Character and Work of Teachers
139
presence is concealed. But He is ever ready to deliver all that trust
in Him. Gained in such a way, the victory will be more complete,
the triumph more sure; for the tried, sore-pressed, and afflicted one
can say: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”
Job 13:15
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“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the
vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in
the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my
salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17, 18
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A Personal Appeal
I appeal to the teachers in our educational institutions not to let
religious earnestness and zeal retrograde. Make no backward move-
ments, but let your watchword be: “Advance.” Our schools must rise
to a much higher plane of action; broader views must be held; stronger
faith and deeper piety must exist; the word of God must be made the
root and branch of all wisdom and intellectual attainments. When
the converting power of God takes hold of them, they will see that
a knowledge of God covers a much broader field than the so-called
“advance methods” of education. In all the education given, they
should remember the words of Christ: “Ye are the light of the world.”
[158]
Matthew 5:14
. Then they will not experience so great hindrance in
preparing missionaries to go out and give their knowledge to others.
We have every endowment of capability, every facility provided for
discharging the duties devolving upon us; and we should be grateful to
God that by His mercy we have these advantages, and that we possess
the knowledge of His grace and of present truth and duty. Are you,
then, as teachers, trying to maintain the false education you have
received? Are you losing the precious opportunities granted you to
become better acquainted with God’s plans and methods? Do you
believe the word of God? Are you every day becoming better able
to understand, to give yourselves to the Lord, and to be used in His
service? Are you missionaries to do God’s will? Do you believe the
Bible and heed what it says? Do you believe that we are living in the
last days of this earth’s history? And have you hearts that can feel?
We have a large work before us; we are to be bearers of the sacred