Wait by GEO. A. IRWIN.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1905

“Wait”

By GEO. A. IRWIN.

An Appeal for Promptness in the Lord’s Work

WAIT is a short word, easily and quickly spoken, and yet obedience to it has ruined individuals and nations, and wrecked enterprises and undertakings that otherwise might have succeeded and proved a blessing. There is an old saying that “there is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at its flood, leads on to fortune.” This tide is still flowing, and those who continue to take advantage of it at the opportune moment will be carried onward to success. To work upon the plan that to-morrow will do as well as to-day means failure. “To-morrow may be too late.”

The command of our Leader is, “Go forward.” “Plant the standard of truth in new fields.” “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.” There is no place to stack arms and rest until the victory is won. We must press the battle to the gate. Delays tire the angels. The King’s business requires haste.

You may inquire, Why such haste?—Because time is very short. We no longer have scores of years in which to do our work, and it may not be even a single decade. The Lord of the harvest is saying to hundreds of his people, “Go work to-day in my vineyard.” But how many are saying, “Let me first go and bury my father,” or do this and that; in other words, “Wait till I have a more convenient season”? The enemy will see to it that the more convenient season never comes.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” I do not suppose that he cared where he went, so long as he knew that he was obeying the call, and that God was with him.

The Lord is anxious to grant us his power to enable us to do great things for him, both as individuals and as a people, and the time has fully come when marked manifestations of divine power should be seen among God’s people. They would be seen if we would quickly respond to individual calls and to God’s ever-opening providences where we as a people can and should work. To say that no man hath hired us, or that we have so little to give that it would amount to nothing, is no excuse. The test comes to us every day, and whether it be a call to personal service, or to assist some needy enterprise to the extent of our ability, if we reply, “Go thy way for this time,” we sustain a defeat. “Do something, and do it now,” should be the working motto of every child of God. Should such a motto be adopted and by God’s grace conscientiously carried into effect by every Seventh-day Adventist Christian (be the amount accomplished each day ever so small), the kingdom of Satan would tremble at its base, and soon crumble and fall. If we would act quickly from the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the enemy would get no chance to whisper in our ear the subtle word, Wait. It is delay which opens the way for disaster.

How many times our hearts have been touched by appeals that have been published in our papers for help on the various enterprises authorized and sanctioned by the General Conference or its accredited representatives, and we have said to ourselves while reading, This is a worthy enterprise, and I must respond to that appeal; but instead of doing so at once, we have waited until the impression made by the Spirit has passed, and the call is allowed to fade out of our minds, and the persons burdened with the responsibility and need that gave rise to the call, are allowed to struggle on as best they can, while we go free. Is this following the injunction to bear one another’s burdens?

Now, my dear reader, I have a proposition to make to you. The next time you and I read appeals in the Watchman or the REVIEW AND HERALD, written by Elder Butler or Elder Haskell, or any other interested person, for means to help pay for the church they have recently purchased in the city of Nashville, let us get the victory over the enemy by sending them a donation at once. What do you say? If we do not hear any more from them, let us take this article as an appeal; for I am sure they need our help. They have purchased a church and lot worth fifteen thousand dollars for five thousand dollars. They have made this purchase with the full understanding and sanction of the General Conference. Such a place is needed properly to represent our work in so important a city and center as Nashville. The members of the Nashville church are comparatively poor, and can not pay for this property in the time specified, without outside help. So without further talk, let us gladden the hearts of these two aged pioneers and the Nashville church by sending them a good donation immediately. I am going to. Who wants to follow? Come along, brethren, and let us lift these brethren out of their difficulty, so that we can be free to lift in some other needy place, and thus keep the work moving, and our own souls in the love of the truth, until the end comes, or the Master shall say to us as individuals, “It is enough.”

GEO. A. IRWIN.