Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1915 — An Appeal to Students [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

An Appeal to Students

By REV HOWARD W. POPE

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TEXT—Study to shew thyself approved unto God.—ll Timothy 2:15. Mr. Gladstone was once asked what was the leading question in England at

that time. He replied that there was but one leading question at that time, or at any time, and that was the question of one’s relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. He then went on to say that the brainiest men were those who paid most attention to this subject “I have known personally all the men who

have been prominent in England during the last fifty years, in business, politics, or literature, and of the sixty most prominent men, flfty-four have been professing Christians.” If Mr. Gladstone was right, and if the question of one’s relation to Christ is the leading question which confronts a student, it is very important that he settle it early. Indeed this question lies at the basis of all education. What is the real object of education? It is to increase one's capacity to know God, and to make him known to others. This is what education is for, what life is for. “And this is' life eternal that they should know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). ’ I. The keenest delight of which we are capable comes to us from knowing God. When the devout astronomer Kepler made his great discovery, he exclaimed, “O God, I think thy thoughts after thee.” There is no greater joy than this, unless it be that of seeing God’s character reproduced in our lives. If this be true, then education is not optional with us, but imperative. We are bound to cultivate every talent which we possess, because each is an avenue through which God can reveal himself to us. We are bound to open every window of our soul “towards Jerusalem,” and let in the light of God’s glorious truth. 11. The superior advantages which students enjoy make it doubly important that they should become acquainted early with the Lord Jesus. Education enlarges one’s capacity to see and foresee, to do and to undo. It multiplies his Influence, and thus increases his responsibility, since the welfare of others depends upon his action and attitude. No educated person can possibly live a Christless life without leading others to do the same. This consideration should have great weight. A professor in a large military school recently told the writer that it was the thought of his influence’ with the boys which led him to decide for God and put himself on reco.d as a Christian. 111. Again, the peculiar temptations which confront a student make an acquaintance with Jesus indispensable. Among these may be mentioned: (a) The freedom from home restraint. The strong, steadying hand of the father and the Indescribable Influence of the mother is lacking. There is no younger brother or sister to be considered, not even the restraining influence of someone else’s sister. The consequence is that one grows selfish and comes to think that all the world was made for him. (b) The petty vices which prevail so commonly among students. By the side of the writer in college sat the valedictorian of the class. He was a well-disposed man. but he had no religious principles. When others drank he was not strong enough to refuse. After graduation he studied law and became one of the most brilliant and promising lawyers in the state. Temptations now grew stronger and more frequent, and having no acquaintance with him “who is able to save to the uttermost,” and "able to keep you from falling," he soon lost his standing and business, and died a common drunkard. (c) Not the least of the dangers Vhich confront a student is the temptation to doubt. He lives in an atmosphere of inquiry and criticism. Old theories are being laid aside and new facts are constantly being discovered. Possibly he sees some of his instructors, for whose ability he has the highest respect, utterly indifferent to the claims of the Gospel. Literature la full of covert sneera at religion. He is just at the age when his critical faculties are being developed, and he begins to question everything which he once believed. Add to this the natural willingness of the heart to have It so. and you have a combination of circumstances calculated to shake the strongest faith. Some, indeed, think it a sign of superior intellect to doubt, but this is a mistake. It Is sometime* a sign of spiritual blindness, and often of moral obliquity. A large part of the skepticism of students is of the, heart rather than of the head. Idle men tempt the devil to tempt/ them.— Spureeon. .