Our Responsibility by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

Our Responsibility

By C. M. S.

UPON every individual who accepts Christ there is laid a certain measure of responsibility for the success of the gospel work in the earth. As sentinels, as message bearers, as monuments of what God’s grace can do, we stand before the world. The profession we have made makes us responsible for a share in the great work God has for his servants to do in this generation.

If this mad world had its way, it would rush on to its doom unwarned. It is not looking for God’s warnings. It is engrossed in its own plans and pleasures, and the preachers who love to preach smooth things are tickling the ears of their hearers for the salary it brings. Multitudes are forging on to their ruin, while blind “sentinels” are on the walls. Lips that should be sounding God’s warning are dumb. Hearts that should be thrilled with the approaching culmination of the work of God are willing captives in the toils of this world’s allurements.

Away from these things and out from these conditions God calls his messengers, calls them to be minutemen in these terribly important times. It means something to be a watchman for God—it means something to be a watchman just now when all the forces and purposes of the age are focusing to a climax. And let it not be supposed that the ordained ministry alone must bear the responsibility of carrying out God’s charge to the watchman. Upon every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour rests a responsibility for the giving of the last warning message to the people of this generation. We will not—

“Be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease. Whilst others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas.”

The command, “Go work today in my vineyard,” does not mean to go and rest in the shade and watch the splendid progress of those who are bearing the burden and heat of the day. To those who work is the reward promised; and it is only to those faithful sentinels who give the warning they are charged to give that the “Well done, good and faithful servant,” will be spoken. It is a sacred trust; it is a blessed service; and God’s rich reward will be given every soul who faithfully performs the duties which it involves.

The sentry who in time of war sleeps at his post forfeits his life. He is the watchman for the camp. On his watchfulness and fidelity depends the safety of hundreds or thousands of lives. He holds their lives in his hands.

God has made his servants his watchmen, and holds them responsible for the faithful discharge of the duty to which he has called them. This is his charge: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Eze. 3: 17, 18.

Just so certainly as God had his messages of warning for the people of bygone ages, he has his warnings and messages for the people of this age. As he

held his servants responsible for the giving of his message in those days, and as he is the same yesterday and today and forever, we may know to a certainty that he will hold his servants responsible for the giving of the message committed to them for these days—the days in which his work for man will culminate. The penalty for unfaithfulness in giving the warning then will be the penalty for unfaithfulness in giving the warning message now. That meant the loss of a soul there, and it can mean no less here.

That message-giving watchman must himself watch for the development of God’s work, for the opening doors of his providence, and for the approaching calamities that are surely coming upon the world. He says: “If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Eze. 33:6. It is not enough that the watchman give the warning message given him; he must be awake to every interest of the kingdom he serves, watching every move, and always ready to warn of every advance of the enemy and of every impending judgment of God. If we are servants of the King of kings, then we are watchmen for God, and charged with a responsibility which we cannot evade and be guiltless.

Christ’s personal instruction to his servants is: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13: 33, 35-37. That is Christ’s command; and that makes a watchman of every Christian, for the Christian obeys Christ.

This duty of the Christian as a watchman is further emphasized in the last divine admonition to the church: “Be thou watchful. . . . If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Rev. 3: 2, 3. The unfaithful watchman then comes under the condemnation of his Lord, and is punished for unfaithfulness. The reward of the righteous is not his. On the other hand, Christ declares through his prophet, “Blessed is he that watcheth.” Rev. 16: 15. God’s obeyed commands are always laden with blessings. It is the obedient who are to “have right to the tree of life,” and “enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22: 14.

The command to watch is one of his commandments. The Christian will obey it, and at the same time will be giving to the world God’s warnings for this time. In that work there is power and blessing and eternal reward.

C. M. S.