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Losing Your Life

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 12, 1914

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 11.

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Losing Your Life

By H. A. VAUDERMAN

H. A. VAUDERMAN
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8: 35.
As we think of these words today, do they apply to us? Are we really losing our lives for His sake and the gospel's? Is it because of our unwillingness to make a living sacrifice that the fullness of the latter rain does not come into our own lives and the lives of others around us?
The average life of service of the gospel minister in America one hundred years ago was only eight years. Those men gave themselves as living sacrifices. Day after day they labored early and late.
As they worked, the fire burned within, and their zeal increased. It was a strenuous life, but they were true to the Saviour's direction; they were giving their lives for his sake. They gave themselves willingly, and were consumed on the altar of service. They soon laid down their work to await the resurrection morning. How few we find like them today!
Christ said: “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” O that we could feel such a fire in our bones! May God give us men today who are willing to lose their lives here in America for his sake and the gospel's.
We are just now in the crisis of our great work. We wait the fulfilling of the promise of the latter rain in order to finish the work quickly. God is calling for volunteers. Let us who feel the burning in our souls, hear this call, and speak out quickly, “Here am I; send me.” Then let us become sober, and plead earnestly with God for the promised blessing. He will give us faith and grace to keep our life on the altar; and as we feel our life burning, we shall rejoice that it is being spent as he directed. Souls will be saved, and many a worker filled with a zeal that comes from seeing another's life on the altar. Then this great gospel message will go quickly, and the grand work will be accomplished in a short time because of the willing sacrifice. “A short work will the Lord make upon the earth.”
One of the great characteristics of this latter-day service will be a complete sinking of our lives into Christ's while we labor. We shall be hid with Christ in God. Self will not be in evidence. In order to keep us humble, much of our influence will not be seen. “Moses wist not that his face shone.” Our life will be hidden behind the mighty power of God. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Brethren, let us fast and pray, let us be desperately in earnest about losing our lives in prayer and service for his sake and the gospel's. Then the mighty power of the Holy Spirit will come upon us in showers of the latter rain, blessing for service.
College View, Nebr.