In both Bible Schools of 1958, there was a spirit of love and understanding that dominated the entire proceedings. And of greater spiritual importance was the attitude of all age groups toward the Heavenly Father. Had this been the case in but one of the Bible schools, we could have put it down to a localized spirit of enthusiasm engendered by conditions and environment, plus the association and locale of the assembly. However, to one who attended both schools, this was the most dominant feature with respect to all age groups.
The demonstration of this truth as witnessed at both Idyllwild and Wilbraham is a living testimony that God’s promise will shortly be fulfilled, and He shall come to bless the earth with “an abundance of peace as long as the moon endureth” Psalms 72:7).
Perhaps the most pleasing feature of both schools was the attitude and deportment of the younger people, and the spiritual upsurge and desire to cooperate and learn from the older students. In this writer’s experience, with the background of many Bible schools behind him, this was a most unique and moving experience.
The love that comes from being very close to God permeated through the schools from students to teachers, and the messages of the overseas speakers and brothers extended that bond of fellowship which miles of distance cannot limit.
In the case of the West Coast school, l think we were in closer touch with the hand of God in His marvellous creation, close to the summit of the mountain, and nestled among the pine trees. Truly we could all appreciate with grateful hearts the words of our hymn “0 Master, it is good to be, high on the mountain here with thee.”
Our feelings found expression in the singing of these beautiful words at our first assembly on Sunday evening. When the brilliant sunshine in an unbelievable blue California sky paled into the glorious hues of evening, and the sun began to go to rest, our thoughts turned to another familiar scene depicted to us in God’s Word and again expressed in another of our hymns : “At even ere the sun was set, the sick, 0 Lord, around thee lay. Oh, in what divers pains they met, Oh, with what joy they went away” (Mark 1 :32-34) .
The presence of the gentle Jesus was in our midst. and truly there welled from our hearts the knowledge of how much we need Him. A cry, perhaps not audible, but there nonetheless, came from every yearning heart, “Hear in this solemn evening hour, and in thy mercy heal us all.”
As the sun silently sank to rest, and one by one the stars twinkled in the heavens, we were enveloped in a velvet canopy of night. We held no fear of the darkness, rather it felt as though the everlasting arms of God’s divine love were about us as His children. And with our hands in His, we remembered that “with Him there is no day or night, but darkness shineth as the light.”
The lamps of heaven seemed very close. They had never seemed as close as they did on the mountain top, for there was perfect confidence that God, through His Holy Word, had been with us in our classes during the day. What a great privilege it is to attend these Bible schools ! We realise that these moments will never again be repeated, and that we can partake of them only in proportion to our appreciation of this gift of God. And how we long to share these precious hours of study with those we love!
In the evening hours the affairs and lessons of the day are discussed by many groups of happy brethren and sisters—in the case of Wilbraham, in the cozy confines of Rich Hall and the quietness of the chapel after the daily readings ; at Idyllwild, around a cheery fire in the fireplace of the Administration Building. These wonderful sessions reminded us of the truth of the proverb : “An iron sharpeth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17).
We believe that such memorable get-together are invaluable to the health and success of the Bible schools. Here it is that friendships are made, and bonds of love made stronger. Here personal and grievous problems are shared with others and reach their proper perspective, growing smaller and more insignificant with the knowledge that God knows best, and that “all things work together for good for those that love Him.”
The wonderful experiences and lessons of the day have taught us, among other things, “to dread the grave as little as our beds.” And so it is, as night closes softly down, that a feeling of peace and nearness to God envelops us, and we sweetly sleep in His care, with the knowledge that surely “joy cometh in the morning.” It does, at both Bible schools, for we rise with the morning bell to again study from God’s Word, which is the foremost love of our lives.
Just think, it is but a prelude to that happy time when the morning without clouds will come! Then there shall be no more coming down from the mountain to the mundane affairs of this world in which we must for the present live. We have been reminded of heavenly places in our schools, and there is no reason for us to ever leave those heavenly places.
The spirit of Wilbraham and Idyllwild can remain with us every day of our lives, making us better prepared to live in a manner that will bring us closer to God and help us love each other more. The classes are designed to build up our faith so that we may answer the question asked by Jesus, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth ?” with a vigorous “Yes.”
Undoubtedly this is the vital purpose of the schools, and they are certainly doing their part in this great work. The happy friendships made enduring in the Lord, which in the case of many have ripened into life partnerships, are not the least in importance of the school’s functions, and rightly so, for we have longed for and prayed that our young people will marry in the Lord, and not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. How important it is that we emphasise strongly the wonderful opportunity believers have of carrying out in their married lives the parable of Christ and the church as portrayed so beautifully in Ephesians, chapter 5.
These indelible impressions of both schools could be enlarged upon through the eyes of many who have through the years learned to appreciate their value. It teaches us that there is a strong spiritual and fraternal bond between East and West and that it is not lessened by distance. May that bond grow stronger if so be the years pass before our dear Lord returns. May the objectives of the Bible schools be achieved in us, namely, that we become a people who will be ready for the coming of our Lord, and may the transitory happiness we now enjoy find a complete fulfilment in the Kingdom of God.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One