per strand. Sometimes only an expert can tell the difference. Real pearls are formed by a protective secretion of the oyster at a spot where the crea ture has been irritated by some for eign body in the shell, perhaps only a speck of sand. Cultured pearls are formed as a result of a substance be ing artificially induced in the shell. The results are very similar. The most inexpensive kind are artificial pearls which are simply glass beads covered over with a solution of “fish silver.” The oyster teaches us a beautiful lesson. When something comes into our lives which disturbs us we can either make a pearl of it, or else let it get us down and ultimately bring spiritual defeat. The Psalmist rightly declares, “Fret not thyself.” Don’t let things irritate you. Every trial or testing is an opportunity for victori ous triumph through the power of Jesus Christ. The pearls of Christian character are far m o re beautiful adornments than any the world could offer. The apostle Paul says, “Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, mercy, kindness, humble ness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” * * * The people who get the most kick out of life are those who kick the least. * * * FIRST AND SECOND The first son of Adam, Cain, was a failure while the second one, Abel, pleased God. He became a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first son of Abraham, Ishmael, was not the one God chose, but Isaac, the second, was the promised child. Isaac's two sons, Esau and Jacob, reveal again how the first is often rejected and the second is chosen. The first tables of stone were broken, but the second were hon ored and preserved. The first genera tion died in the wilderness, but the second entered into the land of prom ise. Moses, the first deliverer, did not go into Canaan but Joshua, the second, did. The first king, Saul, was a failure,
Mr. Ed Steele (standing), director of Biota radio stations tmd Extension De partment, looks over report of KBBW , San Diego, with Mr. Phill Butler sta tion's manager. but the second, David, was a man after God’s own heart and was ac cepted. Our first birth is in sin, but the second birth is of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ and leads to eternal life. So, there was even a first coming to this earth by Jesus Christ. He came to His own but His own received Him not. So there will be a second coming of the Lord when He will receive the throne and the nations for His inheritance and when we shall be His joint-heirs. So may we be looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. h * * God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man, but the man to fit the robe. * * * TRUE FORGIVENESS One aspect of the Christian’s life, for which he can always be thankful, is that God forgives and cleanses him from every sin w h e n he confesses them to the Lord. We should so be willing to forgive others. An employee was caught embezzling from the com pany funds and was called to the head office. He knew he would have to ex pect a blistering dismissal as well as the possibility of being sent to prison.
Made with FlippingBook Annual report