p. 9 | An Inspiring Outlook by Francis M. Wilcox

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 8, 1912

An Inspiring Outlook

By Francis M. Wilcox

To this people has been committed the giving of a great truth to the world. Christ is soon coming, and to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people the proclamation is to be heralded in this generation. From a human standpoint the outlook would appear most forbidding. How can a hundred thousand believers accomplish this mighty result during their lifetime? If, indeed, the work depended upon human effort, we could well be discouraged; but though our numbers are small, and human effort at best is feeble, we are the bearers of mighty principles, and a mighty God stands back of this movement, pledging for its strength his own infinite power. We are not left to our own wisdom or ingenuity. It remains for us only to place ourselves in the hands of God, and become willing instruments for him to use as his providence shall indicate. We may furnish the feet to carry his message, the tongues to speak his words, and the hands to do his bidding. This is our part. He himself will take the mighty truth borne by such humble instruments, and clothe it with his own great power.

It is most encouraging to-day to consider the spirit of evangelism which is taking hold of the hearts of our people, and to see the scores of young men and women who are giving themselves for service in the great world-wide work. We were forcibly impressed with this recently in attending a meeting of Missionary Volunteers at the Foreign Mission Seminary, and in hearing scores of young men and women tell how the Spirit of God had filled their hearts, and they had received, in different but unmistakable ways, a clear, convincing call to the work of the Lord. One young couple, who had recently completed their school work in the far West, were burdened for work among the Japanese, and they had laid aside every worldly prospect to answer that call. Several others told of how God had impressed their hearts with the needs of the great Indian field, and they had come to the Foreign Mission Seminary to better fit themselves for work there. A brother from Kansas told of the manner in which he and his wife had been called of God to take up the work, and they are expecting soon to enter the great Spanish Catholic countries. One spoke who had been for seventeen years a Methodist missionary in India. While on a furlough to this country he had received the truth through the humble effort of one selling our publications. He is now attending the Seminary to better acquaint himself with our work, that he may return again to the land of his adoption to present the gospel in greater fulness. Others spoke of like calls to other fields.

This experience in the Foreign Mission Seminary can no doubt be duplicated in many of our higher schools through the country. A recent letter from Prof. E. C. Kellogg, president of Walla Walla College, brings a photograph of the Foreign Mission Band in that school, comprising a large number of young men and women who have dedicated themselves to foreign service. Similar bands have been formed in Union College, Berrien Springs, and other schools. In the dedication of these fresh young lives to the cause of God lies the hope of the completion of this message, and this is but an earnest of what we shall see in the future.

There will come a blessed time, we believe, when the hearts of God's people as one man will be turned to the Lord, when the lives of young and old will be laid upon the altar of service, when in answer to the call of God there will arise from every heart the cry, “Here am I; send me.” God's work is hastening to a speedy triumph. Let us no longer delay to throw ourselves into the channel of his blessing. We can not afford to wait, lest the pillar of God's providence be moved forward and we be left behind. We must move quickly in these times if we would keep step with God's advancing providence, and triumph with his work in the near future.

F. M. W.