Glimpses of Truth
Up-to-Date
One day this week I was looking for a story about a particular subject, so I picked up one of my books entitled Knight’s Treasury of Illustrations. What caught my eye was a statement on the front cover in big, bold print: “Fresh, up-to-date illustrations” (3,000 of them). Wow – I’ve found a gold mine. Well, a little less than gold. The copywrite date was 1963. That means that well over ½ of the population was not born yet. And besides, for the next 10 or 12 years, they would not be old enough to know much about these fresh and up-to-date illustrations. Nevertheless, I read a few dozen of these illustrations. Some of them took place long before my 1948 brain started its development. I guess you could say they developed before I did. They told of people who I never heard about. Of course, that’s not difficult. They told stories about places I’ve never been and places I’ve never heard of. They gave stats about the time back then, the 50’s and 60’s. Up-to-date? Not today.
On page 53 I found this bit of information entitled, “Something You Should Know:”
5% of reported church members do not exist; 10% cannot be found; 20% never pray; 25% never read the Bible; 30% never attend church; 40% never give to any cause; 50% never go to Sunday school; 60% never go to church Sunday nights; 80% never go to prayer meeting; 95% never win a soul to Christ.
Today’s stats are probably close to these. Some of the illustrations just don’t change. Ever heard of Daniel Webster? I guess he knew something about words. Well, on page 116 I found a quote worthwhile. Here it is:
I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. The miracles which He wrought establish in my mind His personal authority, and render it proper for me to believe whatever He asserts. I believe, therefore, all His declarations, as well when He declares Himself to be the Son of God as when He declares any other proposition. And I believe there is no other way of salvation than through the merits of His atonement.
Now, I realize that I’m getting older as the days go by and my illustrations may be getting a little outdated, but being old ain’t all bad. That is, according to my “fresh, up-to-date illustration book.” On page 245 (I’m only about halfway through), I found this out-of-date information entitled “You’re Not So Old.”
Are you getting along in years and haven’t yet made a name for yourself? Here are some words of comfort from some research people who looked into the histories of about 400 famous men, each one the most outstanding statesman, painter, warrior, poet or writer of his time. Of the group’s greatest achievements, 35 percent came when the men were between 60 and 70; 23 percent when they were between 70 and 80; and 8 percent when they were more than 80. In other words, 66 percent of the world’s greatest work has been done by men past 60. Feel better?
Like I said, I’m getting older as the days go by and my illustrations may be getting a little out- dated. But my story is as fresh as the new-fallen snow or the 1st flower of spring. My story? Well, it’s His story and it never changes. Truth doesn’t become something else. Something else, everything else, is always changing in order to be up-to-date.
