The Fall from Office of President Nixon
America’s prestige has suffered a bitter blow in the fall from power of President Nixon. Only a short time before the Vice-President had been forced to resign so this was really a double blow to such a powerful nation as the United States of America. Of course it was the reasons which led to these resignations which had the most seriously damaging effect on America. Men occupying the highest office in state had failed to grasp that the moral standards required of the citizens of a nation calling itself Christian must be even more clearly reflected in the lives of their leaders. It would appear, too, that they had lost sight of the Scriptural maxim that “righteousness alone exalts a nation and that sin is a reproach to any people.” What rendered President Nixon’s action doubly reprehensible was his persistent denial of the truth until circumstances eventually forced him to admit it.
These sad events should be a forcible reminder to us of the fallibility of man and especially of our need of being kept in whatsoever circumstances we may find ourselves. No one has ground for pointing the finger. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
May the new President, President Ford, seek from the Lord, like Solomon, an understanding heart in order to discern between good and bad and rule in righteousness over such a great nation. May he prove more worthy of the trust placed in him than did his predecessor.
Drunkenness Among the Young
A recent report indicated that girls under 20 and boys between the ages of 14 and 17 proportionally contributed most to the increase of drunkenness in England and Wales last year, and we have every reason to believe that matters are no better in Scotland. The above figures given in the report confirm a trend which has been noticeable for some years now, that is, that younger and younger people are becoming addicted to strong drink. Apart altogether from the evil of this particular sin and its effect
upon those who are themselves given over to it, what misery this is laying up in store for families and homes in years to come.
Let our young people give good heed to the solemn warnings of Scripture against the sin of drunkenness and seek the Lord in the days of their youth in order that they may not give their best days to the world, the flesh and the devil. Let them beware of evil companions which is a fruitful source of leading into this as well as many other sins. “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement.” (Eccles 11:10).