The Watchtower, September 15, 1954
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
SEPTEMBER 15, 1954
Semimonthly
TRUE LOVE IS PRACTICAL
EDUCATING OURSELVES FOR PEACE
AND LIFE
LOOKING FORWARD TO REAL LIVING
MAKE WISE USE OF
THE REMAINING TIME
MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE DANAKIL
©WTB&TS
“YOU ARE MY WITNESSES,” SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases. - Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
Looking Forward to Real Living
“Never in Such a Mess”
Educating Ourselves for Peace and Life
Make Wise Use of the Remaining Time
Making Friends with the Danakil
In Behalf of Religious Liberty
True Love Is Practical
Burning His Juju Converts African
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
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RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version
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LOOKING FORWARD TO REAL LIVING
IT IS amazing what a beautiful day will do for one. And we have so many of them, too, in a year. It is a pity, however, that we cannot enjoy them more. Perhaps we could if conditions in the world and life itself were as peaceful and beautiful as some of our days. Do you realize that soon now people will enjoy just such a life right here upon the earth? Note what the Bible says at Psalm 72:1-8:
"Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."
It will be a glorious occasion to live during that time; then living, no doubt, will be more beautiful than the best of days. And what will make them beautiful is the fact that God himself will be with his people, representatively, that is, and he will do
things for them. We learn this at Revelation 21:3-5, according to the New World Translation: "Look! the tent of God is with humankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.' And the one seated on the throne said: 'Look! I am making all things new.' Also he says: 'Write, because these words are trustworthy and true.'"
Today it is difficult for us to imagine a world without tears, death, mourning or pain. But under the kingdom of God these evils will be done away with and God's mighty acts will cause people to want to praise him and extol him to the ends of the earth. That is what David said at Psalm 145:1,3,4,10-13,15,16,(AS):
"I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
The eyes of all wait for thee; and thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."
We need such a God that can satisfy our every desire. We need such a government that can bless humankind with enduring peace. That is why Jesus urged his followers to pray for the coming of the Kingdom and that Jehovah's will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
But what we are primarily interested in is, When will all these good things come? Shall we be able to see them? Will they come in our time? The prophet Daniel answered those questions for us, saying, at Daniel 2:44: "And in the days of these kings [the kings and rulers of our day] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." So in this verse God shows us that he purposes to remove all kingdoms of this world and replace these kingdoms with his kingdom under the direction of his Son Jesus Christ. Following the removal of
these earthly kingdoms by God humankind will enjoy peace, for the ruler of God's kingdom is the Prince of Peace. As Isaiah stated: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." Isa. 9:6, 7.
Today we can see that we are living at the portals of that New World government—a government by the Most High God Jehovah which will be administered through his reigning King Christ Jesus. It is imperative that all mankind hear of that kingdom, learn of its mighty acts and what it will do for humankind, that they may live in hope during these trying times to the honor of God and to the fulfillment of his Word.
Men have failed to bring peace and to teach humankind how really to live. God will not fail. Make these Kingdom promises yours by believing them and by trusting in God to bring them to pass.In that kingdom all those exercising faith in Him will enjoy life to the full and taste of life that is life indeed!
"Never in Such a Mess"
Nineteen centuries ago the apostle Paul wrote: "Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this system of things? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish?" (1 Cor. 1:20, NW) That Christendom today is no different from the world of Paul's day is apparent from the following observations made last April by Dr. T. Lord, president of the World Baptist Alliance, as reported by Leicester Evening Mail, April 17, 1954: "It will avail us nothing, our cleverness, our mighty power, unless the Lord himself comes into the midst of our councils, and directs them with his compassion. If we don't turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are lost. Civilisation can be saved if we put the Lord in the centre.
"I get worried about it. We are so clever, so erudite, we have never had so many degrees in the world, so many erudite preachers, so many DDs, so many undergraduates and so many scientific advances, and yet we were never in such a mess. We never had so many broken homes, so many children growing up into crime and we have never lived in such a perpetual state of fear as we are doing now."
Educating Ourselves for Peace and Life
Your education—harmful or helpful?
EDUCATION is proclaimed to be the backbone of this civilized world. Without it this world could not continue for long. It would soon sink back into the primitive past, like uncultivated and uncaredfor land reclaimed by
Does higher education create peace or make war, free or enslave, protect or destroy? Read the following, it concerns you.
nature. Therefore, for continued enlightenment and progress, accent is on higher education.
This century boasts of this as being the age of enlightenment, the golden era of learning. It points to the many human conveniences and discoveries of science as progress and it claims to possess the ability to make advancement also in the art and wisdom of government and to be capable of providing men with a stable, satisfying system of global rule.
In its libraries this world has the accumulated knowledge of centuries of human experience. It does not believe that this knowledge is all vain, but it claims that by it man has learned practical wisdom. Such is the wisdom of this world. Following that wisdom the world has not come to know what it has desired most, namely peace and life. It fights, bleeds and tortures itself in order to run itself and govern itself without divine help and without caring for the divine will. Thus it is that the world by its own wisdom has not come to know God, but leaves Jehovah God out of all its calculations and relies upon its own wisdom, ability and schemes.
progressed toward a better world? Is it capable of governing itself? Is its education harmful or helpful? True, this is an age of streamlined trains and automobiles, of jet-propelled airplanes and atomicpowered submarines.
Therefore we ask: How intelligent is this world? What has it gained from its intellectual achievements? How far has it
an era of electricity and harnessed power. But where are its moral and spiritual values and achievements? What are its principles? Its standards? What is its wisdom? As President Eisenhower so aptly stated at the Columbia University bicentennial dinner: "Let us not, however, define truth or knowledge of the truth solely in the narrow terms of mere fact or statistics or mathematical equation. Wisdom and human understanding—a sense of proportion are essential. Knowledge can give us nuclear fission; only wisdom and understanding can assure its application to human betterment rather than to human destruction."
The extent of human carnage in this world committed with instruments of knowledge condemns this world as void of wisdom and understanding. It has grown up like a freakish monster, strong and fearsome with might and power, but void of all moral and spiritual responsibility. Consequently, we live in a world of miraculous gadgets, television, telephones and antibiotics, while at the same time being plagued with corruption, immorality, crime, fear, anxiety and trepidation. This lack of moral fiber was made clear by Bernard M. Baruch, who, when speaking to a group of college students at City College, New York, declared:
"This same half century or more which has brought such astonishing material advances has been marked by two terrible world wars and by a revival of ancient tyrannies, made all the more barbaric through being technologically refined."
Continuing, Baruch briefly reflected on the course of this atomic age, giving reasons for its failure. Some sixty years ago, he said, all nations were thought to be evolving steadily toward a better life and increased freedom for the individual. But, he added, "that simple faith in the certainty of progress is gone. In this twentieth century we have sniffed the horrible stench of gas chambers; we have seen the return of slavery as a human institution, both in Germany under Hitler and behind the Iron Curtain. Why is it that we perform miracles almost daily in our laboratories but fumble like children when governing ourselves? Is it not largely because we are so poorly educated?"
Illustrating his point Baruch chose the framers of the United States Constitution as an example, saying: "The men who framed the Constitution would not today be called a highly educated group, by academic standards. There was not a professor of government among them. . . I daresay that most of the men who drafted the Constitution could not have met the entrance requirements for this college. Still, despite their lack of formal education, the men who met in Philadelphia in 1787 were well-educated in the true meaning of the term. First, and most important, they knew how to think. . . The fathers of our country were well-educated in still another sense—they were deeply imbued with moral values. Their minds drew a clear distinction between good and evil, between principle and expediency. They were not uncertain
of the values they believed in and were determined to uphold. . .
"Today, in contrast, thinking has become a generally neglected art. Although we read prodigiously we seem to have lost the faculty of learning from the past. We lack any sure sense of values. Never in history has mankind boasted superior means of communication, high speed printing presses, profusely illustrated magazines, the radio, movies, television. Yet all these miraculous forms of communication seem less conducive to thought than a log in the woods. Almost, in fact, these jetpropelled, streamlined means of communication appear the enemies of thinking. They bombard us daily with fresh distractions and new alarms. The net result is that our energies—not only our intellectual energies but our economic and military resources—are dissipated on side issues, while the fundamentals of the critical problems before us remain untouched and ignored. Not too long ago, it was fondly thought that ours was 'The Age of Enlightenment.' More and more it is becoming 'The Age of Distraction.' . .
"Over the last half century or more our hopes for a better world have revolved mainly around material advances. We have pressed this technological quest to the point where nothing seems beyond man's capacity—nothing physical or material, that is. We can level mountains, irrigate deserts, fly faster than speed of sound. Reflecting this rage for technological advance, our colleges and universities have tended more and more to emphasize technical skill rather than thinking ability. And where has it all brought us? It has brought us to where we live in fear that this incredible energy at man's command will become the means of destroying civilization as we know it. Clearly something is missing. That something can hardly be still more power, still newer technological advances. The something we lack is discipline, the capacity to govern ourselves and to control the power that is already ours."—Vital Speeches of the Day, June, 1953.
ADMISSION OF FAILURE
This world lacks discipline, true, but does not want to be disciplined in righteousness. It lacks the capacity to govern itself, but rejects Jehovah God to rule over it. It lacks the good sense to control its prodigious power, but does not want the wisdom that could control it. It cries and longs for peace, but madly prepares for war. It professes great piety and godliness, but wants none of God or his Word. Its educators have either minimized or totally ignored mankind's spiritual welfare. They have turned away from the Bible as a textbook of knowledge and, in accord with their own selfish desires, pursued a course contrary to it, and thus contrary to peace and life. How appropriate are the prophet's words: "How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely. The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of Jehovah; and what manner of wisdom is in them?"—Jer. 8:8, 9, AS.
Proclaiming a remedy for this failure, President Eisenhower called on people everywhere 'to preach the truth and to practice it fearlessly.' "Truth," he said, "can make men free! And where men are free to plan their lives, to govern themselves, to know the truth and to understand their fellow men, we believe that there also is the will to live at peace. Here, then, in spite of A-bombs, H-bombs, all the cruel destructiveness of modern war; in spite of terror, subversion, propaganda and bribery, we see the key to peace. That key is knowledge and understanding—and their constant use by men everywhere. . . . Here is
the unending mission of the university indeed of every educational institution of the free world—to find and spread the truth!"
TRUTH AS A REMEDY
Over nineteen hundred years ago, the greatest educator of all time, Jesus of Nazareth, proclaimed this principle of truth up and down Palestine. But the truth he proclaimed was not the wisdom of this world. Therefore Pilate retorted to Jesus: "What is truth?" To him Caesar's political ambitions, institutions, traditions, etc., were justifiable truths to be preached throughout the Roman Empire. But to Jesus truth was something entirely different, something foreign to this world, something this world knew nothing about. Jesus announced God's Word to be truth. "Your word is truth," said he. On a previous occasion he told his disciples: "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."—John 18:38; 17:17; 8:31, 32, NW.
The great truths that Jesus proclaimed were regarding Jehovah God and his kingdom by Christ, that these were no part of this old world, that this world was heading for an abrupt end at the battle of Armageddon, that mankind's only hope for survival of that battle was by their gaining an accurate knowledge of the Almighty and his Word and living lives in accordance with it. "This means everlasting life," said he, "their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." To this end he commanded: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come." These were the truths that would set men free. "This wisdom," said Paul, "not one of the rulers of this system of things came to know, for if they had known it they would not have impaled the glorious Lord."—John 17:3; Matt. 24:14; 1 Cor. 2:8, NW.
Those desiring peace and life must come to know of this wisdom. But how? For over seventy years Jehovah's witnesses have been engaged in the most intensified educational campaign ever to hit this earth in an effort to bring these truths to the people. Their work carried on in over a hundred languages and in 150 countries and lands has been a strange work with marvelous results.
By educating themselves in God's Word, the Bible, Jehovah's witnesses have been able to do that which the nations round about them have been unable to accomplish for the past four thousand years. Knowing and believing the Bible and living according to its divine principles have enabled them, even though of many different nationalities, colors and languages, to meet together in unity and peace. Knowledge that man should do no murder, nor steal, nor bribe, backed up by the spirit of God and a strong desire and drive to do God's will, has enabled them to lay down their warring arms, racial differences, political and national barriers. These do not steal or bribe. They have beaten their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks. They do not rise up against one another, neither do they learn war any more. They live at peace with one another.
Their being motivated with proper thinking, with right principles, has enabled them to cleanse out all delinquency from their midst, stem the tide of crime, turn back loose living and triumph over wickedness. In other words, Bible truth has freed them. It has made them a society distinct from this old world. It has made them a New World society, glorifying God's name.
HOW TRUE KNOWLEDGE FREES
The main procedure is to change over our mind, which directs our desires and course. By changing our desires, will, interests, disposition, mental outlook and heart attitude to conform to God's will and Word, our actions will correspondingly change for the better. The key to effecting such a change is truth, Bible truth. Serious Bible study will change our views on many things. It will refashion our mind and make it over according to God's righteous view of matters. This we are advised to do by the apostle Paul: "Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over." "Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new personality which through accurate knowledge is being renewed according to the image of the one who created it." Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:9, 10, NW.
Education does make a society, but only proper education can make a New World society, one that conforms itself to the will of God. Despite all its so-called wisdom this world is considered foolish in the sight of God. It struggles, fights, bleeds and tortures itself in order to run and govern itself independently of God. For this it will be destroyed. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."—Hos. 4:6.
Paul advises: "If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this system of things, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written: 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness.' And again: 'Jehovah knows that the reasonings of the wise men are futile.'" To be truly wise, go to the Bible. Study it.
Follow its counsel closely. Its words of wisdom will free you from the entanglements of this old world and will truly enlighten you with hope of life and peace in the new
world of God's making. This is education of the highest order. Educating ourselves in these truths guarantees for us peace and life.—1 Cor. 3:18-20, NW.
Make Wise Use of the Remaining Time
IT IS God who sets the time for all things. He has a set "time to every purpose under the heaven." The time limit for this old world ran out A.D. 1914. It now exists on borrowed time, which is fast running out. How long the remaining time is can be determined from the Word of God, which says: "The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly." Jesus declared that "this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." And his apostle Paul added: "The time left is reduced." Time to prepare for survival of this old world is short indeed! —Eccl. 3:1; Zeph. 1:14, AS; Matt. 24:34; 1 Cor. 7:29, NW.
This is not the time to be deceived by the boastful prophesyings and foundationless promises of imperfect men facing destruction at this world's end. Nor is this a time to be caught napping or living as does the perishing old world. The remaining time is too short to take chances with our life. The new world is upon us, bringing the old world to its terrible end. "For the time that has passed by," said Peter, "is sufficient for you to have worked out the will of the nations when you proceeded in deeds of loose conduct, lusts, excesses with wine, revelries, drinking matches, and idolatries that are without legal restraint. . . . But the complete end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have intense love for one another." 1 Pet. 4:3-8, NW.
Now is the time to redeem or buy out time by casting aside all the nonessential things for New World living. All professing Christians must now
prove whether they are living for this old world or for the righteous new world of endless success. It is ruinous for Christians today to be careless with their time. Time is precious; with it we can save or lose lives. Our talents, our time, our opportunities are all perishable and passing. Time to take in knowledge of Jehovah and Christ, which means everlasting life, is also passing. Satan's world is passing. The remaining time, therefore, is extremely valuable. Jehovah has provided it for man's good, for man to study his Word, for man to see the foretold visible sign of Christ's second presence and conform himself to the requirements of the Kingdom. But Satan opposes this wise use of time. He drives frustrated masses into various ways to escape from the reality of these perilous times. But "a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment" and is not ensnared.—Eccl. 8:5.
How foolish it would be for us to spend our lives accumulating wealth and power as the old world does. A lifetime spent amassing wealth is a lifetime wasted. Jesus wisely reasoned: "For what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?
or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Wealthy King Solomon spent much of his time acquiring homes, gardens, provinces and all sorts of luxury and he concluded that "it is a vain, futile business."—Matt. 16:26, NW; Eccl. 1:14, Mo.
No more time should be spent in the old world today than is absolutely essential to provide for the necessities of life. To spend any more time is to turn the mind away from the more important things to be done. The brief season that remains for the old world is not that we might follow its pursuits. No; but the short spell remaining is that God's will be done, that people of good will of all nations might learn of him and gain life. This interval has been set aside for the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom. Therefore, preaching the Kingdom is the most profitable manner in which we could possibly spend our time.
To improve our abilities as ministers of God through study is to spend time profitably. Such time is never lost. No Christian should allow himself to think that he is too busy to study. To preach successfully to others the wells of truth must be kept filled and flowing. The clergy, who waste their time on philosophy and the writings of men instead of studying God's Word, are referred to in the Bible as wells without water. We might become dried-out wells, unless the waters of truth are replenished. Being concerned with how we spend time, knowing that it is more precious than rubies, silver or gold, we should desire to become efficient, organized and regular as Bible students and as theocratic ministers. These qualities are timesavers and lifesavers.
To be efficient concentrate on one thing at a time. Do not try to listen to a radio program, or watch television, or try to
carry on a conversation and study the Bible at the same time. Do one or the other. The Bible to be digested must receive the student's undivided attention. Otherwise he wastes his time. Learn to make efficient use of the Watch Tower Society's publications. They will save many tedious hours. Learn to use the subject indexes, scripture indexes, concordances, etc. Seek knowledge of God as you would silver, and search for wisdom and understanding as for hidden treasures. Then you will understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God. "For Jehovah giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Do not be content to take just anything for an answer. But do as the Beroeans who "received the word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so."—Prov. 2:6, AS; Acts 17:11, NW.
Do not thrust your burden of study on any man. Bear your own burden if at all possible. Do not say, "I will ask Brother So-and-So; he always knows the answers." Or, "What I will do is write to the Society; they will answer me." Before inquiring of your brother or the Society, do as Jesus suggested at Matthew 7:7-11 (NW). Ask and keep on asking Jehovah for an answer; keep on searching his Word for a reply; knock or work for an understanding of his Word, "and it will be opened to you." Letter writing requires time. Reading letters requires time. And answering letters requires time. And it is a waste of time of many brothers if the answer could be had by putting forth a little effort consulting the Society's publications. Save time, your time and your brothers' time, by being time-conscious. When writing be brief, clear and to the point. Remember, time is precious. It means life.
Jehovah's organization is a timesaver because it is efficiently organized. Its ministers and congregations reflect such efficiency.
Instruction imparted at Christian meetings such as conducted by Jehovah's witnesses saves time. The congregation learn from one another. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Regular attendance at studies of The Watchtower and the service and other meetings is a profitable way to spend time. Time spent in company with men and women whose minds and hearts are set upon serving Jehovah is exhilarating, refreshing, lifesaving. But time spent in the old world is demoralizing, depressing and increasingly hazardous. So why waste time to your hurt? Why gamble with your life and time?—Prov. 27:17.
Whether we waste time or not largely depends upon our habits. If we have formed good habits we are making good use of our time, and, if not, we are most likely wasting valuable time. Long hours watching television deprives one of wholesome conversation, study time and preaching time. Used with wise limitations, television, gatherings, good music, etc., can provide relaxation for Christians and should be used in moderation. The remaining time can be utilized to a better purpose if one is wise. To waste time is to waste Jehovah's patience and mercy. It is wasting a priceless opportunity for endless life in a new world. The dedicated servant of Jehovah God has no life to squander. His life is no longer his own to waste. He was "bought with a price." Therefore, his time, yes, his very life, belongs to Jehovah God.—1 Cor. 7:23, NW.
Consider what a tremendous amount of time is wasted daily through worry alone! Worry accomplishes nothing. We cannot lengthen or shorten the remaining time by worrying. The best we can do is to share in comforting others with the good news of
the Kingdom. If Christians keep worrying over or fleeing from the old-world fears certainly they will have time for nothing else. "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." Lionlike Christians devote their time to profitable pursuits.—Prov. 28:1.
Another waster is irregularity in the preaching work. When one stops he loses the swing of house-to-house preaching, becomes rusty in his use of the Bible, new habits crowd in and take the place of the former good ones. So, not only is the time lost that is not spent in praising Jehovah, but time is also consumed in regaining past efficiency. The remaining time is too short to permit such losses. Now is the time to be awake, active and consistent in Jehovah's service.
WASTING TIME OVER TRIVIALITIES
Often trivial things not worth mentioning consume a tremendous amount of time if we are not careful. Little misunderstandings, oversights, can cause no end of headaches, heartaches, if we let them. These differences are bound to arise as long as men are imperfect. The Devil will see to it. He is greedy for our time. It is a refreshing contrast to consider what a great amount of time, mental concern and productive effort can be saved when the Scriptural rule at Matthew 18:15-17 is followed. Try it. We are too busy today to listen to trivial matters. We have less time to repeat them. Time can be much more profitably spent examining our own mistakes which we are in position to correct than in being concerned about another's shortcomings which we cannot change. (Matt. 7:3,4) Nip waywardness and time wasting in their beginnings by keeping the mind in check, harnessing it for profitable work, directing it in righteous ways.
Arguments over inconsequential matters, long-winded discussions on hypothetical situations and personal theories, these too, claim valuable time from any who are foolish enough to allow it.
"Further, turn down foolish and speculative questionings knowing they produce fights." (2 Tim. 2:23, NW) Wasteful hours might be spent with those wise in their own conceit, who desire only to make a show of their own wisdom and pet theories. Usually these have no time to listen to the good news of God's kingdom. The servant of Jehovah who is concerned with his time will not spend unnecessary time with those who are willfully ignorant of God's purposes. At Matthew 7:6 is recorded some good advice for the faithful servant. There are too many people of good will with whom time can be profitably spent, who are more anxious to listen and learn than hear themselves talk. It is with such meek ones that the preacher can profitably spend his time. Jehovah promises that "the meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."—Ps. 25:9.
SEIZING HOLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
But what has been done or what we have failed to do in the past cannot be changed. Wasted time cannot be bought back. That time is gone forever. It cannot be regained or used again, no matter how we try. But the present time and the future time offer opportunities. These opportunities may present themselves in various ways. But however they come, sensible man will make the most of them, buying them out and putting them to good use so that they will not be wasted. For some it will mean an opportunity to pioneer, for others an opportunity to go to Gilead and for still others a priceless opportunity to serve at
the Society's headquarters or its foreign branches. Look for these opportunities. Make way for them. Time cannot be spent more wisely than in full-time ministry. That is how Jesus spent his perfect life The best we can do is to copy him.
A life spent in Jehovah's service is never wasted. It is one sure way to store up "treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Never "give up in doing what is right," urged Paul, "for in due season we shall reap by not giving out." Even now we see the results of our labors, men hearing and turning to obey the commandments of Jehovah God, an ever-increasing crowd of gospel-preachers profitably using the remaining time. We likewise see and experience evidence of Jehovah's approval upon our actions, his assurance of a work well done. If he is patient enough to allow men a little more time to heed and turn from their timewasting, life-wasting course, surely we should exercise the same patience.—Matt. 6:19, 20; Gal. 6:9, NW.
Armageddon will come on time. We can keep close in mind that day by being busily engaged in Kingdom service. For those praising Jehovah time does not drag; it flies by. Do not just count or mark time, but make your time count and work for you. Study about Jehovah's kingdom. Proclaim his name and Word. Buy out opportunities. Make greater room in your life for New World living. Spend the remaining time to Jehovah's praise and vindication. In this way you will make wise use of the remaining time and with it attain the prize that comes with faithful service—everlasting life!
HAVE you ever tried to imagine what it would feel like to have to make a forced landing in the heart of savage territory in dark Africa? Well, that is just what happened to three of us, a pilot, another passenger and myself on February 2,1954. We were flying back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from Asmara, Eritrea, when bad weather forced us over northeastern Ethiopia, a section inhabited by the Danakil, a tribe having a long record of murders. According to their custom, to show he is qualified to marry, a young man kills another, cuts off his genitals and presents them to the people of his village.
Getting lost while flying over this country, the plane ran out of gas and so we had no alternative but to make a forced landing. Picking a place that looked fairly clear the pilot landed the plane and we got out and began to fill the gas tanks with the reserve gas we had taken along in cans. For a minute or two no one was in sight and then we saw two bushy-headed natives coming toward us with long spears and hooked knives. Soon natives were coming from all directions.
What to do? We agreed that we would try to make friends with them and that we would stick together as closely as possible. After we tried a half-dozen different languages some of the natives responded to our greeting and in reply to our inquiry we received the answer that confirmed our worst fears. Yes, these were the uncivilized Danakil! Little by little the natives
surrounded the plane and watched with great curiosity as we poured the gasoline into the plane's tanks.
Finally one young Dankali approached and gave a greeting in Amharic, "Tinayesteling!" How welcome that sounded! Yes, all three of us could speak Amharic. We told him where we were going and that we had run out of gas. He seemed friendly enough, but we just did not know what to expect from this band of curious, expressionless people. After filling the tanks the three of us jumped into the plane and the engine was started, at which the natives ran in all directions. However, we soon found that we could not gain enough speed in that rough country to get off the ground.
We had to face it, it was a case of going by foot to civilization, coming back with a crew to clear a runway for the plane—provided we were fortunate enough to get out alive. Again the Danakil surrounded us. We got out and told them about our need to get to the road, asked in what direction it was and if any of them would accompany us. They discussed it among themselves, in their own language, and then told us they would take us to their village.
Although we had explained it was necessary for us to get out to the road they took us to their village instead. On the way there, a thirty-minute walk, we tried to make friends with them by fascinating them with the ticking of our wrist watches and by flashing our flashlight on and off.
Entering the village, which had a fence of brambles and thorns around it to keep out the wild beasts, we saw the Danakil about a fire. The houses were no more than three feet high and were made of mud and brambles, not being made to live in but just to sleep in at night. They brought us some water in dirty gourds, and although it was muddy it tasted good, for we were thirsty.
The three of us then busied ourselves trying to make friends with the Danakil. I watched one woman milk a goat as though I had never seen it done before and she seemed highly amused at my curiosity. She even let me try to milk the goat, but I did not do so very well. I showed her how my flashlight worked and with it furnished her light while she milked. When she had finished she handed me some milk in a dirty gourd. I took a drink and then handed the gourd to my two companions, who also drank some.
While we sat there we did our best to entertain the children, and although we seemed to be making friends with the Danakil we kept wondering all the time what the next minute would bring. Then our young Dankali friend who spoke Amharic informed us that they would take us to the road that night if we wanted to go now or we could stay in their village until morning and then they would take us to the road. We thanked them and assured them that we would like to go right then. So off we started through the wild Dankali country at night with two natives as guides, both of whom were armed with a spear and a knife, one of them also having a rifle.
We walked and walked and walked. One hour, two hours, three hours, and then we reached a dry river bed. Another such river bed, we were told, and then we would reach the road. After walking another
hour we arrived at the second river bed. While the younger of the two guides ran up the way to get us some water, we stretched out to rest, and as we noted the big Dankali in our midst, with spear and knife and rifle strapped across his back, the thought of these fellows' harming us was becoming more and more remote. In a few minutes the lad was back with some muddy water and then we were on our way again. At last we came to the road. How good it looked!
Our young guide told us that there was a hotel down the road where they would take us in. A hotel? What good news! By this time one of us, Bruno, was so tired he could hardly stand up and so our big Dankali friend gave me his spear and rifle, and, putting his arm around tired Bruno, held him up and assisted him on the road. A far cry, that gesture of friendliness, from the reputation generally accorded the Danakil!
As we slowly hobbled along the Dankali lad ran ahead with a message for the folks at the hotel, and before long we could see the lights of the hotel. A hotel? Well, you would have to stretch your imagination a bit to call it a hotel, as it was but a small hut of one room, built with sticks and branches. A lantern furnished the light and from the inside we could look out through the branches that constituted the walls of this "hotel." Surrounding this hut was a fence of brambles to keep out the leopards, this section being full of them.
Though only a hut that could keep out neither the wind nor the rain it was truly a hotel for us, for it was run by two Amharas, people whose language and customs we understood. Their business consisted chiefly of serving beer, soda and other refreshments to the truck drivers that passed by. These Amharas killed and cooked a chicken for us, all the while stressing the fact that it was nothing short of a miracle that we had gotten out of the Dankali country alive.
We ate and then stretched out on the tables for a nap.
In the wee hours of the morning we heard a truck winding its way up the mountain road toward us, whose driver we signaled with our flashlight. After hearing our story he likewise wondered how we got out alive. He had tire trouble along the way, but rather than take a chance with the Danakil, by stopping to change or mend them, he drove on with flat tires. He gave us a ride to the next village, which was quite some miles away. We were put up in a small tin hut, where we slept until daybreak, at which time another truck came along and took us up near Dessie, where the Americans had a road camp with jeeps and road-building equipment.
It was now almost noon. We obtained permission to take a jeep and a truck and a crew of coolies equipped with picks and shovels back with us to help prepare a take-off strip for the plane. That meant going back to the Danakil again. We loaded up and started out, but at the very next village the police stopped us and said that the governor had ordered that we be provided with police protection. However, we did not want to take them, as we knew that the police would be helpless against the Danakil should they decide to make trouble, and that our best protection was friendship. After much argument we settled for one policeman to go along with us in our jeep.
When we arrived at the spot along the road where we were to turn in to the interior, we found eight Danakil waiting to show us the way back to the plane. We still had some twelve miles to go, and after about three hours of winding in and out, through bushes, over hills, across river beds, time and again the coolies being required to make the way passable with their picks and shovels. The terrain got so rough
that we had to leave the truck behind, the coolies walking while the three of us and the policeman rode in the jeep. At last we came to the plane.
I was under the plane trying to fix a few things that had been knocked loose by the impromptu landing when Bruno and the other companion decided to take the jeep and look for a good clear place to serve as the landing, or rather, the taking-off strip. This left me alone with the Danakil and the policeman, who was trembling with fear. I joined the Danakil and encouraged them to show me how to throw a spear and they put on a show for me, proud of their skill of being able to throw a spear a long distance and hit the target in the middle. They certainly were good shots. They were amused at my efforts, not being able to throw a spear even near the target, let alone hitting a bull's eye with it.
Then everything grew silent as we sat down in a little group and one of the old Danakil, most likely the chief, began to talk to the policeman in Dankali, he having some knowledge of the language. The old fellow began gesturing as though he were cutting up something and I began to grow panicky wondering if he meant me. I asked the policeman what it was all about and really felt relieved to learn that they wanted him to go with them to get a goat, which they would then cut up and roast, so that we could all have something to eat. I thanked him for his kind offer but suggested that he wait until the others arrived. In just a few minutes the other two did return with the jeep, and shortly thereafter the coolies with their Dankali guides. Although the sun had already set we got busy with the work at hand. Having found a good place for the taking-off strip the coolies were put to work clearing it while we pulled the plane over to this place with the help of the jeep. But work soon had to stop, as it became too dark to do anything.
What now? Return to the road and come back in the morning? No; so as to be able to start work again at daybreak we decided to stay and to sleep with the Danakil. While the coolies and the policeman were grumbling about its not being safe, our fears were now passing. Had we not shown the Danakil friendliness and were they not showing themselves friendly? They certainly were.
Being dead tired and wanting to get some sleep myself, I decided to make my berth right in the midst of the Danakil. After all, if they wanted to harm me they could do so regardless of where I slept. This gesture of trust aroused some of them and caused them to make comments to one another, one even handing me a leopard skin and motioning for me to lie down on it, which I gladly did. Noticing one of the Danakil looking in an empty gourd for water, I got up, filled the gourd with the water we had brought along in the pig skins, and handed it to him. He smiled and drank and then passed it on to others. Soon all of us were snoozing away. But after a few hours my traveling companions awoke me to let me know that they had a place for me to sleep in the plane, and so all of us slept in it for the remaining hours of the night. At five we rose and set the coolies to work on the take-off strip.
Because of fear they had not gone to sleep at all and so were only too glad to busy themselves with their picks and shovels. By about eleven o'clock the runway was ready, and, after unloading all the baggage, the plane started out with just one man aboard, it having been decided to have the plane as light as possible for the take-off, the two of us going back in the jeep with the baggage. The plane got in the air before reaching the end of the take-off strip and, after circling a few times, it rose and soon faded out of sight beyond the distant hills.
We went over to the Danakil—there were forty-five of them on hand now—and shook hands. Each one kissed my hand after I had shaken his and then put his hand up to my mouth for me to kiss, which I did. After loading picks, shovels and baggage in the jeep we started back. Upon reaching the place where we had to leave the truck we waited for the coolies, who came followed by some of the Danakil. As we got ready to leave, the Danakil came over to say good-by again and invited me to return sometime.
You may wonder what I did about preaching to the Danakil. I did try to tell them about God's kingdom, Armageddon and the new world. They showed no expression nor did they have any questions. To what extent my remarks had any effect I cannot say, world conditions meaning nothing to them, but at least some of the Danakil heard about God's kingdom and Armageddon.
I certainly am grateful to Jehovah that I came out of the Dankali country unharmed and so still able to serve him.
IN BEHALF OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
A United Press dispatch for May 22, 1954, reported the following: "The Unitarian Ministers Association has gone on record against a proposal to include the words 'under God' in the pledge of allegiance. The association-at its 129th annual meeting in Boston-also protested against a proposed constitutional amendment which would say the United States 'recognizes the authority and law of Jesus Christ.' The association says the 'under God' phrase in the pledge of allegiance violates religious liberty . . . while the constitutional amendment would 'imply a theological test for citizenship.'" TRUE LOVE IS PRACTICAL
"Let us love, neither in word nor with the tongue, but in deed and truth."
—1 John 3:18, NW.
LOVE is, because God is. If there were no
no God. The existence of love is proof that God is. Love could come only from God. The materialistic way that modern-day scientists try to explain all creation is absolutely loveless and can never explain how that heart-warming, motivating quality came to exist. What their theories of creation result in is just a cold universe, without love, without a purpose. Hard, matter-of-fact, physical science is their god, their idol of worship, which has no appeal to the heart. No less void of love are the gods of the pagans. They are gods of passion, but their passion even for sex is not true love. One feature about these gods that makes them unloving is the fiendish, sadistic delight they are said to take in horribly torturing creatures in an afterlife for not pleasing these gods during life now in this wicked world. Which one of such gods sets forth the principle of love as the one living and true God does in his Word, the sacred Bible? Among all the religions built around such gods which one gives examples of love like that of Jehovah God through his Son Jesus Christ? Not one! No, not one of such religions and its literature has the spirit of true Godship working through it as the Holy Bible has. Therefore the Bible must be God's Book, because it teaches and is pervaded with divine love.
of love? Because it was originally the Creator's gift,
God's gift. He endowed
2 How did man come to have this quality
man with it at man's creation. Without it the original, perfect man could not have been made in God's image and likeness. Woman was man's first and closest neighbor, and man was made to love her. The first man showed the affection he had for his wife, illustrating the affection all future husbands should have for their wives, when he said concerning the beautiful woman God gave him: "This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one will be called Woman, because from man this one was taken.' That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh." (Gen. 2:23, 24, NW) Adam and Eve originally had love for God; it was implanted in them. But they stunted the growth of their love for him and for each other by letting selfish desire for something God forbade take possession of them. Contrary to his will and command they ate fruit off the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and bad. (Gen. 2:16 to 3:7) This led to the death of their love for God. Eventually when they paid the penalty of their sin and returned to the dust they could not exercise any trace of such a quality there. (Eccl. 9:5, 6, 10) Furthermore, their sin against their Creator and heavenly Father produced a hater, a murderer, in their first son, Cain.—Gen. 4:1-12.
3 Love of God in the earth did not perish with Adam and Eve. It manifested itself again with their second son Abel, the acceptance of whose sacrifice by Jehovah God incited his brother Cain to murder him.
(1 John 3:12,13) About two thousand years later love more for God than for an only son moved faithful Abraham to offer his beloved Isaac for sacrifice to Jehovah God. The record of this is in the very first book of the Bible, in the twenty-second chapter. The last books to be written as part of the Bible were the apostle John's account of Christ's life and also John's first, second and third letters to Christians, and these four books of the Bible specially talk of this divine quality and how it should be expressed. So the Bible, from its first book through its last book to be written, tells us of love in its purest form.
4 The noblest expression of this quality is described at John 3:16, 17 (NW) by Jesus in these words: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. For God sent forth his Son into the world, not for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him." To deny the gift and sacrifice of God's only-begotten Son is to deny God, to deny the fullness of his love, to deny his capability of going to such depth of love. The gift of his Son for sacrifice was not a barbarism but was an expression than which there could be no greater unselfish affection. Parents that give up their sons to carnal war and the dangers of being killed in it do not think themselves barbaric for having parted with their sons if killed in battle. Smothering their grief they say with patriotic pride that their sons paid the supreme sacrifice for their country. What, then, of God? He saw the need of a human sacrifice for the sake
of men who would like to live forever in a new world, but God did not force his Son into such a sacrifice. God's Son willingly laid down his life, and that without shooting anybody, without threatening anybody's life or without harming anybody, but only meaning to do mankind good. His enemies, not his Father, were the barbaric ones. In spite of his innocence they maliciously had him killed.
5 Did God turn against all mankind because representative members of it did this barbaric deed? No. He accepted the willing sacrifice of his Son's life, for it to be used in behalf of those who would appreciate its value and what it meant on the part of God and his Son. Thus his supreme love in giving his Son was not in vain. It was most practical. The faithful sacrifice of human life also brought the Son the reward of immortal privileges and honors in heaven, and his sacrifice was used in laying the foundation for a clean, upright new world. Denying God's sacrifice of his Son as if it were a barbarism means not knowing God, really not loving him, for God is love. That means he is permeated through and through with it and expresses it perfectly. "He that does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was made manifest in our case, because God sent forth his only-begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent forth his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins."—1 John 4:8-10, NW.
6 Since God went to such lengths to express this quality toward us, it is only reasonable that he commands us to express it to him and to one another. In all the religions of this world, what one is there whose god commands us to love in imitation of him?
In the third book of the Bible, at Leviticus 19:18 (NW), we read: "You must not take vengeance nor have a grudge against the sons of your people; and you must love your fellow as yourself. I am Jehovah." Not just brothers but strangers also must receive this consideration, for God's command to his people was: "Executing judgment for the fatherless boy and the widow and loving the temporary resident so as to give him bread and clothing. You, too, must love the temporary resident, for you became temporary residents in the land of Egypt." (Deut. 10:18, 19, NW) God wants even enemies to be shown that rendering evil for evil is not the best method, for he commands: "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah will reward thee." (Prov. 25:21, 22, AS) Even if the enemy thus treated did not feel hot remorse in his heart and become your friend, yet Jehovah would reward you for obeying his command.
Such divine instructions we sorely need, for they are not part of the religions of this world, and through heredity we tend to be selfish, greedy, inconsiderate, envious, jealous, hateful, unforgiving, vengeful, and the great Hater tries to make us more so. "God is love." Satan the Devil is hate. He tries to make us in his image as his children, just as he made Cain. "The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not practice righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should have love for one another; not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother.
And for the sake of what did he slaughter him? Because his own works were wicked, but those of his brother were righteous." 1 John 3:10-12, NW.
Cain, though Abel's own brother and hence a close neighbor of his, came to hate him. In this world it is not unusual for a person not to have the best of feeling toward his neighbor, even one in the same family or congregation. Favoritism for some neighbors and arrogant contempt for others can exist or crop up through selfishness. This is contrary to one of the two greatest laws. Recommending to lax Christians to quit violating it through favoritism, the disciple James wrote: "If, now, you practice carrying out the kingly law according to the Scriptures, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing quite well." (Jas. 2:1-8, NW) This means loving poor neighbors as well as rich ones, without any favoritism by you in the hope of selfish gain or in the thought that rich ones deserve better treatment. We do not love ourselves less than the rich because we may be poor. The law to love neighbor as oneself is "kingly." What, then, is the greatest law, the law to love God with all we are and have? Upon these all-embracing commands the whole Bible hangs. (Matt. 22:35-40; Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:14) The rest of the Bible shows how we must put love of God and love of neighbor into action. "Let all your affairs take place with love." (1 Cor. 16:14, NW) Showing partiality that discriminates unneighborly against the poor is not obedience to the kingly law. It does not lead to the best results, hence is not practical.
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