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The Harvest Ingathering

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 13, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 46.

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The Harvest Ingathering

By Daniel Nettleton

A Personal Experience

If I had followed the suggestions of my feelings when the time came for the Harvest Ingathering campaign, I should not have gone out to the work. But I did not follow those suggestions, for I have learned and proved that there is a better, safer guide than our feelings. Like Abraham, who, when he was called, went out by faith and was blessed and was made a blessing, so I by faith—not feeling—went out and was blessed, and I trust was made a blessing. Besides the money I received (I now have ten dollars for the missions, and this is only the start), I had many good visits with the people, and opportunities to “speak a word in season to him that is weary.”
I found several who were not only willing to give me money for missions, but were willing to receive the word of God. As I went on my way, I was happy because I was doing the will of him who had sent me, and was having a part in finishing his work. Like Jesus, who at the well asked drink of the Samaritan woman and then gave her the water of life, I could also say, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” I prayed and sang, before I started and as I went on the way, “Make me a blessing to-day.”
I believe, dear brethren, that in order to finish the gospel work in this generation, we need what the people had in the days of Nehemiah. “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” If we will be faithful in our place and repair the breach in the wall by us and make our prayer unto God and have “a mind to work,” as they prayed and worked, we, too, shall rejoice in a finished work. Let us say, as Nehemiah said, “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build.”
I do not want to be numbered with the Tobiahs and Sanballats, nor with the nobles of the Tekoites, who “put not their necks to the work of the Lord.” I want my neck to get used to the yoke of Christ; for his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I have had a part in all these Harvest Ingathering campaigns, and I can say that every one has brought a harvest of joy and rich blessing to my soul, and I hope some glad day to see more fruit of the good seed I have scattered.
Soon, very soon, the harvest work will be finished. The “harvest home song” will be sung. There will be two classes in that day. One class will say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” The other class, who have sowed in tears, will reap in joy; they went forth weeping, bearing precious seed, and will come again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.
With which of these two classes do we choose to be? To be with the joyful reapers we must do something more than desire or wish. We must choose—will, determine, resolve—to go forth and sow beside all waters with earnest prayer; then we shall come rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us. In due time we shall reap if we faint not.
I wish, dear reader, when you finish reading this article, you would get your Bible and read Matt. 25:31-46. Observe that those who inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world, simply did those little things we all have an opportunity to do,—fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick, etc.,—in other words, did home missionary work. Of those on the left hand it is not said that they were very bad or wicked; they simply neglected to do those things for which the righteous were commended.
O brother, listen! “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3. All we shall ever get or take out of this old world to make us happy through eternity will be the souls of those who are saved by the precious truth we bring to them. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
DANIEL NETTLETON.