The Inspiration to Finish the Work
By W. A. S.
Surely it is not so much more instruction—to know more—that we, as a people, most need. What we need is the inspiration to rise up and, do what we know. The hand of providence has been preparing the way for this last message to go quickly to all the world in our day. There is no shadow of doubt about it. The generation before the Reformation of Luther’s time was one of preparation for it. It was a period of discovery and change and intellectual awakening. Then the light broke in upon the papal darkness, and a new era opened in God’s work on earth. When Luther was toiling up that stair in Rome on his knees, hoping thereby to get release from his burden of guilt, the Holy Spirit flashed into his heart the words, “The just shall live by faith.” A new man rose from the well-worn stair. Luther had often before read the words, but now the fulness of time had come when the Lord was to have a new work in the earth; and in those words of inspiration was enfolded the life and power of the great reformation. Soon the word of light was to be sent by preacher and teacher, press and canvasser, throughout the whole papal world. Those were stirring times. The pressure of the conflict and the urgency of the message developed hardy, manly faith and undaunted courage. Men believed in their message. God called multitudes into service who cared for nothing save the glorious cause of truth and righteousness. They laid their lives and their all upon the altar, and within a few short years a marvelous testimony was borne to the world. Not the instructive history, merely, but above all, the inspiration of those active times is what we need to-day. The old times are to be lived over again. God has in hand now the finishing of the great Reformation. Light from the Word has broken forth, and we see that the fulness of time has come for the world-wide revelation of the final gospel within the life of this generation, so that “all flesh shall see it together.” The past century has been one of special preparation for the issue that now faces us—the call of God to carry this message to every tongue and people on earth. The whole world has been opened. God is pouring out his Spirit on all flesh. It is not enough to know these things. What is necessary now is the inspiration from on high that shall set every believing soul aflame with holy and untiring zeal to do the work. The awakening word has come to us in the message, “There shall be delay no longer.” This word from the Revised rendering of Rev. 10:6 has been emphasized again and again in our ears of late. No more delay! Thank God for the word! Nothing can turn back this missionary forward movement. The work is to be pushed to a speedy triumph. Let the inspired words that gave birth to the Reformation that day in Luther’s heart be taken as the motive power for the life of justification and righteousness, and then let the heaven-sent word to us, “There shall be delay no longer,” be the ever-ringing call to instant service till the Reformation is finished.