They All With One Consent Began to Make Excuse
By E. T. RUSSELL
As people excuse themselves from giving their hearts to God, so in like manner many who profess to love him excuse themselves from laboring with him to save souls. Some excuse themselves from labor because they see something in the way. “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” Like Christian in Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” we need to surmount all difficulties, and pass the lions; for when we reach them, we shall find them chained. In order to be successful in working for Christ, we shall have to overcome all obstacles, and not allow obstacles to overcome us. Some reason that they will do something sometime in the future in the work of soul-saving; but does not the Lord say, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”? And he plainly tells us not to put off the day of labor. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4: 25. Souls are going down to ruin all around us on account of our spiritual indolence and indecision. We reason that we will go to work sometime; but when the Lord says, “Now is the accepted time,” and, “Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest,” why not take him at his word, and now gather fruit unto life eternal? Others reason that they have but one talent, and therefore they are satisfied to bury their talent in the earth. But why do so? Why not with that one talent work for God? Would it not be better to use the one talent in serving God rather than mammon? If we continue to serve the world, in the reckoning day the Lord will say unto us, “Thou wicked and slothful servant.” Matt. 25: 24-30. Some one may say, “I am too weak; I can not do anything for10the Master.” But suppose you are weak, Jesus is anxious to help you, and he says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Through him your strength will be made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12: 9. Others excuse themselves by saying, “I would take hold of the work if I only knew that I could be successful.” You can do all things through Christ strengthening you. Phil. 4: 13. The Lord says, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11: 6. As servants of the Lord, we should not excuse ourselves from labor. God has called us to service, and only those who work faithfully will receive the “Well done” at the coming of the Master. As a people, we need a baptism for service. In fact, this is one of our greatest needs. We need a definite, soul-saving conversion.