Essential in Education
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earth yielded of its abundance for their wants. But when man departed
from his obedience to God, he was doomed to wrestle with the seeds
of Satan’s sowing, and to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.
Henceforth he must battle in toil and hardship against the power to
which he had yielded his will.
It was God’s purpose to remove by toil the evil which man brought
into the world by disobedience. By toil the temptations of Satan might
be made ineffectual, and the tide of evil be stayed. The Son of God
was given to the world, by His death to make atonement for the sins
of the world, by His life to teach men how the plans of the enemy
were to be thwarted. Taking upon Himself the nature of man, Christ
entered into the sympathies and interests of His brethren, and by a life
of untiring labor taught how men might become laborers together with
God in the building up of His kingdom in the world.
If those who have received instruction concerning God’s plan for
the education of the youth in these last days, will surrender their wills
to God, He will teach them His will and His way. Christ is to be the
teacher in all our schools. If teachers and students will give Him His
rightful place, He will work through them to carry out the plan of
redemption.
Students are to be taught to seek the counsel of God in prayer. They
are to be taught to look to their Creator as their unerring guide. They
are to be taught the lessons of forbearance and trust, of true goodness
and kindness of heart. They are to learn the lesson of perseverance.
Their characters are to answer to the words of David, “That our sons
may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be
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as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” In all this
they are qualifying for service in the missionary field.
The converted student has broken the chain which bound him to
the service of sin, and has placed himself in the right relation to God.
His name is enrolled in the Lamb’s book of life. He is under solemn
obligation to renounce evil, and come under the jurisdiction of God.
Through earnest prayer he is to cleave to Christ. To neglect this, to
refuse his service, is to forfeit the favor of the Great Teacher, and to
become the sport of Satan’s wiles. It was the design of heaven by the
infinite sacrifice of Christ, to bring men and women into favor again
with God. The education that brings the student into close relation
with the Teacher sent from God, is true education.