p. 19 | God's Great Plan by E. M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1915

God's Great Plan

By E. M. Graham

It is God's plan that every created being, animate and inanimate, shall receive in order to give again that which has been received.

“Upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, he wrote the message of the Father's love. Now sin has marred God's perfect work, yet that handwriting remains. Even now all created things declare the glory of his excellence. There is nothing, save the selfish heart of man, that lives unto itself. No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground, but ministers to some other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowly blade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf pours forth that element of life, without which neither man nor animal could live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in blessing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thousand worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springs and fountains, receives the streams from every land, but takes to give. The mists ascending from its bosom fall in showers to water the earth, that it may bring forth and bud.”—“The Desire of Ages,” pages 20, 21.

In this statement there is an impressive lesson for us. All nature tells us of our duty to pass on to others the blessings we receive, or, in other words, to be home missionary workers. In this home missionary movement we are being called back to God's original plan, that blessings are given to be in turn given to others. Before Jesus comes to take us to the mansions he has been preparing for us, there is to be a church developed “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any

such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5: 27. Every member of this church will be a home missionary worker, for only such can inherit the kingdom.

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” Matt. 25: 34-36.

May we not also learn a lesson from the manna which was sent down from heaven? “And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank.” Ex. 16: 19, 20. Just as the manna which was to feed their bodies turned to corruption when hoarded, so the spiritual manna which comes to build up the spiritual life will turn to corruption if hoarded instead of being passed on to the souls in need of it. “The message of salvation is communicated to men through human agencies. But the Jews had sought to make a monopoly of the truth which is eternal life. They had hoarded the living manna, and it had turned to corruption. The religion which they tried to shut up to themselves became an offense. They robbed God of his glory, and defrauded the world by a counterfeit of the gospel. They had refused to surrender themselves to God for the salvation of the world, and they became agents of Satan for its destruction.”—“Id., page 36.”

We are frequently grieved by learning that some one who once believed the truth has given it up. May not the secret of this be that such persons hoarded the truth, keeping it to themselves until it became a dead formality? Is it not possible that if they had been taught how to work for others, they might have kept their own faith bright and strong? Here again we may learn a lesson from nature, for a stagnant pool is full of corruption, and is an offense, while a flowing stream is life-giving.

These things are of the greatest importance, for we have little time left in which to recover what has been lost by neglect of them. Many of our churches are almost dead because of their failure to work for others.

Would not a good aim for 1915 be, Every church of Sabbath keepers organized for active service, and every isolated member enlisted in the conference missionary band?

When all Sabbath keepers become living channels through which the blessings of God can flow to enrich the world, they will be prepared for the kingdom of God, and the work of gathering in the honest-hearted will speedily be completed. Then will the end come.

E. M. GRAHAM.