Signs of the Times

with contributions from W. O. Beason

Rev. W. O. Beason in an article in the State Journal Lansing, Michigan

Have you ever watched a new ship start on its maiden voyage over the trackless path of the sea? Beautiful, strong, and reliable, life is somewhat like a ship, launched on the sea of time, beautiful in childhood, strong and confident in youth, seasoned and experienced in old age.

But if either is to outride the tempest and storm reaching the proper port of its destination beyond the horizon, into it must go the finest and strongest of material and construction.

Youth is that wonderful period of life with vision, talent, enthusiasm, and creative powers, with inspiration and character formation. The youth of today will be the men and women of tomorrow; whatever needs to be done that is worth doing in every field of endeavor will be done by them. They will preach sermons, write books and editorials, mold public opinions, frame laws, and interpret their day and age by their thoughts and equipment. Youth is plastic and responds readily to treatment; therefore it needs the love, wisdom, understanding, guidance, and experience of those who are older. In what better place could this be found than in the church and in Christ? In the words of our Scripture, we find Jesus as a youth preparing himself for the future. "In wisdom" he increased mentally, in "stature" he increased physically, "in favour with God" he increased spiritually, in favor "with man" he increased socially.

This must be the program for our youth today, in every field of labor, which would mold finer characters, build more spiritual churches, making this great nation a more wonderful, peaceful, and desirous place in which to live.

Our youth must seek through much study to understand life, to enlarge their experience of God. ... Receptive, responsive, undaunted, ambitious youth waits the word of trusted leadership.

From an article in the West London Press, England

There is one kind of forgetfulness that is good, and that is the forgetfulness of self. If we lose ourselves in our work and worship, and give time and thought for others, we have less time to think and worry about our own concerns. ... As the Christian tries to grow more Christlike, he loses his self-centeredness and discovers the harmony of the things of the Spirit. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:39).

Send a comment to the editors

This is the end of the issue. Ready to explore further?

Online features Audio

October 22, 1955

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit