IMPROVE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES.
By A Worker
How few there are who fully, or even partially appreciate the importance of embracing every opportunity of doing for the Master. "Others seem naturally qualified to work in spreading the truth, but I—what can I do?" some of us ask and many more feel. Do much, I would answer, if you will but improve the opportunities almost hourly given you. Some of the most remarkable men the world has ever seen have been those who have not possessed inborn talents for their specialties in life, but are those who have been apparently behind the average, and who have by embracing proper opportunities at last gained pre-eminence, verifying the proverb: "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." So do not let any feel that they have nought to do, while others are at the front, and a perishing world surrounds them. Cast thy bread upon the waters, and let the Lord see to its return. I will relate some instances which have proved opportune in handing out reading matter. Some time ago I met a German in a certain inland town, and passed a few kind words with him; a few days since, while waiting for a train he came to me, again introducing himself. I saw him but for a few moments, when we separated, he carrying with him some reading matter in his own mother-tongue. Yesterday while comfortably seated in a local train, this same individual again caught sight of me as he entered the car. Immediately his face was all aglow and he quickly made my way to my seat. Grasping my hand he eulogized in the highest terms what I had given him to read, and begged for more of the same, telling me at the same time that he had seen the truth of our reasoning and had in turn presented it to others, having what I had given him to substantiate his assertions. Again, while conversing with a business man, the subject of spiritualism was introduced. I saw an opportunity and improved it by telling him my convictions, and unmasking the evil as best I could. Only a few days passed before its fruit was seen; a stranger entered to purchase of this gentleman, and incidentally asked before leaving, if he had taken any interest in the spiritualist manifestations of these days, and went on to state that the Sunday evening previous he, not having anything else to do, had wandered into one of their meetings and had come away convinced regarding their merits and truthfulness. My friend, anxious to undeceive him, spoke at length regarding its Satanic origin, and, as he was concluding his remarks, I fortunately entered and soon supplied a quantity of reading matter bearing on the subject, which was received very acceptably. How many incidents of like nature I might go on to give; and still I see constantly, with regret and remorse, the results attending the neglect of opportunities I might have improved. If we think we have no opportunities we may make the matter a subject of prayer, and ask for wisdom and grace, necessary to enable us to see and embrace them. Well I remember some two years ago, while crossing the plains, of going out on the top of the train before retiring. The night was clear, the stars bright, and the sky a deep azure blue; as I surveyed the scene, my soul rose in gratitude to God for all his manifold blessings; and this feeling became more and more intense as I looked back over my past life. I poured out my soul to my Creator, asking him to give me to understand my opportunities and to enable me to embrace them, if he could but trust me with such commissions. I then went below and entered the first car, the occupants of which were exceedingly rough, and generally recognized as hard customers, and so avoided. My opportunity came sooner than I expected, in an individual coming to me with a whisky bottle, proffering "a drink." I embraced this opportunity to introduce the temperance question, in which all became interested. The conversation by degrees led to religious topics, until it became so interesting that some in the car who had retired, arose and joined the meeting. There were two or three who seemed religiously inclined, and they gave in their testimonies with such earnestness as to produce an impression on the minds of the others. Then one by one those rough fellows, many of whom were drinking the dregs of a wasted life, related their experience, going back to innocent childhood, and tracing their course down to their present condition. All of the better feelings were aroused, and pure, tender sentiments found voice that had for years lain dormant. This interesting conversation continued until between one and two in the morning, when all adjourned, previous to which I told them how my prayer had been answered. I have since met several of these men in different parts of the country, and they have acknowledged by the hearty grip of friendship that the effect of former talk had not been undesirable or lost. So we see that in all walks of life we have opportunities which we will do well to improve. And as we see the signs of the approaching day of Judgment, let us be up and doing. There are thousands yet to be gathered into the fold, and how diligent we should be in faithfully discharging this trust devolving on us. But a little further on, with the eye of faith, we may see ourselves in Jerusalem the Golden, and as our thoughts soar to our eternal abode, do we not desire to see those there who have been brought in through our instrumentality? those who will thank us throughout eternity? Yes indeed! My brethren let us be aroused to the importance of the times, and work early and late while the time of probation lasts. Yes, work, for the night is coming when man's work is o'er. Work, work for God, and toil a world to save.
Work, work for God, nor heed the coming grave;
The time, the place, the way, he knows them all.
Do well thy work to-day, and wait his call.
A WORKER.