Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.
POLLUTION
by the late Rev. A. Linford
Man is slowly but surely poisoning himself. A flood of fetid effluent is turning rivers into sewers and seas into cesspools. Chief Public Health Officer for Warrington, Edward Ward, recently warned a conference in London in striking words. He said: ‘The dangerous practice of pumping untreated sewage and industrial waste straight into rivers, lakes and sea has resulted in every major river in Western Europe, including Britain, becoming an open sewer.
In Europe some of the main rivers drain into two inland seas, the Mediterranean and the Baltic. If these rivers are not cleaned up the seas could become as polluted as the 10,000 square miles of Lake Erie, Canada, where sediment of between 30 ft. and 125 ft. has accumulated. Of Britain’s 20,000 miles of river, 4,000 miles are in need of serious attention and more than 1,000 miles are grossly polluted. The Mersey, Irwell and Don are ruined. The Trent, Tyne, Severn, Ribble and Avon are all poisoned to some extent.”
Algae pollution can cause changes in underwater foliage and river life which render our waters unable to recover themselves and so maintain the essential balance of nature. Air pollution has long been recognised as a source of disease and distress. Add to this the assault on the soil and its life by insecticides and chemical fertilizers and we have the three elements of life - air, water and soil - under attack. “We are enveloped in a growing environmental crisis,” said Mr. Ward, “because our technology is poorly suited to the biology of the natural world. There is now not enough air, water and soil on the earth to absorb man’s insults.”
Ecologists, biologists, chemists, agricultural and sewage experts must combine their resources to apply means of conserving the regenerative processes of nature. Cannot sewage plants be developed that release relatively pure effluent into our rivers? May not farmers be encouraged to adopt techniques that will preserve the beauty and wildlife of the countryside? We ought to add pure-water-zones to our clean-air-zones, and give sorely abused nature a chance to recover herself - and save us.
Another pollution vitiates our lives about which we must also concern ourselves - that is moral pollution. Pornography, nudism, sex deviation, permissiveness, defiance of authority, violence, drug addiction, bad language, alcoholism - what a flood of hell’s effluent flows into society! Western culture is in danger of drowning in its own moral sewage. Only spiritual revival can clean out the filth.
Contaminated? There is personal cleansing for you if you come to Jesus Christ. No earthly detergent can cleanse the polluted mind or guilty conscience; but “the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”
THE SAFE WAY
‘Whoso harkeneth unto me shall dwell safely’ - Proverbs 1:32 33
If the infrastructure is unsound the superstructure will be unsafe. So it is with the architecture of living as well as of building. The contrast between those who ‘turnaway’ from wise teaching and those who listen to it is here made plain: the foolish fail, the wise flourish.
Marks of Follv. The thoughtless fool turns his back on wisdom; his self-confidence is amazing. He thinks he knows, but he is painfully ignorant; he fancies his way is best. but he is banefully impotent. Like a feckless idiot he chooses a downhill path because it seems easier to tread, but soon finds himself hurtling to ruin like a van without brakes. What began as a smooth course becomes a hectic chase ending in a fatal crash. Not only is the thoughtless fool self-opinionated, he is also self-confident. His apparent prosperity gives him a feeling of security, but his hope is superficial. The very security which his circumstances create is an illusion. It eventually collapses because it lacks solid moral foundations. Well-being founded on “things” cannot last; well-being fixed on settled “principles” is secure. Goodness can come only to the good, the evil of the wicked will slay them.
Modes of faith. It takes faith to listen unto wisdom’s voice; it calls for trust to follow her holy maxims; for righteousness does not always bring immediate benefits, nor integrity promise of quick prosperity. But it is the ultimates that count; the issues of life that spring from moral virtue are lasting and sure. The mushroom-growth of material advantage cannot compare with the oak-like benefits of godliness. Wisdom’s path is often narrow, rugged and steep, but it is ever upward, and the glorious vision attained by pressing on is more than ample reward for the effort and endeavour. Two outstanding blessings favour wisdom’s sons. First, they dwell safely, their security is eternal. Following the way of truth through life leads to the city celestial and everlasting joys. Secondly, they are “quiet from fear of evil”. The banishment of fear provides a serenity of heart that is of priceless worth. “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keeps the heart and mind in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). In other words we are preserved from anxious thoughts with their tormenting doubts, and from hurtful emotions that destroy happiness. Trusting, we triumph.
PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for the safety of your loving care today. Amen!
