October 9 - History Lessons

History Lessons

The dreaded words seemed to come at the most inopportune

 moment…

“Good morning, class.  Would you please take out a pencil and a piece of paper?  We’re going to take a pop quiz.”  (Ouch!  History was not my favorite subject and I always questioned its value.)

For some reason, Mr. Meyers delighted in surprising our 9th grade class.

“Question #1 – What institution’s motto was,  ‘Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ is eternal life?”

(Uh-oh!  Any hints, Mr. Meyers?)

“Question #2 - Who said the following:  ‘Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world?’”

(Oh, man…the quicksand is definitely rising!)

“Question #3 – Name the man that said, ‘I believe that the next half century will determine if we will advance the cause of Christian civilization or revert to the horrors of brutal paganism.’”

(Strike three! Oh, Lord, please send an earthquake.)

His voice scratched, “I’ll let you grade your own paper!”

(Mr. Meyers always had a way of adding insult to injury.)

“The answer to #1 is Harvard University.”

(Isn’t that the poison Ivy League School back east?)

“The answer to #2 is Benjamin Franklin.”

(Seems to me he discovered more than electricity.)

“The answer to #3 is Theodore Roosevelt.”

(No wonder they put him on Mount Rushmore.)

I never realized the impact that Christianity had played on our nation.      

These institutions and individuals knew something that we often seem to forget…as the Christian faith goes, so goes the nation.  It is frightening to consider how the mighty have fallen apparently to a state of disrepair.

And the answers to our dilemma seem scarce.

Solomon, usually the giver of wisdom, was the receiver of this sage advice when he was told, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Okay friends.  Take out your pencil and paper.  Who’s the author of that quote?  Unlike Mr. Meyers, I’ll give you a hint.  He loves you more than you’ll ever know. 

Terry Risser

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2014 – Terry Risser