SHALL WE VENTURE? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1880

SHALL WE VENTURE?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

The work of the Lord is progressive. It explores new fields, plants the cross of Christ in regions of darkness, and scatters the rays of truth and light in those places where before they were unacquainted with the truth. The cause of God is a battle and a march. It gains new victories and carries the banner of truth into the ranks of the enemy. Formality takes its rise in cool reasoning. "We will go no farther than we can see; we will do nothing but what we can do without any great sacrifice or effort." Like the ten spies who brought back an evil report; while it may be they will acknowledge the land is good, and flowing with milk and honey, unbelief will have in it a consideration for a doubt. "Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great." It looks upon the difficulties by the way; and as a result of these expressions of difficulties, reasonings, and questionings, doubts in the minds of others breed like the swarms of flies in Pharaoh's house. A murmuring is gotten up, and Israel falls because of their unbelief. "We be not able to go up against the people," cries unbelief, "for they are stronger than we." The voice of faith, and what many call venture, like Caleb, says, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it. Their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us."

In God's work will ever be present these two characters. On the one hand men who will reach forward and venture all they possess; their reputation, their influence, their means, and in some instances become poor, to carry the work forward; these men will have the privilege of seeing the work prosper. They will have their names immortalized in glory. There will also be those who will question, reason, and doubt, ever fearful of going too fast, always throwing discouragement into the camp of Israel. They will also have their reward. Anciently God's word to them was, "Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me, see it."

It was so in Luther's time. "They will burn your body to ashes as they did with John Huss," said some to Luther when he was resolved to obey the summons to go to Worms. But his noble reply was, "Though they should kindle a fire the flames of which reached to Heaven, I would walk through it in the name of the Lord; I would appear before them; I would enter the jaws of this behemoth, and break his teeth, confessing the Lord Jesus Christ." Another said to him, "How can you hope to succeed?" "I trust in God Almighty, whose word and commandment I have before me." When he was about to enter the city where they chanted his funeral dirge, his old adviser and best friend became frightened and sent him word, "Do not enter Worms." But Luther, undismayed, turned his eyes upon the servant and said, "Go and tell your master, that even should their be as many devils in Worms as tiles on the house tops still I would enter it." Here was faith not only abstractly in God but in the work for that time. When our cause is good, and we have faith in it, it expands the heart and gives courage to those whose lives are devoted to its interests.

God will have men who will venture anything and everything to save souls, and carry forward his work on earth. Those who will not move until they can see every step of the way clearly before them will not be of advantage at this time to forward the truth of God. There must be workers now who will push ahead in the dark as well as in the light, and who will hold up bravely under discouragements and disappointed hopes, and work on with faith, with tears, and patient hope, sowing beside all waters, trusting the Lord to bring a glorious result. God calls for men of nerve, of hope, faith, and endurance, to work to the point. Onward and upward, is our motto. Forward, march, should be heard all along the line. God has spoken concerning his truth and work. Now is the time to lift as never before, God has gone before us. His providence leads the way and we should walk in it, and good will be the result.

S. N. HASKELL