"What is wrong with the world, and why the unprecedented increase of crime?" Such is the question in many hearts and minds. Can you answer it? Here is one answer written to us by a young friend, a Jewish naval officer, during the Second World War.
"You will be interested to know that for the third time I have had my ship shot from under me. I am now home on leave, recuperating from injuries. It is hard for any active man to lie still and think, but I believe I have learned a lot during these days, and I wish I could make young America see that these facts are as important in fighting the war as bullets or bombs.
"Like most young moderns I was taught at home and in school that professional and financial success w a s what counted most. I looked forward to being a 'big shot' in law. I had a good family name and enough money and political pull to make a start. I was engaged to a wonderful girl and had fine friends. In fact, I thought I had the world by the tail.
"Then, overnight, I was plunged into the horror of the South Seas campaign. I had always known a well-ordered, refined home—filled with friends and family. Now I was on my own in a scene of chaos and death.
"You may not believe this, but for obvious reasons, we in America are glamorizing the story of army life, and of the juvenile delinquency which is sweeping the country. But the answer is to be found in the old verse, 'Where there is no vision, the people perish' (Pro. 29:1818Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18)). And the tragic truth is, we younger Americans have no lasting vision toward which to steer our lives. We have nothing to withstand the vicissitudes of war, depression, the rising and falling tides of faith.
"And I trace it all to leaving God out of our homes and schools. We have made incredible advances in science and mechanics. But material progress has material limits.
There is a part of our lives which it does not nourish or satisfy. It seems strange that I should be saying these things, for neither I nor my people are orthodox Jews. Our ideals and standards are those of all modern Americans. But I have come to see a terrible lack in the training of America's young people.
"Our modern homes and schools are all wrong. They answer the needs of the body and mind, but they are indifferent to the needs of the soul. My best friend died beside me. For twelve hours he lay there dying in awful pain. No comfort was at hand, I had no medicine to help him. Then I thought of my Old Testament. I read him the twenty-third Psalm. Halfway through I saw his head relax. He was sleeping. He had dropped asleep—smiling—with such peace on his face as I had never seen.
"Our homes and our schools give our children so many things to meet life. Can't they give a boy such peace when he must meet death?"
What an indictment of those leaders who would banish God and His way of peace from this world! Of them all, God has said: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes." Rom. 3:10-1810As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:10‑18).
Reader, can you say, "The LORD is my shepherd"? He bled and died to save your soul; He arose and lives to lead you through life. The Psalmist could say, "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." This he could say because the Lord was his Shepherd (Psalm 23:66Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23:6)). Whatever the turmoil of the world may be, this same blessed assurance and a hope both sure and steadfast will be secured for you if you will but accept Him as your Savior NOW!