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.
12
Made with FlippingBook Online document