Finishing God's Work: From the Standpoint of the Home Field
By G. A. IRWIN
G. A. IRWIN
(Reading for Sunday, December 10)
THE book of Daniel is a prophecy covering the history of the world from 606 B. C. to the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom at the end of time. Portions of the prophecy, however, were sealed even to the beloved prophet, “until the time of the end.” This “time of the end” began with the cessation of papal persecution, in 1775,
and the overthrow of that power in 1798. Contemporaneously with the overthrow of this power and the unsealing of the book, we see another power arising, described by the revelator as a beast coming up out of the earth, with two horns like a lamb, which was to play an important part in the closing drama of this world's history. From the time and manner of its rise, and the characteristics of its form of government, it is clear that the United States of America is the power indicated. The unsealing of the book and the time of the end brought into existence not only a new message, or movement,—the advent proclamation,—but it brought also the development of a new nation among the powers of earth, as a field in which the new movement was to grow into strength.
The same God who had indicated by his word and by unfolding events, when the time of the end would come, had prepared a power to be the special custodian and champion of the principles of civil and religious liberty, which had for centuries been ignored and trampled under foot by the papacy and the secular governments of the Old World. The right to worship God according to the dictates of one's own conscience, without fear of molestation, brought to the American shores the oppressed of all nations. Isolated by location from the countries of the Old World, and not mixed up with their politics and diplomacy, with its varied soil and climate, and with natural resources almost inexhaustible, the United States was to become one of the leading nations of this world. Here, where the principles of religious liberty were held aloft, the Lord inaugurated the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-12,—a message destined to break the power of man-made theories, and to enlighten the whole world with its glory, preparing the way for the second coming of Christ.
How fitting that a movement embracing within its scope so many and varied reforms, should have its rise in such a nation, and at a time when its rapid growth and development were attracting the attention of all the civilized nations. What a legacy to a nation and people—to be put in trust of such principles and such a message! That only a few in the beginning accepted the message, and struggled on in poverty and comparative obscurity, is no proof that God did not give the message to the churches and people of this nation, and provide for its promulgation in the multiplicity of inventions for rapid communications and transit, and the number and freedom of its educational institutions. And a failure to sense its responsibility will lead this nation to the repudiation of its principles, and cause it to speak as a dragon in the end.
With the faithful few, however, who accepted the message, as with the disciples of old, God has wrought wonders. From a small and insignificant beginning, this message has spread over this entire nation, and believers are now numbered8by the thousands. Conferences have been organized; publishing houses have been built; schools and other institutions have been established for the education and training of workers and the dissemination of the principles of reform. Nor does this measure what has been accomplished; for while building up institutions and extending the message in the homeland, generous responses have been made to the appeals from across the waters. That conferences and institutions similar to those in America have been established in other lands, and some knowledge of the message has already gone to the civilized nations of earth, is largely due to the efforts of faithful believers in the United States.
While strong conferences and other instrumentalities are rapidly being brought into existence with which to prosecute the work in other lands, the chief burden and responsibility for the promulgation of the message will never be lifted from our brethren in America. A few reasons for the foregoing statement will be in place right here.
First, the message, with its accompanying principles, was given to this nation and people; and according to the prophecy, this nation will take the initiative in making an image to the beast. It will have power also to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed. In the controversy over these principles in the United States, the battle will wax so hot that men who remain loyal will be prohibited from buying and selling, and their property will be confiscated. The denunciation of the third angel is against the image, as well as the beast. The spirit of prophecy, in speaking of the final conflict, speaks of Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New, and this accords with the Scripture which says that the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, which wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
This shows conclusively that the conflict will grow even more spirited in the United States, and will remain so until the false prophet is destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming.
Second, the nation and generation of people that witnessed the signs that were to precede Christ's coming, were to witness his coming; for he said, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Seventy years of the generation are now in the past. We are living on borrowed time, and yet there is still much to be done.
Third, three fourths of all the Sabbath-keepers reported for the entire world are in the United States. These have been blessed with more wealth and greater prosperity in general than have the Sabbath-keepers of other countries. Besides this, there are more facilities for obtaining a training cheaply here.
Accepting all this as true, the question arises, Do we still recognize the obligation, and if so, what are our resources with which to meet it? I answer:—
We have sixty thousand Sabbath-keepers distributed throughout the various States and Territories of the Union. Of this number, 1,150 are devoting their entire time to the work in the capacity either of ministers or of Bible workers, while thousands of the laity are engaged a portion of their time in missionary work of some kind. We have five publishing houses, employing in the aggregate several hundred persons.
FALLS OF THE PARANA. THE NIAGARA OF SOUTH AMERICA
The time of these workers is largely devoted to the publication of the third angel's message in its many and varied forms and languages. We have four hundred and fifty canvassers who are spending their entire time in selling and distributing our bound books, which contain the message in such plain and simple language that even the illiterate can understand. We have twelve colleges and academies, built, equipped, and operated for no other purpose than to educate and train our young men and women for service in some branch of the work. We have twenty-two intermediate schools, and three hundred and ninety-two church-schools, in which our children and youth are being taught the principles of the third angel's message, and the spirit of sacrifice that is preparing them for use in the Master's service, when grown people will be prohibited from speaking.
We have thirty-three sanitariums, in a large number of which are conducted training-schools that are qualifying scores of young men and women each year to enter or establish treatment rooms or cafes in our large cities, or engage in more direct medical missionary work, by visiting the people in their homes to treat the sick, and to teach the principles of healthful living, and the change of heart necessary to fit one for translation when the Lord comes.
Mention should also be made of our 2,162 Sabbath-schools, and our 180 Young People's Societies, because they are agencies that God will use to good advantage in finishing the work in the homeland as well as the regions beyond, in this generation.
Our resources in the form of means are limited only by our lack of faith and consecration. God has placed means enough in the hands of Seventh-day Adventists to finish the work, not only in the United States, but in the whole world in the allotted time. All that we need to do is to bind about our wants, and open the purse-strings and let it go. If we scatter abroad in God's work, we have the promise of increase, not only abroad, but to ourselves at home; for “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” It is not our giving that makes us poor so much as our withholding; neither is it the amount that we are able to give that is going to accomplish the work so much as the spirit of sacrifice that prompts and accompanies the gift. God's blessing upon what we are able and willing to give will cause it to reach and feed the multitude.
But what are all these things—the money, the men, the machinery—apart from the power Christ has provided for9the completing of his work in the person of the Holy Spirit? Without its vitalizing influence and power, human agencies are weak and inefficient. When the entire church, acting as one, and blending in perfect union, becomes a living, active missionary agency, moved and controlled by the Holy Spirit, then the multiplicity of agencies now found within its borders will each contribute its share toward the accomplishment of the one great object for which they were brought into existence, and we may look for the speedy accomplishment of the Lord's closing work, both in this and in other lands.
Years ago we were told that the Holy Spirit awaited our demand and reception, and that when it was received, all other blessings would follow in its train. This statement would be verified now if God's people would put away all dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. If we ask in faith for the promised blessing, it will come. Perfect unity brought the Spirit in its fulness in the early church, and it will bring it in the remnant church. Then how better can we spend the time of this meeting than by doing as the disciples did—put away all differences, be of one heart and one accord? While much has been accomplished, still in the short time yet remaining in which to work, there is more to be done than confronted the disciples after Pentecost. In most of the large cities in the United States only a meager beginning has been made, and there are thousands of smaller cities and towns, and whole districts in the country, where nothing at all has been done. Then when we lift up our eyes and look beyond, we see millions upon millions of people who know nothing of the true God, or of Jesus Christ, his Son, who also must hear the message of his soon coming.
It is the long-suffering of a merciful Heavenly Father that holds back the great day of his wrath. His delay is our test. Who will consecrate themselves and their property anew to God this day? How many are willing to lay their all upon the altar, to be consumed in rescuing souls, finishing God's work, and ushering in his glorious and eternal kingdom?
One soul saved is worth more than a world. Thousands might be saved with the means we are holding back from the Lord's cause, and using to gratify our own selfish desire! Think of it—one soul! It may be that of a heathen, one who is even now living in savagery of the worst form, or it may be one of my own family. It matters not from what nation, kindred, tongue, or people, it is a soul for whom Christ died, and God accepts and saves through my efforts.
To look upon men who have been rescued from sin in its varied forms, by the power of God operating through human instrumentalities; to see them sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in their right mind, and rejoicing in the love and goodness of God, is infinitely more pleasing than to look upon broad fields of growing grain, or pastures full of sleek cattle, or orchards laden with choice and delicate fruit. It is to human souls that our Saviour refers when he says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.”
God's work will soon be finished in the earth. Our opportunities to show our loyalty to God and his cause will soon be over. How shall we relate ourselves to this one? Shall we say to the Spirit that has been striving with us, “Go thy way for this time”? or shall we at this meeting make a full and complete surrender, so that when the Master calls for means or gospel workers, we shall cheerfully respond, “Here am I, self and substance, for use in thy service”?
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”
