The Demands of the Hour Call for Evangelistic Colporteur Work
By R. D. QUINN
The great work which Jesus began, and which was continued by the apostles, is still going forward. History is still being made. What kind of history is being written in heaven regarding our work? At the close of Christ’s ministry he declared that he had finished the work given him to do. Paul could say, “I have finished my course.” It is written that “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.” We are slow to realize that Christ is still waiting for us to finish the work. In this we are like the disciples, who expected Christ to do everything, and so their last question was, “Wilt thou at this time?” Christ replied by saying, “Ye shall.” How shall we finish the work? is still the most important question of the hour. It seems hard for us to realize that we must actually do the work. Theoretically we have believed this for nearly a generation, but the millions of unwarned souls in the home and foreign lands are witnesses against us. There must be the dawning of a new day in this message. There must be a new experience. There must be a vitalizing power of the Spirit of God upon the servants of God, or the task is hopeless. Now where do we stand? Reckoning up the time, we see that we are living more than seventy years this side of the signs given in Matt. 24: 29, 30. I do not see how any of us can face this situation without being deeply impressed with the call that is in the very situation itself. The question every one of us must ask himself is, How much longer can we delay the message and still see its finish in the few brief years that we have left? In view of the responsibility that now rests upon every one of us who knows the truth to make it known to others, every one must say that nothing less than the absolute and unqualified surrender of our lives to God in loving service will meet the situation. The Acts of the Apostles is a record of how the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven in their day. The same devotion, only in greater degree, must be seen now. There is nothing in the teaching of Christ or the apostles that would lead us to conclude that the preachers were to do all the work. Jesus associated with him not only twelve ordained ministers, but seventy other missionaries; and not long after Pentecost we find that thousands were scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the word. In the army of the remnant not one untried soul will be found in the ranks. Every soldier must have tested the weapons of his warfare upon the citadel of sin in his own life first, and when he has found what the truth of God can do for his own soul, he will be able to wield the sword of the Spirit mightily for God in the salvation of others. How the work was to be finally finished was told us many years ago in Great Controversy, in the chapter entitled “The Final Warning.” Here are a few paragraphs:— “Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to his service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of his Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. . . . By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these.” “The angel who unites in the proclamation of the third angel’s message is to lighten the whole earth with his glory. A work of world-wide extent and unwonted power is here foretold. . . . The work will be similar to that of the day of Pentecost. . . . The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. . . . Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side.” Then, again, we find in the last published Testimony the same thought emphasized; namely, that a large number of workers would be enlisted in the final finishing of the work. The following brief paragraphs in Volume IX, page 126, and in Stewardship Series, No. 1, are to the point:— “In visions of the night representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God’s people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even4as was manifested before the great day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families, and opening before them the Word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with a heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. I heard voices of thanksgiving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844.” “The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers. The truth is soon to triumph gloriously, and all who now choose to be laborers together with God will triumph with it.”