Why Men Are Called Into Service by R. C. PORTER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 10, 1914

Why Men Are Called Into Service

By R. C. PORTER

UNTO the wicked the Lord says, “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes?” To men preparing for gospel work, Peter says, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15.

When Isaiah had experienced a change of heart, the Lord called him into service that he might teach others how to gain the same experience. Isa. 6: 5-8. When Saul of Tarsus, in humiliation, after being stricken down by the great light which enshrouded him, shutting him in with the presence of Christ, asked, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” he was called to become an apostle to the Gentiles. When Nehemiah had fasted, prayed, and sought God with weeping on account of apostasy and calamities that had befallen Israel, he was called to lead them in a work of reformation.

It was not by any scheme of his own or by any confederacy of his friends that Nehemiah was called to his work. It was all accomplished very simply through one of God’s remarkable providences. The call of Nehemiah to his work, as recorded in the second chapter of his book, is a most interesting story. After his period of fasting, prayer, and weeping, he resumed his duties as usual. As he served wine before the king, the king observed that a change had taken place in Nehemiah’s appearance. His countenance, usually bright and cheerful, appeared sad and serious. Out of this experience God was preparing the way for the recovery and restoration of Israel. “Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, and said unto the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchers, that I may build it.” Neh. 2: 2-5. The heart of the king had been fully prepared for the occasion, and he at once made full provision for the restoration

of the city and government of Israel in Jerusalem, and commissioned Nehemiah with full authority for the work.

God’s providences are remarkable in that when he calls a man to a work, he at the same time works upon the hearts of others who must cooperate in his plans, so that there is no failure in his program. In the days of Daniel, Michael was sent to work with the “prince of the kingdom of Persia.” Dan. 10: 13. When, after Nebuchadnezzar’s reason had been dethroned and for seven years he had eaten grass as the beasts of the field, the time drew near for his restoration to the kingship, it would seem natural that his lords and the people would resent having a madman return to the throne. But through the influence of divine agencies that were working to prepare hearts for cooperation with the Lord’s plans, he had prepared the people for the occasion, and at the appointed time Nebuchadnezzar said: “At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Dan. 4: 36, 37.

This is further illustrated in the case of Joseph, who was sent into Egypt to preserve the lives of his father’s house during the terrible famine that devastated their land. Gen. 45: 5-8.

In all these instances God chose humble men of prayer, who had a soul burden to be right with God themselves, and a deep concern for the prosperity of his people. They spurned the honor which position offers self-centered hypocrites, and were pressed beneath the burden of the great cause of their Master, as the cart is pressed beneath the sheaves. They labored for no other reward than to rescue the perishing.

God’s Call Today

God is calling for such men today to “make up the hedge, and stand in the gap,” that his people may stand in the great last-day conflict with the powers of darkness. This is our day of opportunity. How shall we meet it? Shall we weep, fast, and pray in preparation for the great work to which we are called? Nehemiah realized that in making up the breaches in the wall around Jerusalem, and in rescuing Israel from apostasy and captivity, he was engaged in a great work. In the work of recovering modern Israel from an apostasy in which a breach has been made in the law of God, we are confronted by the most stupendous task ever committed to any

people. It is the climax of the conflict of the ages. Every one who properly senses the gravity of the call and the greatness of the work, will seek wisdom of the Great Counselor, and a preparation by fasting, weeping, and prayer, for the finishing of the great work which divine Providence has given us to do, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. The exhortation to preparation for our work is most striking: “Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord, Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” Joel 1: 13-15.

The second chapter of Joel continues this urgent call to preparation for service, and records the results. The third chapter closes the scene with Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. We face responsibilities overwhelmingly great; but God is greater than our responsibilities. Connected with him, we cannot fail. R. C. PORTER.