What Are We Doing? by Mary A. Martin

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Mar 25, 1875

What Are We Doing?

By Mary A. Martin

WHILE at our good camp-meeting last fall I heard several declare their intention of living nearer to God and devoting their lives more fully to his service, myself among the rest. But I find, though the Spirit be willing, the flesh is indeed weak. We read that it is better not to vow to the Lord than to vow and not pay. As it was the first general gathering of our people that I had ever attended, although I had been a Sabbath-keeper for three years, it greatly strengthened my faith to see so many earnest souls trying to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh, and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. I felt and still feel that this is the Lord's doings, and is marvelous in our eyes. And if this work be of God it will prosper, and none can prevent its progress, although the dragon is wroth with the woman, and will make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12:17.

We claim to be that remnant, and to have the testimony of Jesus, which, we are told, is the spirit of prophecy. The Lord has said "he would set his hand the second time to recover the remnant of his people." And if he be on our side he will fight for us "as he fought in the day of battle." So we may expect opposition and trials, and that Satan will throw stumbling blocks in our pathway, but all these things are a fulfillment of his word who says, "I am God, I change not."

Believing as we profess to believe, that we have a world-wide message to be given before the second coming of Christ, and that his coming is near, even at the doors, who of us can say, I have nothing to do, when there are so many without a knowledge of the truth? Who can say, I have nothing to do, when there are so many books and tracts to scatter, and so many prayers to be offered up to the throne of our dear Redeemer? Have we not got to "set our house in order" before the Lord shall come? Shall we not sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every one that shall ask us of the reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear? Certainly this much is required of us. If we cannot teach our views to others, we should be so well versed in the Holy Scriptures that when any shall ask us of the reasons of our faith we can give them a reasonable answer; otherwise we bring reproach on the cause of God.

There are those who have borne the heat and burden of the day. Shall we not come in at the eleventh hour and do something? Says the Saviour, "Why stand ye here all the day idle? Go, work in my vineyard, and what is right I will give thee." We may be sure that he will be a good paymaster, for he is the best friend the sinner ever had; and there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. Said he, My Father worketh hitherto and I work. We should feel to say, My Saviour worketh hitherto and I work.

It may be said to us soon, "Give an account of thy stewardship." In Judges 15:23, we read, "Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord to help of the Lord against the mighty." We see that their sin consisted in doing nothing; in not coming to the help of the Lord when they were needed to do something. The prospect before us of getting our paper established upon a firm basis, and issued weekly, is very cheering indeed; and then it makes plenty of work for us all to do, especially those who claim to be missionaries, to get subscribers, and to circulate it, and to contribute an article once in awhile for the good of ourselves and encouragement of others. We must improve our talents or we shall be rejected as faithless stewards.

As for myself I want to be among the wise virgins, who shall have their lamps trimmed and burning, waiting for the Lord when he shall return from the wedding. I want to be an overcomer and sit down with him on his throne. I want to be among those of whom it is said, "Open wide the gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in." When the earth is cleansed of sin and sinners, when the holy city, the New Jerusalem, will be its capital, I want to be there, and I must have an entrance therein. MARY A. MARTIN.

Woodland, Cal.