Hindrances to Reform
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upon the hearts of such men, and God’s word flashes light into the
mind, revealing to them more than ever before the true wisdom.
* * * * *
The education given to the young molds the whole social fabric.
Throughout the world society is in disorder, and a thorough transforma-
tion is needed. Many suppose that better educational facilities, greater
skill, and more recent methods will set things right. They profess to
believe and receive the living oracles, and yet they give the word of
God an inferior position in the great framework of education. That
which should stand first is made subordinate to human inventions.
It is so easy to drift into worldly plans, methods, and customs and
have no more thought of the time in which we live, or of the great
work to be accomplished, than had the people in Noah’s day. There is
constant danger that our educators will travel over the same ground
as did the Jews, conforming to customs, practices, and traditions
which God has not given. With tenacity and firmness some cling
to old habits and a love of various studies which are not essential,
as if their salvation depended upon these things. In doing this they
turn away from the special work of God and give to the students a
deficient, a wrong education. Minds are directed from a plain “Thus
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saith the Lord,” which involves eternal interests, to human theories and
teachings. Infinite, eternal truth, the revelation of God, is explained in
the light of human interpretations, when only the Holy Spirit’s power
can unfold spiritual things. Human wisdom is foolishness; for it misses
the whole of God’s providences, which look into eternity.
* * * * *
Reformers are not destroyers. They will never seek to ruin those
who do not harmonize with their plans and assimilate to them. Reform-
ers must advance, not retreat. They must be decided, firm, resolute,
unflinching; but firmness must not degenerate into a domineering spirit.
God desires to have all who serve Him firm as a rock where principle is
concerned, but meek and lowly of heart, as was Christ. Then, abiding
in Christ, they can do the work He would do were He in their place. A
rude, condemnatory spirit is not essential to heroism in the reforms for