Biola Broadcaster - 1964-10

GOOD ENOUGH One of the most difficult types of people to whom to witness are those who are moral and upright, who never swear, smoke, drink, carouse, nor get into trouble. Such a man will usually say, “I ’m good enough to get to heav­ en.” A farmer told his Christian hired hand, “I ’m pretty good on the whole.” No matter what kind of a testimony the zealous Christian worker gave, he was not able to convince the prosper­ ous farmer that he needed Christ as Saviour. The only comment he ever got was, “I ’m pretty good on the whole." When spring came, the Chris­ tian was told to build, a fence around an area in order to keep cattle within their proper boundaries. When the job was finished the farmer asked him for a report on how the fence turned out. The Christian saw his opportunity. He smiled, “Well, it’s pretty good on the whole. Of course, there are a few places where I had to leave an open space, and some sections were not as high as they probably should be. In other areas I have bnly one wire strung instead of three or four. But, it’s a pretty good fence on the whole." The farmer was shocked and disturbed at the news, “Don’t you know that unless a fence is per­ fect it is of no use at all. I f there’s any hole or lack, the whole thing is worthless.” The believer had made his point, “So it is with the human life. Actually, I made the fence as it should be. I merely made these hypothetical suggestions to illustrate your personal need of Jesus Christ." The man got the point. None of us can say that we are good eflough to go to heaven meeting God’s perfect standards for we have all sinned and come short of His glory. The Lord Jesus declared, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life.” * * * There is no dust which will affect the eyes of the believer more than gold dust! 22

HELP WANTED A t the turn of the century Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famed Artie explorer, put an advertisement in the London Times. In it he declared, “Men wanted for a hazardous journey — small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant dan­ ger, safe return doubtful, little honor and recognition.” This could readily be the advertise­ ment young people, seeking to train here in the halls of Biola, have an­ swered. The Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t offer an armchair, slippers and tran­ quilizers, but rather He holds out a cross and calls His workers to a life of sacrifice for Him. Will you remem­ ber to pray for our young people each day? * * * Too many people make cemeteries of their lives by burying their talents. THE FIRST LESSON Scripture teaches us that one of life’s greatest lessons is in the control of the tongue. A man came to Soc­ rates one day seeking to learn vari­ ous important lessons of life which might help him toward distinguished and recognized leadership. Socrates agreed and gave him the first one based on David’s words in the 39th Psalm, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.” Socrates told him, "This is your first important lesson. Learn it well." The man left and never came back. Some years later, it is said that when Soc­ rates met him at a social gathering, he naturally asked why he had not returned for his second lesson. The man smilingly told Socrates, “Well, frankly, I ’m still trying to learn the first one." The Bible says that the tongue is an unruly member and that no man can control it. But while no man can control it, the Holy Spirit certainly is able to. Will you say with David of old, as the continuing first step, “Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my mouth and keep the door of my lips.”

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