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True Education
Noah and his household against people of his time, men and women
of the greatest physical and mental strength and the most debased
in morals; the children of Israel at the Red Sea, a helpless, terrified
multitude of slaves, against the mightiest army of the mightiest
nation on the globe; David, a shepherd boy, having God’s promise
of the throne, against Saul, the established monarch, determined to
hold fast his power; Shadrach and his companions in the fire, and
Nebuchadnezzar on the throne; Daniel among the lions, his enemies
in the high places of the kingdom; Jesus on the cross, and the Jewish
priests and rulers forcing even the Roman governor to work their
will; Paul in chains led to a criminal’s death, Nero the despot of a
world empire.
Such examples are found not only in the Bible but abound in
every record of human progress. The Vaudois and the Huguenots,
Wycliffe and Huss, Jerome and Luther, Tyndale and Knox, Zinzen-
dorf and Wesley, with multitudes of others, have witnessed to the
power of God’s word against human power and policy in support of
evil. These are the world’s true nobility. This is its royal line. In this
line young people of today are called to take their places.
Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater experi-
ences of life. In all our daily interests and occupations the sustaining
strength of God becomes real to us through an abiding trust.
Viewed from its human side, life is an untried path. In regard to
our deeper experiences, we each walk alone. Into our inner life no
other human being can fully enter. As little children set forth on that
journey, how earnest should be the effort to direct their trust to the
sure Guide and Helper!
As a shield from temptation and an inspiration to purity and
truth, no other influence can equal the sense of God’s presence. “All
things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give
account.” He is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look
[159]
on wickedness.”
Hebrews 4:13
;
Habakkuk 1:13
. This thought was
Joseph’s shield amidst the corruptions of Egypt. To the allurements
of temptation his answer was steadfast: “How ... can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God?”
Genesis 39:9
. Faith, if cherished,
will provide that shield to every soul.
Only the sense of God’s presence can banish the fear that, for
timid children, would make life a burden. Help them to fix in