Need of Educational Reform
119
must be searched in order to purify and prepare those who receive it to
become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.
The study of God’s word should take the place of the study of those
books that have led minds into mysticism and away from the truth. Its
living principles, woven into our lives, will be our safeguard in trials
and temptations; its divine instruction is the only way to success. As
the test comes to every soul, there will be apostasies. Some will prove
to be traitors, heady, high-minded, and self-sufficient, and will turn
away from the truth, making shipwreck of faith. Why? Because they
did not live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
They did not dig deep and make their foundation sure. When the words
[133]
of the Lord through His chosen messengers are brought to them, they
murmur and think the way is made too strait. In the sixth chapter of
John we read of some who were thought to be disciples of Christ, but
who, when the plain truth was presented to them, were displeased and
walked no more with Him. In like manner these superficial students
also will turn away from Christ.
Everyone who has been converted to God is called upon to grow
in capability by using his talents; every branch of the living Vine that
does not grow is pruned off and cast away as rubbish. What, then,
shall be the character of the education given in our schools? Shall it
be according to the wisdom of this world or according to that wisdom
that is from above? Will not teachers awake to their responsibility
in this matter and see that the word of God has a larger place in the
instruction given in our schools?
The Training of Workers
One great object of our schools is the training of youth to engage
in service in our institutions and in different lines of gospel work. The
people everywhere are to have the Bible opened to them. The time
has come, the important time when through God’s messengers the
scroll is being unrolled to the world. The truth comprised in the first,
second, and third angels’ messages must go to every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people; it must lighten the darkness of every continent
and extend to the islands of the sea. Nothing of human invention must
be allowed to retard this work. That this may be accomplished, there
is need of cultivated and consecrated talent; there is need of persons