ES The Edge of the Precipice-6

CHECKMATE !

IN THIS twentieth century the world is like a Famine. Linked with the population explosion is gigantic chess-board on which humanity is playing a the threat of a global lack of food which, in the words desperate game for life itself against forces which it of Dr. Raymond Ewall, of the State University of does not comprehend and cannot control; forces that New York, is "the greatest and most nearly insoluble are using the very elements of nature itself to defeat problem in the history of the world." He is only one humanity. And among the many frightening aspects of the many to voice such fears. Said another scien- of the whole situation is this, that often man seems tist: "World food production cannot hope to keep to be a pawn used by these malignant powers to de- pace with our rocketing population—any more than feat and destroy himself. a running man can catch up with an express train." When, in a game of chess, a player finds his king As a result a great world famine is predicted to piece in a position where it is trapped, and cannot be begin in the next four or five years which "may kill defended or rescued, he knows that he has been billions," to quote one newspaper headline. "checkmated," and that nothing further can be done. Global Water Crisis. "Almost every nation has He has lost the game. water-shortage areas, or is facing the prospect of In this column over the last five months we water shortages in the near future," stated a writer have been considering not one, but a number of situa- in The Times of a few months ago. And Presi- tions of the gravest magnitude which, to our minds, dent Johnson stated that "there is no newer or more plainly show that humanity is in a position of check- vital frontier" than the challenge of solving the water mate from which it cannot of itself escape. problem. Let us briefly review the evidences we have been Look on a map at almost any part of the world; presenting in establishing our conclusions. India, Africa, the Near East, China, South America, The Thermonuclear Bomb. In this "ultimate North America, Australia, and you are looking at an weapon," this "hell bomb," mankind has created with area where there are water problems or threatening his own hands a monster which is capable of destroy- water problems. And, while efforts are being made to ing him, as Russia's former Prime Minister solve the problem they are pitifully inadequate in Khrushchev pointed out. And there are men in a posi- view of the colossal needs looming ahead. tion to know who are convinced that this is just what Here, then, are four conditions, any one of which will happen. Dr. Harold C. Urey, one of the de- may be sufficient to virtually wipe out the human velopers of the atom bomb, stated in an interview race: The thermonuclear bomb, a catastrophic popu- recently: "A flaming end is inevitable, for someday lation explosion, famine, and a world-wide water there will be someone at the head of a government crisis. The last three of these affect basic essentials of crazy enough to turn loose atomic destruction." life, it will be noted: living space, food, and water. The Population Explosion. The world popula- Take away either of them and life cannot be sus- tion is increasing at express train speed. "Unless the tained. world's soaring birthrate is drastically checked civili- Yet not only one, but three of them, are gravely zation as we know it is doomed," said Professor Denis threatened, so much so that our leaders do not really Gabor, of Imperial College, London. "Governments know the answer to our problems. They are, to re- will collapse, law and order will vanish, mass rioting, peat a statement quoted early in this series: "Little plagues and disease will sweep the earth." And Pro- men with little minds throwing little words at gigantic fessor Dana E. Harlow, of the University of Massa- problems." chusetts, stated: "Scientists predict that by the year 2000 there will be one square foot of land for each Is there any solution to these problems, or is human being through the world. By land I mean all humanity's long, sad road nearing an appalling end? land from grazing meadows and ploughed fields to We believe there is a satisfactory solution. Only lofty mountains and dry deserts." Such a situation one. We shall discuss it in our concluding article in would be intolerable, of course. But how to escape it? this series next month.

2 OUR TIMES MARCH 1966 VOLUME 8, NUMBER 3

The British National Electronics ARTICLES Research Council has inaugurated SDI—"Selective Distribution of Information"—a project to read HOW TO HAVE PEACE OF MIND 5 and catalogue the thousands of scientific papers published yearly around the world. A computor will WHAT IS GOD LIKE? 6 make synopses of information which will be made available to SATISFIED WITH SILVER 8 every Commonwealth country. Speaking of the project, Lord NEARING THE FINAL SECRETS 10 Mountbatten, chairman of the Council, said: "When we finish, we propose to put this country GOD'S LOVE FOR MAN 12 [England] right on top of the world." WHEN BLUE DAYS COME 20

The staggering fact was brought out at the UNESCO world con- FEATURES ference on illiteracy that despite all efforts put forward, the num- Events and Trends 2 For Juniors 17 ber of world's illiterates increased by 35 millions between 1952 and 1960. Editorial 4 Mark Your Bible 18

While addressing the members Editor: THOMAS A. DAVIS of "Young Europe" organization Assistant Editor: GEORGE C. THOMAS in Rome, Pope Paul VI said that in spite of grave obstacles "we Layout Artist: A. C. MOSES have firm belief that the cause of Contributing Editors: M. E. Cherian, N. G. Mookerjee the unification of Europe will Circulation Manager: G. W. Maywald finally overcome all difficulties. International Correspondents: These can truly block and slow Kalee Paw, BURMA; R. S. Fernando, CEYLON; E. Y. Kim, KOREA; down unification, but they cannot Damin Batoebara, ; Takashi Saito, JAPAN; definitely cut off the road toward F. M. Sajid, PAKISTAN. the unity of peoples whose history and geography tend to make them

A SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLICATION issued monthly by the ORIENTAL mutually understandable." WATCHMAN PUBLISHING HOUSE, P. 0. Box 35, Poona 1, India. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: India, Rs. 4:75; Pakistan, Rs. 4:75; Burma, Ks. 4:75; Ceylon, Rs. 4:75. SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENTS: Our representatives are authorized to receive cash or cheques and to issue official receipts for same. For orders sent to publishers, make cheque From January 1 this year, the or money order payable to Oriental Watchman Publishing House, Salisbury Park, Poona 1. REGIONAL OFFICES: Andhra, Kerala, Madras and Mysore-13, Cunningham Road, warning "C a u t i o n: Cigarette Bangalore 1; Gujarat and Maharashtra-16, Club Road, Bombay 8; Uttar Pradesh, East Punjab, Delhi and Adjacent States-27, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi; Bihar, Orissa, West smoking may be hazardous to Bengal—Morabadi Villa, Ranchi, Bihar; Assam—Nongthymmai, Shillong; East Pakistan- 130/C Dhanmandi Road, Dacca; Ceylon-15/2 Alfred House Gardens, Colpetty, Colombo 3; your health" is being printed on West Pakistan—Oriental Watchman Publishing House, 32 Mozang Road, Lahore; Burma— cigarette packages distributed in Book 8s Bible House, 68 U Wisara Road, Rangoon. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send new address, with wrapper from magazine, or reference the United States. number on wrapper, to indicate old address. NON-RECEIPT OF MAGAZINES: Inquire at local post office before informing us. If possible, send magazine wrapper when writing regarding non-receipt. EXPIRY NOTICE: X on wrapper of magazine indicates subscription has expired. PICTURE CREDITS Cover: Colour transparency by D. Kasbekar. Owned by the General Conference of Seventh-clay Adventists (Southern Asia Division), Salis- bury Park, Poona. Printed and published by V. Raju at and for the Oriental Watchman 5, 8, 12—G. T. Zachariah; 6—Vidyavrata; Publishing House, Salisbury Park, Poona 1. 1550-66. 11—HSIS. MARCH 1966 3 THE GOOD LIFE EVERY BODY craves for what we may call the good life. Of course, one person's idea of what the good life is may differ from another's, for this individual may believe that it comes from a con- tinual round of pleasure, a second thinks it comes by being surrounded by luxuries, a third feels it is found in travel, and so on. But the person who lives the truly good and satisfying life is the Christian, for while he may have few of the things that others possess he has an inward contentment and joy that no external posses- sions or surroundings can give. Someone once remarked to a Christian who had been a long time as a follower of Jesus, "You have sacrificed a great deal for your religion. Sup- pose, when you come to the end of your life you find your hope has been false, and there is no reward in an after-life after all. What then?" The old Christian answered, "Even if I should discover that my hope of the future has been a mirage I shall still conclude that living the Christian life has been worth-while." What led him to this conclusion? Simply that he had discovered that when one squares his life by the principles of Christianity he is conforming best to the laws of his being which make for happiness. He had discovered that by being compassionate, considerate, helpful and honest toward others he was able to be at peace with his conscience and his fellowmen. He had learned that by refusing to harbour bitterness and malice, and by overlooking real or fancied slights and wrongs, he could keep his life sweet and clear. He had found that by refusing to conform to feelings or personal bias or desires when right and truth were involved he could live in contentment with himself. He knew from long experience that the ways of righteousness "are ways of pleasantness, and all of her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17). But the Christian knows something else. He knows that his hope is not a mirage but a glorious reality. With the Apostle Paul he can exclaim: "1 know whom 1 have believed, and am persuaded that he [God] is able to keep that which 1 have committed unto him against [until] that day [the day of Christ's Second Coming]" (2 Timothy 1:12).

OUR TIMES 4 How to no peace of mind. So in not recognizing the true cause of a troubled mind, many people are disappointed, frustrated, and may even take their own lives. Have God understands that many people have troubled minds and He knows only too well the cause. In the Bible He has told us plainly what is the cause of a troubled mind, and assures us that no matter what PEACE OF the circumstances surrounding us, we can have peace- ful and calm minds. Here are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. MIND Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27 RSV). "In the world you have tribulation; be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 RSV). This may be a surprise to many people. They EFORE WE CAN UNDERSTAND how to have do not understand how it is possible to have peace of peace of mind we need to understand what mind when all around may be confusion, trouble, per- B robs us of this peace of mind. Many people at- secution or other factors which make for anything tribute troubled minds to the wrong causes. Some but peace. But such need to understand that the think they do not have peace of mind because they primary cause for a troubled mind is not external do not have a suitable job; or because there is some circumstances but our own internal attitude. The real confusion in the home; or their relatives are not being cause for a troubled mind is lack of trust in God. friendly or because there is some noise around them The person who is afraid or anxious about the prob- or the locality in which they are living is not con- lems of tomorrow will soon have perfect peace of mind genial; or because they suffer privation, want or pain. when he begins to believe that God is his heavenly They assume that if these causes are removed then Father, and that He understands all his problems, and they will have peace of mind. that He cares for him tenderly, lovingly, and has But in this they are usually mistaken. The man proMised to supply all his needs. who feels he is not in a congenial neighbourhood may Jesus said, "Do not be anxious, saying, 'What move to another neighbourhood. Very soon he finds shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What something there that troubles his mind and again he shall we wear?'—your heavenly Father knows that wants to move to a different neighbourhood. The you need them all. But seek first his Kingdom, and man who is married to a quarrelsome wife may leave his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours his home and go on a pilgrimage or stay with other as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow" people, but he will soon meet someone else who dis- (Matthew 6:31 to 34 RSV) . We may confidently rupts his peace. The person who is suffering privation trust these promises and fully believe that God will may fall on good times and have plenty. He may even care for all our needs. Thus we will find that our become a millionaire, but he may still find that he has To page 14 MARCH 1966 5 HE HEAVENS DECLARE the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day T unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard" (Psalm 19:1 to 3). The message that comes to us from the orderly and systematic movements of the starry heavens is, "THERE IS A GOD WHO IS KEEPING THEM IN THEIR PRESCRIBED ORBITS." In fact everything around us testifies to this fact. To deny that there is a God is to refuse to accept the over- abundance of evidence that points to the fact of His existence. And this we know is neither logical nor sensible. Having accepted as fact the existence of God, we are, quite naturally, faced with the problem of determining just what kind of God He is. What is He like? What are His attributes? In other words, what is His character? Is it possible for us to deter- mine this? I believe it is. The same evidence that points to His existence will in a measure reveal to us the kind of character inherent in the God of the universe. However, we must let the evidence speak for itself. But before going into this, let us first review very briefly some of the popular concepts of God that are in the world today. First we shall deal with the "Deist" concept of God. The one who is a deist believes in a personal God who created the world and all that is in it, then removed Himself from all His creation and let it run as it would. In other words, according to deism God has no interest in nor love for the product of His creative power. His God lacks the quality of love and affection for the beings He has brought into existence. Is this the kind of God that nature reveals? I believe not. There is something wrong with this concept. What is it? The first thing is that it takes away any rhyme or reason for the existence of all the universe and its inhabitants. It makes unanswerable the ques- tion, "Why are we here?" Further, this concept re- moves all possibility of intervention by God if and WHAT IS GOD

LIKE ? when the affairs of any part of the universeget out of hand. And you and I know full well what this could mean. The invention of some of the horrible in- struments of destruction such as the hydrogen bomb causes us to be very thankful that "there is a God in heaven," and that He "ruleth in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 2:28; 4:17). The concept of God as presented by the deist leaves out too many characteristics that nature reveals are inherent in God. Going on we come to the "Pantheistic" concept of God. This belief makes God immanent. That is, God is resident in nature. He is in the tree. Therefore

6 OUR TIMES the tree is God. He is in the flower. Thus the flower I can depend upon it that these things will never is God. In other words, God is everything. Therefore happen. We can trust His wisdom to do all things everything is God. This idea brings God very near right. to man, bilt it strips Him of the powers and qualities Another immutable law of nature laid down by that the supreme intelligent God should and must God is the law of gravity. We throw an object into possess. The pantheistic concept makes God a product the air, it comes down. This is as natural as anything of nature rather than nature and the things of nature can be. You and I are also subject to this law. This the result of the creative power of God. Pantheism we must remember. And if we defy this law we will takes from God the quality of intelligence necessary naturally reap the consequences. For example, if you for Him to bring a world like ours into existence. All climb to the top of a building and jump off, you will of nature testifies of a supreme intelligent Being who reap the results. This involves punishment for the was the originator and creator of everything. Thus breaking of or disregard for any law laid down by the pantheistic view is unacceptable. God. This shows that God is not only a God of law Now let us consider briefly the idea of "Polythe- and order but He is also a God of justice. We cannot ism." This literally means "many gods." Does this disregard and disobey His rules and laws and expect concept fit the description of the God who created all to go unpunished. This is a definite rule of nature, a things? The problems of polytheism are revealed in law laid down by God. So we have learned that God the results of such a belief. The mythology of people is a personal being with supreme intelligence and all over the world presents the many, many gods con- wisdom. He is orderly and systematic. He is a God tending with one another for top position. The result of law and justice. has been that these gods have displayed some of the Then, because of these attributes, we must under- evil characteristics of man in order to gain position stand that He is holy. This does not mean that He is and fame. And because man can be no better than above law. All that God does is right because He the object of his worship, the world sinks deeper and would do nothing in opposition to His character of deeper in vice and crime. No, polytheism is out of law and order. Earthly kings have carried on the the question. The Supreme Intelligent Being we call practice of being above the law. They have demanded God is not and could not be "many, many gods." The of their subjects that which they failed to practise universe is too orderly and systematic to allow for themselves. This God will never do. The fact that He such a belief. has given you and me the power to think, reason, and With the cancelling out of such concepts as come to conclusions is evidence that God would never those of "Deism," "Pantheism," and "Polytheism," require of us that which He would not Himself be what is left? Let us call upon the things of nature bound to abide by. This is all a part of the justice to present evidence that will give us the true picture and holiness of His character. Thus it is not that He of the nature and character of God. could do no wrong, but that He would do no wrong We all freely admit that it took a great deal of because of His very nature of holiness. intelligence to bring about the splitting of the atom. Now logic demands that we accept the fact that it Looking into the heavens and getting a small certainly took much more intelligence to put the atom glimpse of the mighty universe, we say with all rever- together than it took to split it. Therefore, we must ence and awe, "What mighty power!" Science has accept the fact that God is all-wise. That is first and measured the power of the sun and it is beyond our foremost. He is the Supreme Intelligence, the source imagination to comprehend its magnitude. Putting of all knowledge and wisdom. And to possess such a with this the fact that there are literally crores and characteristic demands that He be a personal being. crores of suns larger and more powerful than our sun, Intelligence can only be embodied in a personal being. we are left speechless. To try even to begin to evalu- And supreme intelligence is embodied in the supreme ate such power is too much for the human mind. intelligent God of the universe. Now let us remember that the supreme God has control over all this power. Each sun and each satel- The next characteristic of God we find revealed in lite moves and exists at His bidding. He possesses the nature is law and order. The orderly and systematic power to bring these giant orbs into existence. There- movements of all the stars and reveal that fore we must conclude that He is more powerful than their Maker believed in and practised law and order. they. Thus we realize that God is a God of power. Confusion and disorder are not after the pattern of He is Omnipotent, All-powerful. And being All-wise the things of God. The laws of nature all speak of the He is able to use this power wisely and well. orderly, systematic characteristic inherent in the God Let us now turn to another feature of the char- of nature. acter of God—the love of God. As you no doubt One of the laws of nature laid down by the God know, all living things can be divided primarily into of nature is that every living thing reproduce after two main groups. These are (1) plants and (2) its own kind. When we plant rice or wheat we depend animals. While there are many differences between upon this law. And we always reap exactly what we plants and animals, there is one major difference. plant. When a hen sets on eggs laid by hens, we know That difference is, with very few exceptions, the fact that the results will be baby chicks. Think of how that plants have the ability to make the food it needs confusing everything would be if God had not made to live on, while the animals must get food from an such a law as everything reproducing after its own outside source. kind. Suppose the eggs under the mother hen began Many people have the idea that the trees and to pop open and little puppies jumped out. Or the plants get their food from the ground. This is not mama goat gave birth to kittens? Wouldn't that be exactly correct. What actually happens is the roots confusion and chaos? of the plant take in water and it goes up to the leaves God is a God of law and order. Thus you and of the plant. In the leaves are very small holes that MARCH 1966 7 take in air containing a gas known as carbon dioxide. Looking at the leaf we see that it is green. This is because in the leaf are millions of little cells containing a substance known as chlorophyll. This chlor- ophyll is very important to all kinds of life. When we understand what its function is, we will see why. When the water from the earth and the carbon dioxide from the air get into the leaf where all these cells containing chlorophyll are, something very important takes place. As the sun shines onto the leaf the chlorophyll causes the water and the carbon of the car- bon dioxide to unite and make what we call carbohydrate. Now what is carbohydrate? In very simple language it is food. And all the food that you or anyone else eat comes from some plant which has made it in just this manner. Some trees make more food than they can use. Therefore, they store this excess food up in the form of fruit that you and I enjoy so much. Some vines store their ex- cess food up in the form of grapes. Some in the form of cucumber, pumpkins, gourds, etc. Other kinds of plants store their excess food in the roots. Thus we are able to get potatoes, carrots, etc. But how does the carbon dioxide which the plants need and use to make food get into the air? Very simple. We breathe it into the air SATISFIED when we take into our bodies oxy- gen for the purpose of burning the food we eat. Thus is set up what is known as the "oxygen cycle." The plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Animals take in the oxygen and give off carbon "There is a sore evil which I dioxide. Thus in the atmosphere of have seen under the sun, namely, the world there is set up a con- riches kept for the owners thereof stant supply of carbon dioxide for to their hurt" (Ecclesiastes 5:13). the plants and a constant supply of oxygen for you and me and all Solomon further declared that the animals. these particular human failings are Now what does this have to do LMOST A THOUSAND common among men. And, mark with the love of God? Just this. years B.C. there lived a man you, he was well qualified to talk God has worked out the system of A who, in his generation, was in this fashion, for he himself was life, with all its variations and given knowledge and wisdom immensely rich—in fact, so much complexities for the benefit of all far beyond that of any other living so that "the riches of Solomon" are His created creatures. He has given person. His name was Solomon, still a byword today! us many, many varieties of food and he was a king of . Among Since these sayings were record- to care for our different tastes and the many wise sayings that he left ed, nearly three thousand years choices. He had developed means to posterity are the following have passed by on this old earth. whereby we can not only live on gems: I venture to say that in these re- this earth but we can also enjoy it "He that loveth silver shall not spects man has not changed, for as we obey certain rules of life and be satisfied with silver; nor he that "common among men" would still conduct. Only a God who has an loveth abundance with increase" be an apt way to describe the To page 15 (Ecclesiastes 5:10). fault of, shall we say, selfish riches. 8 OUR TIMES I further venture to say that "he them to try to find somebody who boy's home I was somewhat taken that loveth silver" is as unsatisfied needs help in some way; to adopt aback to find him alone. I asked today as he was in Solomon's day. this person as it were, give of him how old he was. "Eight years Only too frequently does this themselves to help this person old," was the reply. "And where is type of individual end up in the overcome his troubles, and in so your mother?" "Oh, she is at work doctor's consulting room. He doing to find an outlet for the and has not come home yet." "I usually is getting on in age a little, boredom that is eating away their see. Well then, where is your perhaps in the fifties or sixties, own health. daddy?" "He has not come home looks worried and depressed. On A person who is attending to from work yet, either." Later when questioning you discover that he is other people's troubles soon finds I talked to the parents they were unable to sleep at night without his own to be insignificant. You rather shamefaced, but explained the help of sleeping tablets. In- see, man is built that way—he that they both had to work in variably he has a number of body needs others, just as much as order to provide their boy with the ailments, and perhaps gets dizzy others need him. God Himself sort of home they felt he should spells, and almost certainly head- enunciated this principle away have. I tried to explain that the aches. He cannot concentrate, and back in the Garden of Eden: "And boy needed love and companion- complains that he has no interest the Lord God said, It is not good ship first of all. in anything. His appetite is poor. that man should be alone; I will An older lad I once knew de- Now, I can almost hear you make him an help meet for him" cided to leave home. His mother saying, "But Doctor, would not (Genesis 2:18). Peter enjoined berated him for being such an any person in the midst of very upon us to add "to godliness ungrateful wretch, and pointed out worrying circumstances be subject brotherly kindness; and to brother- all the things she had given him to all these symptoms?" Why, yes, ly kindness charity." through the years by going out to for sure he would, and there are The prophet Isaiah also had work for him, and earning for him many such cases, but the amazing something to say about our rela- all the extra home comforts by thing about this man is that, when tionship to others, and its effect on the sweat of her brow. His reply you ask him what is worrying our health. He says: "Is it not to was a classic, and should be a him, he is likely to say, "Nothing. deal thy bread to the hungry, and warning to all parents who tend to Doctor. I have no worries at all! I that thou bring the poor that are put material things first: "I am am well set up financially. My cast out to thy house? when thou grateful for all those things, Mum, home is perfect. I just do not know seest the naked, that thou cover but I would have traded them all why I should be like this." him; . . . Then shall thy light break for your greeting when I arrived The most significant thing that forth as the morning, and thine home from school each day." I do emerges from further probing is health shall spring forth speedily; not excuse the boy for leaving that this person has got to the . . . And the Lord shall guide thee home, but I cannot help feeling place where he thinks he has need continually, and satisfy thy soul in that a great lesson is here for to- day's parents. Our sons and our daughters will "not be satisfied with silver." Let not our minds, our spiritual- WITH SILVER ity, our health, suffer because we have set our eyes on materialism. Solomon has pointed out this evil: "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver." And Jesus Himself said: "Man shall not live of nothing. He is not necessarily drought, and make fat thy bones" by bread alone, but by every word rich, mind you. Far from it. For (Isaiah 58:7 to 11). that proceedeth out of the mouth instance, the ageing housewife You can easily put Isaiah to the of God." Isaiah has shown a whose children have grown and test on this, or perhaps you have remedy—deal your bread to the left home, is often numbered done it already. Do you remember hungry, provide hospitality to the amongst this group. But of mate- the last time you performed a poor, clothe the naked. Peter rial things he has plenty, and his kind act for someone in need? pointed to the need for brotherly needs are all met. Of spiritual Didn't it give you a wonderful kindness and charity. Let the rich things, however, he has not a feeling all over, an inner glow that man beware lest he keep his riches thought, of friends he has none. made you feel really fine? This is "to his own hurt," for this can His neighbours are of no interest the kind of sensation that cannot destroy the body, distort the mind, to him. He has no hobby to occupy be bought with any amount of and benumb the spirit, producing his mind in off-hours. In short, he silver, and yet it can be obtained a creature unloved by the world. simply is suffering from boredom. so easily! Jesus said, "Come unto me, all Although materially comfortable, The world today has its eyes ye that labour and are heavy he is socially and spiritually bank- focused on the material, and man laden, and I will give you rest." rupt. He "shall not be satisfied has forgotten his greatest need, his The need of the world is JESUS, with silver." fellow man, and above all, his and through Him, "the peace of I have seen such people trans- God. In response to a message I God which passeth all understand- formed as if by a miracle, by tak- once called to visit a little boy who ing." ing a very simple remedy. I ask was ill in bed. On arriving at the —Leon W. Lambert, M.D. MARCH 1966 9 CIENTISTS probed the secret:, of nature for centuries without getting very far. Leonardo da S Vinci—engineer as well as painter—built a prim- itive flying-machine about A.D. 1500; Coper- nicus discovered in A. D. 1507 that the sun, not the earth, is the centre of the solar system; Galileo con- structed his first telescope in A. D. 1609; Sir Isaac Newton conceived the law of gravitation in A. D. 1665; but by the middle of the nineteenth century—a hun- dred years ago— most people lived and travelled in much the same way as their fathers had from time immemorial. In the eighteen-sixties nobody had ever seen an airplane, an automobile, a phonograph, a radio, or a A 1 TV set. Some well-to-do people were beginning to use U.S., coal gas for lighting but no one had ever switched on searc an electric light. Nobody had dreamed of an auto- matic dishwasher, an electric refrigerator, or a vacuum cleaner. There simply wasn't any household electric- ity anywhere. Hospitals had no X-ray apparatus or any of the essentials of modern surgery. Nor did doctors pre- scribe sulpha drugs, penicillin, or cortisone. They had never heard of them. Printers still set type by hand and pictures were reproduced by means of wooden blocks. Nor had anyone seen a coloured magazine. Most people didn't travel very much in those days, but when they did they still went by stage- coach or sailing vessel, although steam trains and steamships were becoming increasingly popular. Even at the dawn of the twentieth century the world was still moving at a very slow pace. Hansom cabs were a common sight on the streets of London, while horse-drawn buses and trams were still in use. When my parents wanted to go for a ride they would send me to summon a "fly," an open, one- HE FIN horse carriage operated by an aged driver who, more often than not, was asleep when I reached him. Far from "flying," the squeaky vehicle moved leisurely along at a speed rarely exceeding four or five miles an hour. Such was the taxi service of sixty years ago. I recall illumination of homes and businesses in England at the time of the coronation of Edward VII. The lights were largely composed of innumerable little coloured glasses, with candles inside. Electric lamps, handmade and just coming into use, would have been far too expensive. As a matter of fact most of the comforts and conveniences in general use today are of very recent origin. They have come upon us suddenly, all at once, life a shower of meteors on a pitch-black sky. In 1922, when I crossed the United States for the first time, the train had no air-conditioning system. The weather being very warm, all windows were kept open so that the passengers' clothes were constantly begrimed with soot from the coal-burning engine. Nor was there any diner. Instead, the train stopped every few hours so that the passengers could alight and eat at a restaurant. The meal completed, all reboarded and the journey continued. Recently American Airlines told the world by radio that their company started in 1926 with a single biplane having an open cockpit. Passengers sat be- hind the pilot, mutually braving the elements. Need- less to say, no meals were served! What a contrast with the magnificent 175-seat "astrojets" of today! 10 :hoot student in Tennessee, An artist's conception of a nuclear power plant for sup- Two pilots chat in the training hangar plays an "origin of life" re- plying electric power at an advanced base on the . at Cape Kennedy before the first two- eriment for which he won a man orbital flight. prize recently. Amazing Transformation Piloting the plane was Captain Robert Sowers, who remarked afterwards that "if a cannon-ball—an Actually we live in a totally different world than artillery shell—had been fired at the same time we .77 us fathers or grandfathers. A world of wonders. A left we'd have had time to land in New world which has seen one breakthrough after another York and have lunch before it got there." .7..772.1ong.- all the frontiers of science. Recently Braniff International Airways published So great has been the advance in every field of an advertisement in Time magazine recalling the his- nowledge that there is no adequate symbolism to tory of rapid flight and reminding passengers how .7"7 describe it. It has been compared to a tidal wave, a brief a time they have enjoyed this amenity. ursting dam, a nuclear explosion, but it is greater "As late as 1880," the ad said, "the cheetah was r than these. still speed king among mammals. That noble animal Something tremendous has happened, and is was clocked at 70 m.p.h. ... when men were able to happening. Never in all history has there been such sprint at 20, float in a balloon at 25 (if the wind was a mass assault upon the secrets of nature as is now right) and ride a horse at 40. The railroads were proceeding in every land on earth. At this very coming up on the outside, however. In 1893, Engine moment thousands upon thousands of scientists are 999 of the New York Central ate up a stretch of track poring over test-tubes, drawing-boards, and laboratory near Batavia, New York, at 112.5 m p h reports, eagerly seeking answers to unsolved prob- "Then came Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903. lems, patiently striving to peer ever farther and far- They weren't really speed demons—at Kitty Hawk ther into the great unknown. they flew 852 feet at only 9 m.p.h. .... Every now and then there is a "To us, their plane looks like an orange crate cry of triumph as some new suc- with a room fan in front. But planes got better and cess is achieved, but for the most faster, quickly. When Braniff opened for business in part the massive research proceeds 1928, five aeronauts (including crew) flew from Tulsa ETS in silence, totally unnoticed until to Oklahoma City at a daring 90 m.p.h.... some new labour-saving device ap- "In 1936, the Age of Speed got a boost from the pears on the market, some new remedy is advocated appearance of the classic DC-3. Thousands of people by doctors, or some new chemical reaches farmers. began to get from here to there at 175 m.p.h. Splendid I recall when the late Lloyd George, then Prime and faster DC-4's, 6's, and 7's followed.... Minister of Great Britain, declared, "We are rushing "Then, in the 1950's, came the pure jet, based on on at a giddy pace, covering the track of centuries in the startlingly simple notion that a stream of com- a year." What would he say today, when sometimes pressed air and gas, expanding, would give enough in a single week we seem to leap ahead farther than forward thrust to fly at great speeds.... men once did in a thousand years? "These days, Air Force jets breeze along at 1,500 In seemingly no time at all we have been cata- m.p.h. ... with the greatest of ease. At last look, the pulted from the Steam Age to the Atomic Age, the experimental X-15 was doing 4,093 m.p.h." Nuclear Age, and the Space Age, with all the millions "This," said the writer, "is a sign-post for the of brilliant ideas and inventive concepts that these future." In a few years, he suggested, it will be com- well-worn phrases connote. We have seen men piercing monplace to race the sun and "beat the time zones" the sound barrier, travelling faster than the earth —to cross the continent and get to one's destination revolves, living under the sea for months on end, before one had left home—by the clock. Then on a placing satellites in orbit, then bouncing pictures and prophetic note he added, "If 1,500 m.p.h. seems ex- messages off them to be picked up by people on other treme, remember that we are already going 66,600 continents, making possible instantaneous communi- miles an hour—the earth's speed in orbit. steps cation between all nations around the globe. along at 78,400 miles an hour. Light at 186,000 miles On , 1962, a B-58 flew from Los Angeles per second. We have a long way to go!" to New York and back in 4 hours, 42 minutes, 12 We have. But we have also come a long way in a seconds. The west-east time was 2 hours, 1 minute, very short time. Indeed the transformation from the 39 seconds: the east-west, 2 hours, 15 minutes, 12 old ways and methods of previous centuries has been seconds. as sudden (Is it has been spectacular.

MARCH 1966 11 Our Shrinking World

In a truly startling way the world has shrunk with incredible swiftness to a mere fraction of its former size, as if compressed by mysterious, omnipotent hands. Once-far-distant places have been drawn together. All nations have become neighbours, in reality if not in spirit. Boundaries have been made ridiculous by radar, super- sonic flight, and orbiting astro- nauts. Radio programmes originating in Moscow are heard simultaneously in Washington, London, and Cal- cutta. Atomic blasts in Siberia are registered automatically in scores of listening posts thousands of miles away. Every major event is now flashed by TV cameras into millions of homes in every land. Giant radio telescopes, such as the one at Jodrell Bank in England, are beaming messages to far distant space, while picking up strange sounds from objects hundreds of lightyears away. All these amazing developments are having a profound effect upon every phase of human life. They are affecting industry, education, medicine, and, in no small way, religion. Thought processes are being stimulated as never before. Zest for new discoveries is at fever pitch. In every field creative think- ing is at a premium. Not long ago a Dayton Rubber Company advertisement in News- week contained this stimulating sentence: "At Dayton Rubber our research and development people GOO'S think in totally new concepts.... We operate a Headquarters for ATURE AND REVELATION alike testify of New Ideas." God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source Other industries are doing the N of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the lOVE same, without saying so. More wonderful and beautiful things of nature. money is being spent on research by Government and private con- Think of their marvellous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living cerns than at any other time creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden in history. The United States FOR and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains budget for research and develop- all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who ment in 1963 fiscal year was in ex- cess of fourteen billion dollars, supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. In the beautiful words of the psalmist— about 31 per cent more than in the "The eyes of all wait upon thee; MAN previous year. So this fantastic race continues, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, as men dream new dreams and see and satisfiest the desire of every living thing" new visions on a scale hitherto un- known. (Psalm 145:15, 16). God made man perfectly holy and happy; and Advances in Every Field the fair earth, as it came from the Creator's hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is Recently I asked a nationally transgression of God's law—the law of love—that has known physician concerning the brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering To page 16 that results from sin, God's love is revealed. It is 12 OUR TIMES written that God cursed the ground for man's sake passed through them, and healed all their sick. His (Genesis 3:17.) The thorn and the thistle—the dif- work gave evidence of His divine anointing. Love, ficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and mercy, and compassion were revealed in every act of care—were appointed for his good, as a part of the His life; His heart went out in tender sympathy to training needful in God's plan for his uplifting from the children of men. He took man's nature, that He the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The might reach man's wants. The poorest and humblest world, though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children nature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorns are His knees and gaze into the pensive face, benignant covered with roses. with love. "God is love" is written upon every opening bud, Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest making the air vocal with their happy songs, the tact and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a foliage of living green—all testify to the tender, sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. fatherly care of our God. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced The Word of God reveals His character. He hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in Himself has declared His infinite love and pity. When His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He Moses prayed, "Show me thy glory," the Lord an- wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, which refused swered, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee" to receive Him, the way, the truth, and the life. They (Exodus 33:18, 19). This is His glory. The Lord had rejected Him, the Saviour, but He regarded them passed before Moses and proclaimed, "The Lord, The with pitying tenderness. His life was one of self-denial Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was pre- abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for cious in His eyes. While He ever bore Himself with thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and divine dignity, He bowed with the tenderest regard sin" (Exodus 34:6, 7). He is "slow to anger, and of to every member of the family of God. In all men great kindness" (Jonah 4:2), "because he delighteth He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save. in mercy" (Micah 7:18). Such is the character of Christ as revealed in God has bound our hearts to Him by unnum- His life. This is the character of God. It is from the bered tokens in heaven and in earth. Through the Father's heart that the streams of divine compassion, things of nature, and the deepest and tenderest manifest in Christ, flow out to the children of men. earthly ties that human hearts can know, He has Jesus, the tender, pitying Saviour, was God "manifest sought to reveal Himself to us. Yet these but imper- in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). fectly represent His love. Though all these evidences It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered have been given, the enemy of good blinded the and died. He became a "man of sorrows," that we minds of men, so that they looked upon God with might be made partakers of everlasting joy. God per- fear; they thought of Him as severe and unforgiving. mitted His beloved Son, full of grace and truth, to Satan led men to conceive of God as a being whose come from a world of indescribable glory, to a world chief attribute is stern justice—one who is a severe marred and blighted with sin, darkened with the judge, a harsh, exacting creditor. He pictured the shadow of death and the curse. He permitted Him Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eve to leave the bosom of His love, the adoration of the to discern the errors and mistakes of men, that He angels, to suffer shame, insult, humiliation, hatred, may visit judgments upon them. It was to remove and death. "The chastisement of our peace was upon this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the in- him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah finite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men. 53:5). Behold Him in the wilderness, in Gethsemane, The Son of God came from heaven to make upon the cross! The spotless Son of God took upon manifest the Father. "No man hath seen God at any Himself the burden of sin. He who had been one with time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom God, felt in His soul the awful separation that sin of the Father, he bath declared him" (John 1:18). makes between God and man. This wrung from His "Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, lips the anguished cry, "My God, my God, why hast and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him" thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). It was the (Matthew 11:27). When one of the disciples made burden of sin, the sense of its terrible enormity, of its the request, "Show us the Father," Jesus answered, separation of the soul from God—it was this that "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast broke the heart of the Son of God. thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me But this great sacrifice was not made in order hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, to create in the Father's heart a love for man, not Show us the Father?" (John 14:8, 9). to make Him willing to save. No, no! "God so loved In describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John The Lord "bath anointed me to preach the gospel to 3:16). The Father loves us, not because of the great the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, propitiation, but He provided the propitiation be- to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering cause He loves us. Christ was the medium through of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are which He could pour out His infinite love upon a bruised" (Luke 4:18). This was His work. He went fallen world. "God was in Christ, reconciling the about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed world unto himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19). God suf- by Satan. There were whole villages where there was fered with His Son. In the agony of Gethsemane, the not a moan of sickness in any house; for He had death of Calvary, the heart of Infinite Love paid the

MARCH 1966 13 price of our redemption. of God" (1 John 3:1). What a neighbours. Even if he is per- Jesus said, "Therefore doth my value this places upon man! secuted, unjustly accused or de- Father love me, because I lay Through transgression the sons of frauded he will simply lift up his down my life, that I might take man become subjects of Satan. heart to God and feel nothing but it again" ( John 10:17). That is, Through faith in the atoning pity for those who thus treat him. "My Father has so loved you that sacrifice of Christ, the sons of Jesus tells us, "Love your enemies He even loves Me more for giving Adam may become the sons of and pray for those who persecute My life to redeem you. In becom- God. By assuming human nature, you" (Matthew 5:44 RSV). Thus, ing your Substitute and Surety, by Christ elevates humanity. Fallen even in the midst of quarrelling surrendering My life, by taking men are placed where, through and persecution the one who trusts your liabilities, your transgressions, connection with Christ, they may God can have perfect peace of I am endeared to My Father; for indeed become worthy of the name mind. by My sacrifice, God can be just, "sons of God." But probably the greatest cause and yet the Justifier of him who Such love is without a parallel. of a troubled mind is sin, wrong believeth in Jesus." Children of the heavenly King! doing, and a guilty conscience. None but the Son of God could Precious promise! Theme for the People do things they know are accomplish our redemption; for most profound meditation! The wrong and afterwards they are only He who was in the bosom of matchless love of God for a world sorry. Their conscience troubles the Father could declare Him. that did not love Him! The them and they have no peace. Only He who knew the height and thought has a subduing power Some apologize to the ones they depth of the love of God could upon the soul and brings the mind have wronged, or restore the things make it manifest. Nothing less into captivity to the will of God. that they have taken, but still than the infinite sacrifice made by The more we study the divine they are troubled in mind. Some Christ in behalf of fallen man character in the light of the cross, go out of their way to do good could express the Father's love to the more we see mercy, tenderness, works in order to compensate for lost humanity. and forgiveness blended with the evil they have done, but still "God so loved the world, that he equity and justice, and the more they have no peace. Some seek to gave his only begotten Son." He clearly we discern innumerable flee from society into the jungles gave Him not only to live among evidences of a love that is infinite or mountains to seek that peace men, to bear their sins, and die and a tender pity surpassing a which they have not been able to their sacrifice, He gave Him to the mother's yearning sympathy for find, but usually it is in vain. fallen race. Christ was to identify her wayward child. The Lord Jesus Christ offers us Himself with the interests and the perfect remedy for the troubled needs of humanity. He who was "Every human tie may perish, conscience. Long ago there was a one with God has linked Himself Friend to friend unfaithful prove, man living in Palestine who had with the children of men by ties Mothers cease their own to cherish, lived a life of sin. The time came that are never to be broken. Jesus Heaven and earth at last re- when his conscience troubled him is "not ashamed to call them move; and he tried to find peace of mind. brethren" (Hebrews 2:11); He is But no change But no matter what he did his our Sacrifice, our Advocate, our Can attend Jehovah's love." conscience gave him no rest. Brother, bearing our human form —Ellen G. White Finally as the result of worrying before the Father's throne, and PEACE OF MIND and fretting over all that he had through eternal ages one with the done, he became ill. His condition From page 5 race He has redeemed—the Son of became worse until finally he was man. And all this that man might needs will be supplied and we will completely paralysed and near be uplifted from the ruin and deg- not need to worry about the future. death. Then he heard about Jesus radation of sin, that he might re- Trust in God will bring peace of and asked his companions to carry flect the love of God and share the mind. him on a bed to the Saviour's joy of holiness. The person who is living with presence. As soon as Jesus saw The price paid for our redemp- quarrelsome relatives or neighbours him He knew his problem, read tion, the infinite sacrifice of our may be in the habit of retaliating, his mind and understood the heavenly Father in giving His Son giving blow for blow, word for remedy. The first words Jesus to die for us, should give us exalted word, bad turn for bad turn. He spoke to this poor man were, "Take conceptions of what we may be- may get angry, resentful, morose. heart my son; your sins are for- come through Christ. As the in- Such a one cannot have peace of given" (Matthew 9:2. RSV). spired apostle John beheld the mind. But if he will only follow the The people who were watching height the depth, the breadth of words of the Lord Jesus Christ, were surprised. Some of the re- the Father's love toward the these troubles will soon mean ligious leaders who believed that perishing race, he was filled with nothing to him. "Do not resist one the only way to receive forgiveness adoration and reverence; and, fail- who is evil. But if anyone strikes was by doing good works ques- ing to find suitable language in you on the right cheek, turn to him tioned the statement of Jesus. which to express the greatness and the other also; and if anyone "This man is blaspheming," they tenderness of this love, he called would sue you and take your coat, whispered to each other. "But upon the world to behold it. "Be- let him have your cloak as well" Jesus, knowing their thoughts, hold, what manner of love the (Matthew 5:39, 40 RSV). The said, "why do you think evil in Father hath bestowed upon us, person who has such an attitude your hearts? For which is easier, that we should be called the sons will not be troubled by unfriendly to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or 14 OUR TIMES to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that clouds to come from the oceans to supplying all his created beings you may know that the Son of supply the rivers with enough with the necessities of life and the man has authority on earth to for- water to do their job. Time and pursuit of happiness. give sins"—he then said to the space do not permit the telling of Why did not God strike dead paralytic—"Rise, take up your bed all the wonders of God that go in- the man we told about in that and go home" (Matthew 9:3 to 7. to supplying the creation of God article, "The Mystery of God"? RSV). with life, etc. The flowers of many Because the character of God is Immediately new life and health varieties to sweeten the air; the love. That love is shown in His flooded through the man's body. many different kinds of food, dealings with the free moral agents He leapt to his feet and was able fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, known as man. to carry his bed home rejoicing. which enable us to have variety The love of God can further be Thus Jesus demonstrated His and choice. All these tell the same demonstrated by the fact that God power to forgive sins and relieve story—"God is love." He loves the has given to each one of us the the troubled mind. creatures He made. power of choice. We may choose The Lord Jesus Christ is able to Last month, in an article en- to obey Him. We may choose to do the same for you. He loves you titled, "The Mystery of God" we disobey Him. God will never force and died for your sins. He was learned that God is a personal us to do His will. He never uses punished in your place. The being. He is all-wise, all-powerful, His mighty power to make us do moment you believe in Him and and ever-present to care for His that which we are not willing accept Him as your Saviour He is creation. He is an orderly and just to do. ready and able to forgive all your God. He is a holy God and the All nature testifies to the exist- sins and you can immediately have standard of holiness. He is a God ence of the God described above. a clear conscience and perfect of law and justice and holiness. This God who is so wise, so power- peace of mind. "If we confess our With all this He is a God of love. ful, so just, so mighty, loves His sins, he is faithful and just, and He has concern for and an interest creation. He loves you and me. He will forgive our sins and cleanse us in the products of His creative loves us very much. Will you not from all unrighteousness" (I John power. He shows His love by the make a place for Him in your 1:9. RSV). way He has set up a system of heart and return that divine love? —D. K. Down 516160616#60966061996199610606099616161961960609611(96061496166560 WHAT IS GOD LIKE? From page 8 THE interest in His creatures would go PATH,W& to the extent He has to make life so interesting and enjoyable and HKYOUGH worth-while. Why do you suppose He has I've wandered. Lord, where Thy dear hand has been done all this? I will tell you. He loves us. He has an interest in us And things of beauty, made by Thee, I've seen and our well-being. Men may talk. A cresent moon, hung on the evening star Men may speculate. But they can- not get away from this one im- 'Gainst sky of rose, as daylight faded far, mutable fact. "God is love" (1 While all beneath a pathway on the sea, John 4:8). And He has shown His Which long ago called plaintively to men. love by the many, many blessings He has showered upon every And mem'ry tries to summon ancient pain. creature over the whole earth. He But I am glad. I am made whole again. has made arrangements for our sustenance from babyhood to old I know there is a pathway through the sea, age. Study and observe the grains of Though all its waters full of trouble be. wheat. In each grain there is life. For Thou, the Captain of the human soul, Put these grains of wheat in the Will guide us safely, over reef, and shoal, ground and the life and food in each grain are used in making And bring us to the heaven of Thy love, roots and a green leaf for the pur- Where every tear will be but treasure trove, pose of making more grains of wheat for our food and for the For joy can know no ecstasy so dear, production of more wheat in the As that Thy hand shall wipe away my tear. future. God has devised the plan of the —Elva R. Piper. rivers to water the fields for the production of food, etc. He has worked out the system of the 960961616199660(9960616196660606061609616160609e9961656161609 MARCH 1966 13 FINAL SECRETS cal computers, mechanical brains, latest ideas on every subject. We has produced astonishing advance are today but a step from instan- From page 12 in techniques. . . . In the field of taneous communication between biology I suppose the better all people. For the first time since impact of all this on his special understanding of the hereditary men first dwelt upon the earth al- field. "What," I inquired, "have units, or genes, is as outstanding as most every living creature can be been the greatest discoveries of any. Discussions of the apparent contacted immediately by the recent years in medicine?" He re- discovery of the basic substance of spoken word and the moving pic- plied, "The relation of viruses to the genes, deoxyribonucleic acid ture. Hence, if the end is near and cancer; the perfusion technique by (DNA), has occupied an import- if, in all fairness, everybody must which isolated parts of the circu- ant part of the literature in biology hear about it in advance, God latory system can be flooded with in recent years. . . . Closely as- could hardly have made more chemical agents which are destruc- sociated are viruses and the prob- thorough and elaborate prepara- tive to cancer; the transplantation lem of synthesizing living sub- tion for a global warning to be of tissues from one person to an- stance." given. other; and phenomenal progress in 3. Among the thousands of This inquiry could have been understanding the chemical nature scientists who are busily engaged pressed much farther, indeed ad of chromosomes and their influence today in all manner of research infinitum, but the reactions would in regulating the activities of all projects many are in hot pursuit have been the same, for men in the body's tissues." of the greatest and most elusive every field of science are constantly He could have mentioned also secret of all. This is the secret of reporting similar spectacular ad- the fascinating results of research life, the final secret. They haven't vances. in genetics, immunology, micro- found it yet, but every year, every biology, and heart surgery—but no Summing up, three vital facts month, they come a little closer to one man could possibly think of emerge: their goal. them all. 1. We are now living in earth's Not long ago the virus labora- I asked a civil engineer for his golden age of discovery and in- tory at Berkeley announced that reactions, and he pointed to the vention, a period of sudden, some members of its staff had suc- mighty dams on the Columbia, the spectacular, and unprecedented ceeded in reducing tobacco mosaic Colorado, and other rivers, master- progress in every branch of knowl- virus to its larger constituent pieces of engineering built at enor- edge, which abundantly, and parts, then put them together mous cost to store water for irri- amply, fulfils the Biblical predic- again. Hope again ran high that gation and hydro-electric power. tion made twenty-five centuries the great breakthrough was im- He mentioned also the remarkable ago: "Shut up the words, and seal minent; but it was dashed by other progress that has been made in the the book, even to the time of the scientists who expressed the opin- age-old struggle to produce fresh end: many shall run to and fro, ion that this virus is "a complex water from the sea. and knowledge shall be increased" non-living organic molecule." But I asked a famous archologist (Daniel 12:4). failure never daunts research and he pointed to the discovery of Some theologians insist that this scientists. They merely try again. the Dead Sea Scrolls, a continuous prophecy relates only to knowl- And they will. process from 1947 till now. He re- edge of the book of Daniel; others No greater triumph could be ferred also to the deciphering—for that it embraces no more than achieved than to create life in a the first time in history—of the knowledge of the whole Bible. But test-tube. Were this to be ac- Hittite hieroglyphs and the re- in the light of all the developments complished there would be a shout covery of a "whole body of of our day, such interpretations of victory never heard on earth Canaanite religious literature from are needlessly narrow and re- before. It would receive headlines the ruins of Ras Shamra in Syria." stricted. Surely the promised in- greater than any moon shot or the In addition, he mentioned the ex- crease of knowledge embraces not arrival of a man on Mars. cavation of ancient Csarea, where only one small portion of the Of necessity there is one thing a not only has a stone inscription of Bible, or even the whole Bible, but Creator must reserve to Himself. Pontius Pilate been found—the also all the vast outreach of the That is the power to create. And first of its kind—but also a stone human mind into all the secrets of the fact that man is now approach- inscription mentioning Nazareth, the universe which is a significant ing this final secret, certain he will the only reference to this city out- aspect of our times. Not one little soon wrest it from reluctant na- side the New Testament. candle but the concentrated blaze ture, is further evidence that time I asked a well-known biologist of a million incandescent lights de- is running out. for his opinion and he replied, "It clares that the time of the end is —A. S. Maxwell is possible that the minute study upon us. of the atom and its constituent 2. As a result of the universal parts has constituted as significant increase of knowledge the entire A boat at midnight sent alone an advance as any in recent years. population of the world has be- To drift upon the moonless sea, Another important advance has come not only comparatively well- A lute, whose leading chord is gone, A wounded bird, that hath but one been the development of the laser, informed, but accessible. Every- Imperfect wing to soar upon, which projects single-phase light body, despite barriers of language Are like what I am, without Thee. beams that could be used in inter- and distance, can now be reached planetary communication. Then, with information about current —Moore too, the concentration on mechani- events, new discoveries, and the 16 OUR TIMES G3 12 alLIDEDIA

BEWARE OF THE WHITE ANT

BANG! RIP! Bang! R-i-p! Crack! The noise Then Bob stood up and said: "I couldn't find went on as the men tore the old pier to pieces. anything in any book at home, but my uncle and "Let's go over and see what those men are doing aunt were visiting us. They have been in Ethiopia to the pier," suggested Charley to his friend Don. for many years, and they told me that they have "Why are you tearing the pier down?" asked Don often seen white ants' homes. They are from ten to as they came up to the workmen. twenty feet high. They are shaped like a sugar loaf. "White ants," answered the men. They are made of earth, but will hold a man's "White ants," repeated Don. "What are they?" weight." "Take a look at those piles over there," said the "This is all very interesting," remarked the man. "They're all eaten out by white ants." teacher. "Now I wonder who found anything about The boys walked over to the piling and saw that the white ants here in British Columbia [Canadal. the piles were all honeycombed. The outsides of the Right here in Vancouver there are white ant inspec- big logs looked all right, but the insides were all tors trying to keep up with the pests as they carry on rotten. their work in ruination. Charles told me that the piles "I wonder what a white ant looks like. I'm going were eaten inside. but that the outside looked good. to find out," said Charley. "If white ants can ruin Did anyone learn about them?" hundreds of piles like these, I want to know some- "I did," said Betty. "I read an article in the thing about them." newspaper." When he got home that evening, Charley looked up "white ant" in the dictionary. The dictionary said: "We will be glad to hear what the article has to "White ant, also called termite, very destructive to say," said the teacher. buildings, furniture, and food." "It says, 'In the spring there are millions of The next day in school he asked his teacher to white ants flying to new places to start housekeeping. tell him something about the white ant. They sometimes fly to an old stump near their home, The teacher said, "White ants are very interesting and there they start their new home. Then a man but also destructive insects. Let us see what we can comes along and decides to build a house. He builds find out about white ants and have a discussion to- right on top of the stump as he thinks it is too much morrow." All the class members were to see what they work to take it out. The white ants start to eat from could find. within and eat their way out.' " When the discussion hour arrived the next day, "That is very interesting, Betty," said the teacher. most of the class members had something they wished "While we have been talking I have been thinking to say. Don raised his hand and was given permission that some of us may have a kind of white ant in our to tell his story. lives. We want to be good men and women, but "This is what I found," began Don. "White ants sometimes we let little white ants come into our live mostly in tropical countries, but are also found lives. They are very small, and we forget them for a in temperate countries in North and South America. while. Then something comes up and we do wrong. Their food consists of wood that is in a state of decay. It may be all on account of the tiny white ant that They cause many trees to fall. They are also destruc- has been working in our lives all the time. We should tive to human habitations." be sure that the tiny white ants of sin are out of our Charles spoke next: "I found that the white ant hearts. We must ask Jesus to show us the white ants, society consists mostly of wingless individuals. There the little sins, and help us to get rid of them. If we are many workers and many soldiers. The soldiers don't get rid of them, they will burrow in and cause have large heads and strong jaws. The workers collect much damage." food and do the tunnelling. The queen is very large. She lays thousands of eggs a day." —Minerva Betts

MARCH 1966 17 (Note: That this study might be of permanent value, readers are invited to answered and said unto underline all the texts and to follow not knowing t 29 e'-gis f Go a simple plan of annotating alongside w them, "le / a Pow n t ey each text in the margin of their Bibles 2 5 ssLiptuLgs., rrectio x.,,-.3at inThte resu the next text in the study. Begin by neither30 For marry, nor are given in entering the following information about marriage, but are as the angels of MARK the study on the flyleaf of your Bible God31 Butin heaven. as touching the resurrec as tabled below: serial number, title, the dead, have ye not read first text, code letters, and total number n unto you by YOUR of texts used. Then turn to the first 2161 1.1111all iiikairmANIE 111111 text and write in the margin alongside it the second text with code letters and BIBLE so on in chain reference fashion to the end.) Conducted Bern rd Pinghe

No. Title I First Text I Code I No. of Texts

IWhat We Owe God I Haggai 2:8 WOG I 11

WHAT WE OWE GOD

THERE IS a general reluctance to give to God. The good woman; and entrance into heaven." The busi- percentage of offerings made to Him is very much nessman honoured his promise. lower than what is spent at the cinemas, horse races, In the lives of many, giving to God is the least liquor booths and the halls of amusement. This consideration. After all expenses are cared for ade- should not be. quately a trifle is given to God. Humorously someone has written thus: 1. How much of the world's wealth is claimed "He dropped a penny in the plate, by God as His possession? Then heaved some gentle sighs; And thanked the Lord the rent was paid Haggai 2 :8. "The silver is mine, and the gold is For mansions in the skies!" mine, saith the Lord of hosts." (2 WOG Deuteronomy 3. What, according to the prophet Haggai, 8:18.) happened to the possessions of certain ones who "He is rich beyond all human conception, and failed to give to God? our paltry gifts could add nothing significant to His infinite resources." A. S. Maxwell, Your Bible and Haggai 1:6. "Ye have sown much, and bring You, p. 185. in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but 2. From what source does our talents to ac- there is none warm; and he that earneth wages cumulate possessions come? earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes." (4 WOG Luke 12:15.) Deuteronomy 8:18. "But thou shalt remember 4. Of what are we warned when our primary the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power interest is on the things of this world? to get wealth." (3 WOG Haggai 1:6.) Money is entrusted to us by God. In itself it is Luke 12:15. "And he said unto them, Take heed, riot evil, but it must be rightfully used, if it is not and beware of covetousness : for a man's life con- to become a root of evil in our lives. While money sisteth not in the abundance of the things which he is necessary for living it must be remembered that possesseth." (5 WOG John 3:16.) there are many things that money cannot buy. A "It is not the fact that a man has riches which wealthy man once offered Rs. 20,000 to any one who keeps him from the kingdom of heaven, but the fact could name four desirable things which money could that riches have him." David Caird. not buy. Someone accepted the challenge and wrote: 5. While man craves to get, how contrastingly "A baby's smile; youth after it is gone; the love of a different is God? 18 OUR TIMES John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he "Give as you would if an angel gave his only begotten Son. (6 WOG 2 Corinthians Awaited your gift at the door; 8:9.) Give as you would if tomorrow The German artist, Stenberg, gave his heart to Found you where giving would be no more; Christ at a religious meeting on the outskirts of Dusseldorf. He longed to do something for God and "Give as you would to the Master determined to paint the love of Christ in the expres- If you met His searching look; sion of His face. He painted the head and shoulders Give as you would of your substance of Jesus with the crown of thorns on His brow, and If His hand your offering took." captured the love of Christ in the expression of His —Author Unknown. face and the look in His eyes. He hung the painting in the art gallery of Dusseldorf, and underneath the 10. What can we confidently expect when we painting wrote these words: give sacrificially? "All this I did for thee; Luke 6:38. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; What hast thou done for Me?" good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. 6. To what extent did Christ sacrifice in giving For with the same measure that ye mete withal it Himself to us? shall be measured to you again." (11 WOG 2 Corin- thians 9:7.) 2 Corinthians 8:9. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet Jesus reiterates these blessings and urges us to for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his be faithful in giving our tithes and offerings. Read Matthew 23:23. poverty might be rich." (7 WOG Psalm 116:12.) While God was so condescending and gave Him- "It is in loving—not in being loved, self for us, our returns to Him are pitifully small. The heart is blest; Many of us are like certain islanders in the Pacific. It is in giving—not in seeking gifts, We find our quest." On their feast days they slay a pig. Then they divide —Author Unknown. the pig among themselves and offer to their god the 11. What spirit of willingness should be mani- pig's tail! fest when we give to the Lord?

7. When we see Christ's example of giving 2 Corinthians 9:7. "Every man according as he what should be our response? purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grud- gingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful Psalm 116:12. "What shall I render unto the giver." (WOG //) Lord for all His benefits toward me?" (8 WOG "He gives only worthless gold Malachi 3:10.) Who gives from a sense of duty." Over the entrance to an old cathedral in —J. R. Lowell. are inscirbed these words: "He who bringeth no gift Someone has divided givers into three categories: to the altar, beareth no blessing away." Gifts do not (a) Rocks—must be hammered to get any- buy us blessings, but they are evidence of our love thing from. to God. (b) Sponge—must be squeezed to get any- thing out. 8. What is the reasonable portion of our income (c) Honeycomb—just flows over in sweetness. that God expects of us? What does He promise if What kind of giver are you? we return to Him this portion?

Malachi 3:10. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP AND PUBLICATION and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, 1. Place of Publication: Poona. if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and 2. Periodicity of its Publication: Monthly. pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room 3. Printer's Name: V. Raju; Nationality: Indian; Address: enough to receive it." (9 WOG Psalm 96:8.) Salisbury Park, Poona. 4. Publisher's Name: V. Raju; Nationality: Indian; Address: "Tithing [the term means one-tenth] is an ex- Salisbury Park, Poona. pression of our stewardship in giving. We tithe in 5. Editor's Name: T. A. Davis; Nationality: American; Address: Salisbury Park, Poona. recognition of the landlord's ownership of, or rights 6. Names and addresses of individuals who own the publication in, the house or farm. . . . The tithe is paid not simply and partners or shareholders holding more than one per cent of the total capital: The Oriental Watchman Publishing because it is the Lord's but because all one has, or House (an association). acquires, is His." Charles A. Cook, Stewardship and Names and addresses of the members of the Board of Trustees: R. S. Lowry, V. Raju, W. A. Benwell, C. R. Bonney, Missions, p. 118. C. B. Guild, G. W. Maywald, R. E. Rice, J. A. Soule, T. A. Davis, Ch. B. William, SaNsbury Park, Poona. W. L. Murrill, Rangoon; C. H. Hamel, Lahore; M. D. Moses, Bombay; E. C. 9. What further sacrifice is expected of us to Beck, Colombo; B. J. Williams, Karmatar, Bihar; A. J. Johanson, Bangalore; 0. W. Lange, New Delhi. support the church? I, V. Raju, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Date: February 28, 1966 Signature of Publisher Psalm 96:8. "Give unto the Lord the glory due V. Raju unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts." (10 WOG Luke 6:38.) MARCH; 1966 19 WHEN BLUE DAYS COME by Margaret Chivers

"WE STEPPED OUT the door of this house in the suburbs where we had been calling," said my friend. "It was night, and the house was on a little hill. The stars were in their glory and there was the great sweep of the Milky Way. I said to my hostess, 'How beautiful? How lucky you are to live where you can see all this sky!' "Do you know what she answered? She gave a hurried glance at that magnificent sky, and said, 'Yes, it's pretty. But I hardly ever look up.' "Some people have no vision," I agreed. But later, I thought. "What have I to be so smug about? Perhaps I often miss a lift by not looking up." I was walking home from an errand the next day. My feet hurt, and so did my feelings. After a morning of house cleaning, I had gone to see a woman about some committee work, and we had had an argument. (Perhaps het feet hurt, too!) I was plodding along, head down, eyes on the dusty street. I paused at the corner, drew a long breath, and unconsciously looked up. There was a vast and gentle sky with clouds in the west that were rose-coloured above and gold underneath—that pure radiant gold that seems to promise a better and happier world tomorrow. A flight of birds swooped across the azure expanse, the light shining through their wings. The rose in the clouds darkened to purple as I watched, and the gold became more intense. I had been brooding along, my nose and eyes to the ground, possessed by puny little troubles. I had almost missed that radiant sky. There is another way of looking up. It can be clone even on those grey days—grey outside and grey of spirit—when monotony has laid its deadly hand on you. The house cannot be left, because it is full of jobs to be done, with only you to do them. Or perhaps you are not well enough to leave. Can you still look up?—and I don't mean at the ceiling! In my kitchen is a bulletin board, just an inexpensive piece of fibre board. On it I keep a picture, or sometimes two or three: scenes in colour from magazines, from calendars, from travel folders; pictures of landscapes, for the most part—sometimes an arresting portrait. At present, there are two pictures on display. One is a copy of a water-- colour of a city skyline, and one is of a gurgling creek running between green banks. I have a folder of pictures, and on the morning of a -blue Monday," when the ones on the board have become so familiar that I don't notice them any more, I take five minutes and select fresh ones to be thumb-tacked there. One rainy afternoon, before starting the ironing. I pulled an old high- school English textbook from the shelf and came across The Ancient Mariner.- I started to skim it to refresh my memory, and soon found myself reading it from beginning to end. From that, I went on to Tennyson's "Idylls of the King." The ironing waited! Have you read these literary gems since you were in first year high school? The beauty of the words and rhythm will come to you afresh. and you will be surprised at how much more meaning your years of living have given to those old poems and to others once familiar. With open eyes—and imagination—ill find 0111 (-AN IL way,,, to lift your eves and your heart upward. Wherever you are, du 104 up!