HUXLEY
ONCE SAID, "The most valuable result of all education is the ability
to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it ought to be
done whether you want to do it or not."
Using
this as a true evaluation it would seem reasonable then that all
educated people would be religious. Unfortunately the contrary is
true. There are exceptions to every rule but it seems that the more
highly educated have less time for God than the humble folk.
This proves Paul's point when he said, "For the wisdom of this world
is foolishness with God," because "the foolishness of God is wiser
than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
With
the increase of knowledge that is prevalent today we can become
so absorbed in our own wisdom and our own petty problems that we
completely fail to do what ought to be done when it ought to be
done.
Let
all of us, educated or not, learn the lesson that Huxley tells us
we should learn, that of making ourselves do the thing we have to
do when we ought to do it whether we want to do it or not.
Actually the difference between success and failure in almost any
venture is the ability to do the right thing at the right time.
This also illustrates the wisdom of Solomon who said "To every thing
there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die, etc." Too many of us put off
doing the thing that is unpleasant or unappealing. True religion
does not attract the natural man. Paul tells us that "the carnal
mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be." If we are wise, we will learn what
we ought to do and do it. With this comes success. Some well educated
men have applied this to business and have risen to great heights.
How much more important for us to apply it to serving God. In the
final analysis the only education really worth having is in God's
law and the only worthwhile wisdom is Godly wisdom.
Too many have spent their lives without doing what they ought to
have done for God and realized as they lay on their death bed that
all the things they knew and all the money they had was of little
use.
Let us remember our Creator NOW before the years draw near when
we are no longer able to serve God. We must not use the lame old
excuse that we haven't time. We have all the time there is, 24 hours
every day, and no one has more or less than that. If we are honest
with ourselves we must admit that we find time to do things we like
to do. Let us follow Huxley's definition of the educated man and
develop the ability to make ourselves do the thing we should do
when it ought to be done. Now is the time to draw nigh unto God.
At our death or the coming of the Lord it is too late.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there
is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave,
whither thou goest."
Like
learning to eat asparagus, for which a taste has to be acquired,
we discover that as we do what we ought to do we find we derive
pleasure from it. There is no joy like godly joy and no pleasure
on earth like the peace of God but we shall never experience it
unless we begin and persevere.
By doing so, we, being made "free from sin and become servants to
God, have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
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