Dear Friends:
Things have also been changing on the home front here at Fuller Ave. Rev. Veldman received and accepted the call of our Fourth Church and on July 23 preached his farewell sermon, at which time we also had a letter of Rev. De Wolf that he accepted the call of our Fuller Ave. congregation. Rev. Veldman bade the congregation a hearty farewell using the words of Rev. 22:21 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” I was thinking how beautiful it is when one can part with such words as these, and to say this is not just a mere wish but a statement of fact that cannot be changed. For I know that it is alone this grace that can keep you amidst the trials and temptations and can enable you to endure the absence from home and dear ones, for this grace is sufficient.
The world will try its utmost to deprive you of this grace that there is in Him. for it would have nothing of Christ through whom this grace is given to all God’s children. The words spoken by the wife of Pontius Pilate “have thou nothing to do with this righteous man.” is also the prevailing spirit around about you in whatever branch of service you may be in. Oh. I know, this same evil tendency is present in civilian life also, but when one thinks of you young men alone in the service and separated from home, church, and friends it is certain that you must feel it even more keenly.
But just at a time like this the evil advice of the world must be ignored, for in the measure that you listen and give in to such advice in that measure will you lose the very ground of your steadfastness in Him. Oh. I know, it would be so easy to follow the world and ignore the Christ but, I know also that we can depend upon this Lord for help and guidance and therefore I surely urge you not to listen to the world when it says “Have nothing to do with this righteous man.”
After all this advice is so very foolish. Just stop and think! Have nothing to do with this righteous man? Then with whom must we have dealings, if I must shun Him sent from God?
The world will answer “Deal with us and set your heart on things of this earth, see all the pleasures and joys you can have in her service, and alas, how many a young person is won by this siren song of the world. For they say, “If you listen to that righteous man, you can have no part with us.”
So boys, you must take a stand for the Christ of the scriptures for after all He is your only hope also during your period of service in the time of war. Surely, we will have everything to do with Him because he is the fairest among ten thousand. He is altogether lovely.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. A. Van Tuinen