s immortal soul.
Each weekseveral hundred Biola sfndents, in con junctionwith World Oportunities, travel tothe Wats and Mead areas of Los Angeles to share the mes sage of the Gospel with the boys and girls. After various activities and sports recreation, the children hear a lesson from God's Word. Pictured is Biola student, Dave Beckwith, leading a group of boys in prayer.
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with DR. SAMUEL H. SUTHERLAND/DR. CHARLES L FEINBERG
let? Nowhere in the Bible can I find where our hearts are spoken of as being black with sin. I know the devil is called the prince of darkness but not blackness.” A. God has wonderfully used this means of teaching the hearts of chil dren. It is true that the Bible doesn’t state in so many words that our hearts are black with sin. It seems a rather small point of distinction for darkness is blackness. In Jude the two are put together. That our sins are as scarlet is found in Isaiah 1 :18. This doesn’t say our sins are scarlet; it is simply a figure of speech. The important thing is the cleansing so vitally necessary. Don’t overlook the verse that explains, “Men love dark ness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” This is definitely a correct and a black picture. Regard less of what color sin is, praise God there is salvation through Jesus Christ. Q. Taunton, Mass. — “Listening to your program, one of your girls who testified she was going to the mission field also said she planned to get married. This is not right for she can’t serve two masters and be happy." A. We would most thoroughly dis agree with this notion. There is nothing out of harmony with mar riage and the mission field. Many of our students have followed this ex ample through the years, and the Lord has greatly blessed their lives.
Q. Kansas City, Mo. — “I ’m trying to find Christ real enough in my life to turn loose from worldliness and take hold. I think I have it in m.y head but not in my heart. Can you help me to find and live Christ in my life obediently and get the strength and will power to turn away from sin ?” A. This is the •kind of a letter we appreciate for it comes from a bur dened heart. Actually this should be the prayer of each one of us. We all need to “turn loose from worldli ness, taking hold of the Lord.” The most important thing is to make sure that we have accepted Christ as our personal Saviour. Then the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within our hearts. Keep in mind that we have just as much of the Holy Spirit at conversion as we ever will have. The difference comes as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord. The Holy Spirit is then getting more and more of us. This is the process of sanctification. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” The secret of victory is keeping our minds and our hearts on the Lord Jesus Christ. Concentrate on Him rather than on all of the allurements of the world. Romans 12:1-2 points out that it is consecration which is needed in our lives. Q. Ashton, Neb. — “In Child Evan gelism and the teaching of the Word less Book they say that sins are black. Aren’t sins referred to as scar: 18
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