A great work must be done all through the
world, and let no one conclude that, because the end is near,
there is no need of special effort to build up the various institutions
as the cause shall demand. You are not to know the day or the
hour of the Lord's appearing, for this has not been revealed,
and let none speculate on that which has not been given him to
understand. Let everyone work upon that which has been placed
in his hands, doing the daily duties that God requires.
When the Lord shall bid us make no further
effort to build meetinghouses and establish schools, sanitariums,
and publishing institutions, it will be time for us to fold our
hands and let the Lord close up the work; but now is our opportunity
to show our zeal for God and our love for humanity.
We are to be partners in the work of God throughout
the world; wherever there are souls to be saved, we are to lend
our help, that many sons and daughters may be brought to God.
The end is near, and for this reason we are to make the most
of every entrusted ability and every agency that shall offer
help to the work.
Schools must be established, that the youth
may be educated, that those engaged in the work of the ministry
may reach higher attainments in the knowledge of the Bible and
the sciences. Institutions for the treatment of the sick must
be established in foreign lands, and medical missionaries must
be raised up who will be self-denying, who will lift the cross,
who will be prepared to fill positions of trust and be able to
educate others. And besides all this, God calls for home missionaries.
The workers for God, in the field or at home, are to be self-denying, bearing the cross, restricting
their personal wants, that they may be abundant in good fruits.
A faith that comprehends less than this
denies the Christian character. The faith of the gospel is one
whose power and grace are of divine authorship. Let us make it
manifest that Christ abides in us, by ceasing to expend money
on dress, on needless things, when the cause of Christ is crippled
for want of means, when debts are left unpaid on our meetinghouses,
and the treasury is empty. Do not cultivate a taste for expensive
articles of dress or of furniture. Let the work advance as it
began, in simple self-denial and faith.
Use your means to create, rather than your
influence to diminish, agencies for good. Let no one listen to
the suggestion that we can exercise faith and have all our infirmities
removed, and that there is therefore no need of institutions
for the recovery of health. Faith and works are not dissevered.
Since the Lord is soon to come, act decidedly and determinedly
to increase the facilities, that a great work may be done in
a short time.
Since the Lord is soon coming, it is time
to put out our money to the exchangers, time to put every dollar
we can spare into the Lord's treasury, that institutions may
be established for the education of workers, who shall be instructed
as were those in the schools of the prophets. If the Lord comes
and finds you doing this work, He will say: "Well done,
thou good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy
of thy Lord."
The time has come when no physical, mental,
or moral power is to be wasted or misapplied. The Lord desires
that His people in America shall no longer confine to a few places at home the great facilities
which concern the moral and spiritual advancement of His work.
Those to whom He has given much are called upon to impart. Place
your means now where it will help in giving light to darkened
nations and to the islands of the sea.
Work to Be Done. If families would locate
in the dark places of the earth, places where the people are
enshrouded in spiritual gloom, and let the light of Christ's
life shine out through them, a great work might be accomplished.
Let them begin their work in a quiet, unobtrusive way, not drawing
on the funds of the conference until the interest becomes so
extensive that they cannot manage it without ministerial help.
When institutes and similar meetings are
held, let them not be held in connection with our large, established
churches. Let them give character to the work and spread the
knowledge of the truth in localities where it is little known.
This may not be convenient; but I ask, Was it convenient for
Christ to leave the royal courts? Was it convenient for Him to
leave His honor, His glory, His high command, and humble Himself
to become one with us? He did not go to unfallen beings, but
to those who needed Him most. His example we, to whom He has
entrusted His work, are to copy.
We are to present the word of life to those
whom we may judge to be as hopeless subjects as if they were
in their graves. Though they may seem to be unwilling to hear
or to receive the light of truth, without questioning or wavering
we are to do our part.
There is danger in delay. That soul whom
you might have found, that soul to whom you might have opened
the Scriptures, passes beyond your reach. Satan has prepared
some net for his feet, and tomorrow he may be working out the
plans of the archenemy of God. Why delay one day? Why not go
to work at once?
How the angels must feel as they see the
end approaching, and see so many of those entrusted with the
last message of mercy huddling together, attending meetings for
the sake of benefit to their own souls, and feeling dissatisfied
if there is not much preaching, while they have little burden
and are doing little for the salvation of others. All who are
indeed united to Christ by living faith will be partakers of
the divine nature. They will be constantly receiving from Him
spiritual life, and they cannot be silent.
Life always shows itself in action. If
the heart is living, it will send the lifeblood to every part
of the body. Those whose hearts are filled with spiritual life
will not need to be urged to reveal it. The divine life will
flow forth from them in rich currents of grace. As they pray,
as they speak, and as they labor, God is glorified.
The Workers. It is not the most brilliant
or the most talented whose work produces the greatest and most
lasting results. Who are the most efficient laborers? Those who
will respond to the invitation: "Take My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart."
If men to whom God has entrusted talents
of intellect refuse to use these gifts to His glory, after test
and trial He will leave them to their own imaginings and will
take men who do not appear to be so richly endowed,
who have not large self-confidence, and He
will make the weak strong because they trust in God to do for
them those things which they cannot do for themselves. God will
accept the wholehearted service, and will Himself make up the
deficiencies.
The Lord Jesus takes those whom He finds
will be molded, and uses them for His name's glory, to meet His
own spiritual conception. He uses material that others would
pass by, and works all who will be worked. Through very simple
means a door is opened in heaven, and the simplicity of the human
agent is used by God to reveal God to man.
Have you tasted of the powers of the world
to come? Have you been eating the flesh and drinking the blood
of the Son of God? Then, although ministerial hands may not have
been laid upon you in ordination, Christ has laid His hands upon
you and has said: "Ye are My witnesses."
Those whom God employs as His instruments
may be regarded by some as inefficient; but if they can pray,
if in simplicity they can talk the truth because they love it,
they may reach the people through the Holy Spirit's power. As
they present the truth in simplicity, reading from the word or
recalling incidents of experience, the Holy Spirit makes an impression
on mind and character. The will becomes subordinate to the will
of God; the truth heretofore not understood comes to the heart
with living conviction and becomes a spiritual reality.