True Education

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«The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple,»-to those who are not self-sufficient, but who are willing to learn.

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What was the work of the God-given messenger to our world? The only begotten Son of God clothed his divinity with humanity, and came to our world as a teacher, an instructor, to reveal truth in contrast with error. Truth, saving truth, never languished on his tongue, never suffered in his hands, but was made to stand out plainly and clearly defined amid the prevailing moral darkness. For this work he left the heavenly courts. He said of himself, «For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.» Truth came from his lips with freshness and power, as a new revelation.

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Christ was the way, the truth, and the life. He who came forth from God to our world gave instruction on every subject about which it is essential that man should know in order to find the pathway to heaven. To him truth was an ever-present, self-evident reality; he uttered no suggestions, advanced no sentiments, notions, or opinions, but presented only solid, saving truth. His life, given for this sinful world, was full of earnestness and momentous results; for his work was to save perishing souls. He came forth to be the true Light, shining amid the moral darkness of superstition and error, and was announced by a voice from heaven proclaiming. «This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.» And at his transfiguration this voice from heaven was again heard, «This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.» Christ brought to our world a certain knowledge of God, and to all who received and obeyed his word, he gave power to become the sons of God.

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Everything not comprehended in truth is the guesswork of man. Professedly high and learned men may be fools in the sight of God. The high and learned statements of their doctrines, however they may please and humor the senses, and though they may have been handed down from age to age, and rocked in the cradle of popular faith, are a delusion and a falsehood if not found in the inspired lessons of Christ. He is the source of all wisdom; for he placed himself directly on a level with the eternal God. In his humanity the glory of heavenly illumination fell directly upon him, and from him to the world. While Christ stood forth distinctly in his human personality, and appealed in striking but simple language to humanity, he was in such perfect oneness with God that his voice came with authority, as the voice of God from the center of glory.

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In the record John was charged by the Holy Spirit to present, he says of Christ, «In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.» This is the most precious unfolding of definite truth, flashing its divine light and glory upon all who will receive it. What more important knowledge can be received than that given in the Book which teaches of the fall of man and the consequences of that sin which opened the flood-gates of woe upon our world; which teaches of the advent of Christ as a helpless babe, born in a stable and cradled in a manger. The history of Christ is to be searched, comparing scripture with scripture, that we may learn the answer to the all-important question, What are the terms of salvation? As intelligent agents, invested with personal attributes and responsibilities, we can know in regard to our future eternal destiny. The scripture record given by John, at the dictation of the Holy Spirit, contains no terms that can not be easily comprehended, and that will not bear the most searching and critical investigation.

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Christ was a teacher sent from God, and his words did not contain a particle of chaff or a semblance of that which is non-essential. But the force of much human instruction is comprised of assertion, not of truth. The teachers of the present day can use the educated ability of previous teachers, yet with all the weighty importance that may be attached to the words of the greatest authors, there is a conscious inability to trace them back to the first great principle, to the Source of unerring wisdom. There is a painful uncertainty, a constant searching for assurances that can be found only in God. The trumpet of human greatness may be sounded, but it is with an uncertain sound; it is not reliable, and the salvation of human souls can not be ventured upon it.

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Christ taught with authority. The sermon on the mount is a wonderful production, yet so simple that a child can study it without being misled. The mount of beatitudes is an emblem of the high elevation on which Christ ever stood. He spoke with an authority that was exclusively his own. Every sentence he uttered came from God. He was the Word and the Wisdom of God, and he ever presented truth with the authority of God. «The words that I speak unto you,» he said, «they are spirit, and they are life.»

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Jesus brought into his teaching none of the science of men. His teaching was full of grand, ennobling, saving truth, to which man’s highest ambitions and proudest inventions can bear no comparison. The great plan of the redemption of a fallen race was brought out in the life of Christ in human flesh. This scheme of restoring the moral image of God in man-debased humanity entered into every purpose of the life and character of Christ. His majesty could not mingle with human science, which will disconnect from the great Source of all wisdom. The topic of human science never escaped his hallowed lips. By believing in and doing the words of God, he was severing the human family from Satan’s chariot-car.

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The first great lesson in true education is to know and understand the will of God. Take the knowledge of God with you through every day of life. Let it absorb the mind and the whole being. God gave Solomon wisdom, but this God-given wisdom was perverted when he turned from God to obtain wisdom from other sources. We need the wisdom of Solomon after we have learned the wisdom of One greater than Solomon.

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For men to learn science through men’s interpretation, is to obtain a false education; but to learn of God and Jesus Christ is to learn the science of the Bible. The confusion in education has come in because the wisdom and knowledge of God have not been honored and exalted by the religious world. The pure in heart see God in every providence, in every phase of true education. They vibrate to the first approach of light which radiates from the throne of God. Communications from heaven are made to those who will catch the first gleams of spiritual knowledge.

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The students in our schools are to consider the knowledge of God as above everything else. Searching the Scriptures alone will bring the knowledge of the true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. «The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.» «Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men.» «But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.»

Mrs. E. G. White.