Weekly Reading: Chapters 7 & 8

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Welcome back to Character in Crisis, and the battle that begins every Christian soldier’s narrow path! Today’s story focuses on chapter 7 and unfolds with two noteworthy events; the summer has ended and the classroom seats are waiting to be filled. Let’s begin!

“They must have had an earthquake down at Lewis’s this morning!” spoke Howard Minturn. “The first bell has not rung yet, and there comes Tip up the hill.”

Sure enough, there is our hero, Edward Lewis, ready to take on school, equipped with his new faith—and his new Lamp.

“Hallo, Tip! How are you, old fellow?”

Tip’s heart sinks as he sees his friend, for he realizes the temptations that lie before him. Surely Bob would expect Tip to join in all his fool-hardy ways.

“The two had been linked together all their lives in every form of mischief and wrong—they seemed almost a part of each other.”

But the link was severed; “Behold, old things are passed away, all things have become new,” (2nd Corinthians 5:17).

Noticing an unusual lack of mischief from Tip, Bob Turner turns on him, making his old friend the special target for his impish teasing. The bright, hopeful day soon turns bitter. Ceaseless pranks wear at Tip, his heart’s instincts mock his effort, repeated mistakes plague his spirit, and at last, “he grew utterly provoked and disheartened, and would fairly have cried, had not Bob been beside him to see his tears, and grow merry over them.”

Finally, it all becomes too much for Tip, and he whispers in anger to Bob. Alas! The teacher marks Tip as the first boy with bad conduct, commenting aloud that he was not surprised in the least. Tip desperately tries to focus on his studies, but hopelessness and anger rise in swells within him.

And just as it seems like things couldn’t get any worse—

Thwap! A paper ball hits the teacher right on the forehead!

“Does anyone know who threw that ball?”

“Tip Lewis threw it, sir.”

Now the challenge, the confrontation—Tip is accused.

“Today, for the first time in his life, he had received a punishment which he did not deserve; this day of all others, in which he had tried with all his heart to do right.”

Oh, how trying it is! And so many voices harassing him—the cry of his affronted heart, the mocking taunts from Bob Turner, and the blatantly false accusation culminating in cruel irony as Satan works with lies to dissuade his young heart. And Tip has neglected his Lamp…

But then,

“softly there came another voice knocking at Tip’s heart. ‘Jesus died, you know, and He is your friend…God has promised.’”

God has promised. Hmm.

How can we bear persecution and the weighing voices within and without? When God’s voice seems crowded out, His promises ring true. He reminds Tip,

“Fear not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name” (Isaiah 43:1).

Those words are a healing balm to Tip’s troubled soul. He kneels at last to pray, and his soul gains the victory.

He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty?
(Isaiah 50:8-9a)

But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior;
so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
(Jeremiah 20:11a.)

I hope these words have encouraged you, dear reader! God is faithful—trust in Him!

Until next time,