BEN F. VICK, JR.
With the pen of inspiration the apostle Paul dipped into the ink-well for his last recorded lines to a young man and wrote the book of II Timothy. He records: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:14-17.)
It makes no difference if one is in the spring or autumn of life, there is profit to be gained from these lines. The one who had endured afflictions, did the work of an evangelist, made full proof of this ministry, was writing inspired advice to another who was actually just beginning “to spend and be spent” for the cause of Christ. One who had “fought the good fight” was writing to the other who would “fight the good fight of faith.” The aged Paul, who had “kept the faith” was writing to the young Timothy to keep the faith.
“But continue.” “But” is a conjunction of contrast. Rather than being like the evil men and seducers waxing “worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (v. 13), Timothy was to continue in what he had been taught. “Continue” is present tense and imperative mood which has to do with action which is in progress. It means you keep on continuing or abiding in what you have learned! Timothy was to continue to persevere, to cleave, to hold fast to what he had been taught.
As Christians we must continue to be faithful and not give up. In 1917 the home of Brother Gus Nichols was destroyed by a tornado, along with many other homes and crops in Carbon Hill, Alabama. But they did not quit. The next spring they planted another crop. They started again.
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re treading seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit—
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.”
Timothy was to continue in the things which he had learned. It is interesting to note that Paul says, “...that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,…” Learning God’s word should begin when one is a babe. Parents sometimes try to excuse themselves from this responsibility by saying the child cannot understand. The inspired apostle stated that Timothy knew the holy scriptures when he was a child, partly grown, a babe. The most impressionable years of one’s life are the first five to eight years. The same word translated “child” in II Tim. 3:15 is translated “infants” in Lk. 18:15.
We learn in two different ways: (1) by word or precept; (2) by deed or example. Children learn in the same manner, except much more quickly. The word “learned” in our text means “to learn, be taught, to learn by practice or experience, acquire a custom or habit, to ascertain, be informed, et al., to understand, comprehend.” (Bagster, p. 257.) What are our children learning by our actions and words?
The young man learned the holy scriptures when but a child. What is learned by boys and girls today? Many can name the professional football teams, but cannot say the books of the Bible. Many can name some of the greats in the basketball and baseball Hall of Fame, but cannot list the faithful few in the Bible’s Hall of Fame. (Heb. 11.)
What are our children learning from us? Do they learn how to drink? Or how to hate and refrain from such poison? The majority of young people with drinking problems learned such from the home. (Prov. 21:1.) Do our children learn how to argue and fuss? Or how to treat each other with kindness? (Eph. 4:32.) Do our children learn how to make excuses and be unfaithful when we keep them home because they have a slight cold or we, a “terrible headache,” or because of “bad weather” rather than go to worship? (Rev. 2:10.) Will our children continue in the negativism which we began by our constant harping on “what’s wrong with the church”? (Eph. 4:29.)
Several years ago the Boulevard Church of Christ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, engaged in a study of “Why Are We Losing Our Young People?” They studied their own congregation and a cross-section of others across the brotherhood. Their figures were staggering. They averaged losing 36 percent of their young people over the years. One year it was as high as 73 percent. It was discovered where both parents were “reasonably faithful,” but inactive in the Lord’s work, 54 percent of the children remained. Where the parents only darkened the doors occasionally, the children remained faithful in only 6 percent of the cases! What’s wrong? Parents put other things before the Lord. (Matt. 6:33.)
Would Paul tell our children to continue in what we have taught them?
To Be Continued