God's Work Closing by W. H. BRANSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 17, 1914

God's Work Closing

By W. H. BRANSON

W. H. BRANSON

For years we have preached that the end would come in the present generation; and yet as the generation spoken of has been passing away into the tomb, some have begun to lose faith and to feel that the time would be prolonged. Many of our people who in the past have been very ardent and zealous in the work of God have settled down and are laying their plans for more comfortable homes for themselves and their children. Some are adding acre to acre and dollar to dollar, and seem to have forgotten that we have for years been standing on the very threshold of the eternal world.

What a clarion call to Seventh-day Adventists is the present war which now involves all Europe! We have long preached that the European powers would be thrown into great conflict, and that the Turkish Empire would be dried up as a result. If the present war continues, it will in all human probability result in the expulsion of the Turk from Europe and the destruction of his government. But this event will be a sign to this people that their work is over. Then Michael will stand up, and the door of mercy will be closed forever. The rest of the nations will be drawn into the struggle to fight the last great battle.

Do these things mean anything to you? For years the Lord through his servant has been appealing to this people to sell their property, all they can possibly do without, and put the money into the work of God. Yet we still cling to it. I fear that many will wait a week or a month too long, and will find after it is too late that it is impossible to sell. How could our brethren in Europe sell their property today? If we wait till this country is also drawn into the struggle, how shall we sell then? There is no sale for property in times of war; and when once this nation is drawn into the struggle, we need not look for peace here again. Now we have the only favorable time we shall ever have to sell what we have and give alms, and thereby lay up treasures in heaven. Notice some of the stirring statements made recently by the servant of the Lord to this people:—

“And now, instead of seeking expensive dwellings here, we should be preparing to move to a better country, even a heavenly. . . . Our missions must be sustained. New missions must be opened. To carry forward this work successfully will require no small outlay. . . . Let not your property be tied up in worldly enterprises so that this work shall be hindered. Get your means where you can handle them for the benefit of the cause of Christ. Send your treasures before you into heaven. The members of the church should individually hold themselves and all their possessions upon the altar of God. Now, as never before, the Saviour’s admonition is applicable; ‘Sell that ye have, and give alms.’ Those who are fastening their means in large houses, in lands, in worldly enterprises, are saying by their actions, ‘God cannot have it; I want it for myself.’ They have bound up their one talent in a napkin, and hid it in the earth. There is cause for such to be alarmed. Brethren, God has not intrusted means to you to lie idle, nor to be covetously retained or hid away, but to be used to advance his cause, to save the souls of the perishing. It is not the time now to bind up the Lord’s money in your expensive buildings and your large enterprises, while his cause is crippled and left to beg its way, the treasury half supplied. The Lord is not in this way of working. Remember the day is fast approaching when it will be said, ‘Give an account of thy stewardship.’ Can you not discern the signs of the times?’”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. V, page 465.

We see the war cloud bursting over the whole world. Our work is closing. Let us take the warning and give our all to God.