A Message for the Blind
By L. N. Muck
THE field most neglected is the one we should enter first of all. Perhaps you say, Which field is the most neglected? which is the most needy one? For more than half a century the third angel’s message has been sounded to the people in America, to those who enjoy all their senses. Means have not been spared. Thousands of volumes have been printed and scattered far and wide, bringing the message within the reach of those who see. But thousands who can not see are not permitted to read the blessed gospel for themselves. This class of people has been overlooked. They have been sadly forgotten. Many people look upon the blind as an inferior class. They do not consider their condition. But what is the message due them to-day? We as a denomination believe that all definite periods of prophetic time are in the past, and the only work that remains undone is that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached unto all nations as a witness, and then shall the end come.” We are told that the “true message for to-day is one grand harmony of truth,” the keynote of which is, “There shall be delay no longer.” We believe that Jesus is soon coming, is coming in this generation. If we are the true disciples of God, if we are really his chosen people, if we believe that the Lord is soon coming, then we are simply living in harmony with the wishes of God. Each individual should be to-day as John of old—one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord. In order to meet what is just before us we need preparation. We need to seek God earnestly. We need to stand blameless before him. If we are thus living, we are able to point others to the crucified Christ. A number have inquired, Why do the blind need special attention at this time?—Because little or nothing has been done for them. God is no respecter of persons. He desires all to be warned, to hear the glad tidings that the Lord is soon coming; that the great consummation day is just ahead. That there shall be delay no longer is a message for the blind as well as for the seeing. The message for the blind is none other than the third angel’s message, and we must give it. Can we not sense the times in which we are living? Are we not willing to direct our steps to those nearest our door? If we realize that we are living in the time of the promise, let us tell it to our neighbors. Let us throw out the life-line to the blind. We believe that the Lord is not pleased with our attitude toward the blind. Thousands of them are without hope in the world; they know not Jesus; they are waiting for us to go to them; we must go quickly. This field is easily worked, and the harvest is ready for the sickle. Where are the reapers? Who will go for us? Can we not join with Isaiah in saying, “Here am I; send me”? Let us not only desire to obtain everlasting life for ourselves, but may our hearts yearn for those who are in darkness, for those who do not enjoy the blessings that we enjoy. Let us listen to these inspiring words: “I see every eye sparkling with the fulness of joy that runs within. I see on every cheek the bloom of eternal youth and everlasting health. I see every limb lithe and strong. I see the lame man leaping as an hart. I see the blind gazing with rapture on the celestial glory. I see the deaf enchanted with the heavenly melody. I see the dumb joining with loud voice in the anthems of praise.” After reading these words, are we not inspired to give our lives unreservedly to the service of God? Can we not work in a special way for the unfortunate who are among us? We have on our list at the present time a number of persons who are not only blind, but are also deaf. These persons are appealing to us for literature, and we must supply their needs. Just think of the condition of these dear ones, not only dwelling in darkness, but also in absolute solitude. They can neither see nor hear; they have no way of communication with the outside world. Helen Keller is the most fortunate of those who are deaf and blind. She is well cared for by friends, but there are many others who are forgotten. Many of these are in the poorhouse, with no one to look after them, not even to give them literature. To reach these persons, and to do what is expected of us, we must have assistance. We must have the co-operation of the people of God. We are also supplying the institutions for the blind with copies of the Christian Record. These institutions are not prepared to pay for this kind of literature. In order to carry on this work successfully, the different conferences and tract societies must come to our aid. We believe that each one will gladly contribute to this work. We quote the following paragraph from a communication just received from one of our blind readers:— “DEAR EDITOR: Your magazine is a great boon to all its readers, and we feel much indebted to you for your efforts in our behalf. I have been a reader of the Record for several months, and desire to send you a small contribution toward its support.”
We are receiving constantly letters of appreciation from our blind readers, and they are doing all they can to aid us in this noble work. Let our seeing friends do what they can. We are watchmen on the walls of Zion. May we so order our lives before God and man that this be not said of us: “And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.” Eze. 33: 32. We feel called upon to bring the needs of the work before the brethren and sisters, and we must continue to do this until we receive the necessary means19with which to carry forward this work. “Where are the reapers? O, who will come
And share in the glory of the ‘harvest home’?
O, who will help us to garner in
The sheaves of good from the fields of sin?”
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