May, 1942
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE SS
170
They had not talked long before Don realized George wanted to say something but evidently c o u l d not find a way..Quietly, asking the Lord for guidance and help, Don asked, “By the way, George, are you a Chris tian?” .. To his amazement, he saw relief fill George’s eyes, as if he had just been waiting for the subject to be opened. “Well, I think I am, I thought I was . . .” George answered slowly. “But I-I don’t know. How can you be sure, anyway?” Then without waiting for Don to reply, he unburdened his heart. “This summer I went up to a conference at Tahquitz Pines,” he began. “At first, I felt a little strange there. It was a different conference from any I’d ever been to before. It took me about two days to get into the spirit. And then—oh, boy, I really got uplifted. It was grand! The candlelight serv ice, especially, was great. I felt like I was way up on a mountain top— happy as I’d never been before. Then, somehow, after I got home, that feel ing wore off. I kept reading my Bible and trying to pray. But it was no use. I just haven’t any joy any more, and the fellows are razzing me, now, for losing my salvation. Have I?” “You weren’t really saved, were you?” Don asked quietly. “ ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,’ ” he quoted. “Salvation doesn’t depend upon our feelings or our joy,” he went on. “These may change with our circumstances or sur roundings, but we don’t lose our sal vation.” George was listening eagerly—the Holy Spirit was working—and it was not long before George was rejoicing in thè assurance of his salvation— “through faith.” And Don realized, in a new way, the importance of being ready for the voice of the Lord to point him to those whose hearts had been prepared. * * * To the world, the climax of Don’s high school career might seem to have come in the announcement, at the class commencement exercises, that he was not only valedictorian of his class by reason of his scholastic attainments but was also selected by the faculty as the most valuable stu dent of the year in the entire high school of 2,200 students., But to dis cerning Christians present in that at tentive audience, the high point came in the conclusion of Don’s valedictory speech. In a message entitled “An Impregnable Foundation,” he forth rightly brought evidence that both modern science and modern education, in spite of their worth and in spite of all that they promise, have been di* [Continued on Page 198] . .
Jerry were walking home together. Though no opening had been given in their conversation, Don suddenly felt that he should speak to him about Christ. It was one of those days when no ideas would come as to how to begin. Finally, he simply asked, “Jerry, are you a Christian?’’ “Why, I guess I am,” Jerry replied, a little startled. “I’ve been raised in the church, and I read my Bible and pray every day.” But his voice ended on a question. Clearly Jerry was none too sure of his spiritual standing. En couraged, Don opened his Testament and began to show Jerry something of the plan of salvation. Gradually it was brought home to Jerry that just feeding on Christian food will never make ■one a Christian, that t h e r e needed to be the rebirth before one could become a child of God. Before he reached his home, Jerry had made the decision and knew that he was a member of the household of God. Others had been led to ask ques tions when they saw the change in Jerry, and, slowly, the group of Chris tian young people on the high school campus grew in numbers. Truly, be ing in business for the Lord paid rich dividends in satisfaction and joy, Don thought as he looked back upon those months. He pulled in to the curb at the gro cery store and swung from the car. “ Guess Dad isn’t here yet,” he said to himself, glancing hurriedly over the store. He saw George, one of the high school fellows, at his place at the vegetable stand where he worked after school. Don returned his greet ing with an easy, “Hi there,” but he turned back to the car. He didn’t really want to spend time talking to day. He had a long list of Bible verses he wanted to review. He could do that while he waited for Dad. But George’s voice stopped him. “Hey, Don,” he called. “Stick around awhile; maybe we can talk—between customers.” Something in his voice impressed Don, and, swiftly, the thought came that there was a purpose in this en counter. He sauntered over and joined George.
tice field or about the grounds, using any opening he was given for per sonal work. This afternoon he had had to leave early to keep his appoint ment with Dad at a certain grocery store in town, and if he didn’t hurry he’d be late. Boy, you sure kept busy when you were a senior in High, he thought. The teachers seemed to de light in piling on the home work! And his duties as Student Body President were not light. Slowing his car for the traffic, Don thought again of his complete aston ishment when he had learned of his election to that office. That the stu dents should have selected one whose main purpose in life was so foreigii to theirs amazed him even yet. He did not realize fully how even those who privately thought he was throw ing away his life, nevertheless re spected and liked him; liked his un-. failing friendliness, his infectious smile, his sense of humor, and his steadfastness of purpose. At first, he had refused to run for the office, remembering the various activities and school dances in which he could take no part. But he had been assured that he would not need to concern himself with those things, if he were elected. In the end, he had accepted the nomination, little dream ing he would ever be elected. The fellow running opposite him was very popular in school. He played in the dance band and was well liked. The election was as good as settled, Don reasoned. His surprise was all the more „complete, therefore, w h e n he learned that he had been elected as President of the High School Student Body—and t h a t by a three-fourths vote! Now, looking back over the weeks he had served as President, he realized that God’s hand had been in it. Surely the fact that he held this office had meant much in opening up opportuni ties for witness. There was Jerry, for instance, just one amopg several that his duties as Student Body President had enabled him to meet. It was at the close of a program at which Don had been pres ent because of his office. He and
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