A Call to Greater Endeavors to Finish Our Work by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 17, 1910

A Call to Greater Endeavors to Finish Our Work

By Arthur G. Daniells

A. G. DANIELLS

(Reading for Sabbath, December 17)

“What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.” Jonah 1:6.

This earnest appeal of the master and crew of a storm-tossed vessel was made to the prophet Jonah. The circumstances under which it was made, indicate that it voiced the mute appeal of the people of Nineveh, to whom Jonah was refusing to give the message the Lord had commanded him to proclaim to them. And as “whatsoever things were written aforetime” were “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11), may it not be that this appeal for help represents the cry of many a helpless, perishing soul at this time, to whom God’s people are neglecting to give his message of warning?

To-day impending doom hangs over the cities of the nations, and they are soon to fall. But before they fall, God’s people must make known to their inhabitants his last message of mercy and salvation. That message is the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-16. Wherever that message shall be proclaimed, men and women will accept it, and of them it will be said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12.

The time for the proclamation of this world-wide message came in 1844, and true to the sure word of prophecy, the message made its appearance at the exact time specified. Men were led to understand it, and impelled to proclaim it. That set on foot the great world-movement of the message, which is to be finished in a single generation. For sixty-six years the movement has been developing and extending. Enough evidence of every kind has been brought to light during that time to give those connected with the movement unbounded confidence in its divine origin and its certain triumph.

It is not too much to say that this movement of the third angel’s message is demonstrated to be of divine appointment by the strongest proof that has ever been given of the genuineness of any movement in God’s great work among men. The proof John the Baptist gave to the people that his message and work were absolutely genuine was the fact that they fulfilled the word of God as given through the prophet Isaiah. John 1:19-23. There can be no stronger evidence of the divine origin and character of a movement than that it fulfils what God has foreseen and foretold.

NEW SCHOOL FARM HOME, WATERLOO, WEST AFRICA

When John was in prison, and sent messengers to Jesus to ask, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Jesus gave to John that same absolutely sure and reliable evidence of his messiahship. He said to these messengers, “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see.” Matt. 11:4. The things they heard and saw were just what the prophecies had foretold that the Messiah would say and do.

This is the strongest, most reliable, and most assuring evidence that can be given in support of a movement that claims to be from God. If this can not be relied upon, there can be no certainty regarding anything purporting to be a revelation from God.

We do not point to numbers, position, wealth, facilities, nor to the extent of the work, as sure evidence, of themselves, that this movement is from Heaven. It is only as these features fulfil the specifications of prophecies relating to this time, that they can be considered as unfailing evidence that the cause is God’s. Now this is just the kind of evidence we have regarding the great religious movement with which we are connected. It began at the precise time set for it by the prophecy, namely, in 1844. Its message of warning and instruction is being proclaimed in the very words and setting of the prophecy. It is covering the whole earth, as the prophet said it would. It is doing the kind of work among men that was prophesied regarding it. The movement fulfils what the prophets foretold. Its proofs of genuineness are exactly like those that Jesus and John gave to the world regarding the source of their messages and work.

With this strong assurance that the message we have received has come from God, and that the world-wide work we are carrying forward is under the Lord’s direction, every believer should make a resolute and unreserved consecration of all to the advancement and triumph of this cause. This, dear brethren and sisters, is the most important step we can take during this week of prayer.

Such a consecration can be made only by the grace of God. When it is made, the Lord can have his way with us. Then he can give us his Holy Spirit without measure. This will endue us with power for any service to which he calls us. Living that consecrated life will place ourselves, our children, and our means at the Lord’s command, to be used as he may direct. That will lead ministers, Bible workers, canvassers, physicians, nurses, teachers, and all other workers to put forth their highest energies for the advancement of the Master’s work. It will lead our farmers, mechanics, business men, and all other wage-earners to pay a full tithe into the Lord’s treasury. And when that is done, at least five hundred thousand dollars in tithes will be added to the treasury for the prosecution of this work throughout the world.

This last statement is really startling, but it is true nevertheless. It is made on the basis of very careful and conservative reckoning, and it is accepted

as true by scores of our leading men who have given the question study. With an increase of half a million dollars in tithes annually, which the conferences would gladly dedicate to needy fields beyond their borders, we could at least double our entire force of workers in the mission fields. And if that additional number of consecrated messengers could just now enter the open doors of India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, and the island groups, what a marvelous work would speedily be done! And so the question and admonition to Jonah from the Master of the sinking ship, are direct appeals from God to us: “What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”

O brethren! for the sake of our divine Redeemer and his glorious work, let us make this consecration now. For the sake of perishing souls for whom this whole movement has been set on foot by the Lord, let us take hold of this work now with a new grip, and with a resolution born of God’s grace to do all in our power to hasten its progress until its work is accomplished.

Brethren, we must awaken to the fact that the Lord has led us out into a large place, that we may do a larger work than we have been doing. We are facing the greatest and most serious problem that has ever confronted us. In harmony with the character of our message, we have been resolutely pressing onward from one land to another until we are to-day operating missions in nearly every country in the world. According to a table of missionary statistics recently published in the Missionary Review of the World, the different Protestant mission boards and societies throughout the world are carrying on missionary work in fifty-seven lands. We find upon comparing these statistics with our records, that we are conducting missionary enterprises in forty-three of those fifty-seven lands. According to the table referred to, the largest number any other denomination or board is operating in is ten. Only two are working in that many countries.

It hardly seems possible that in so short a time, and with such limited resources, we have been able to establish our missionary operations in so many lands. Yet it is just what the message calls for. Nothing short of this would be consistent with our understanding of the work we are to carry forward in the world.

But this situation, as already pointed out, calls for the greatest effort on our part that we have ever yet made. It calls for the sending forth of a large force of additional workers. But this would mean a great increase of funds, because the workers can not go without money. And all this is possible because of the prosperity God is giving his people. What is needed to change this possibility into an actual fact is a great awakening on our part to the needs of the hour, and a resolute determination to do our duty. May God arouse all his people, and move them to great endeavors.

The experience we have had in our efforts to establish this cause in all lands should fill our hearts with unfaltering courage. Wherever the message has been proclaimed, men and women have accepted it. Thus it has taken permanent root among all nations. And wherever it has taken root, it has grown, and spread, and developed into a working factor among the people. In not one instance have we suffered defeat and been compelled to retreat.

With all these encouraging omens, how can we do less than consecrate our all to-day for the finishing of this work?

Note to Elder or Leader

[Here let the annual offering to missions be taken. Before asking for the gifts of money, let the leader,—if the circumstances make it appropriate,—ask all in the congregation to first give themselves fully to the Lord, in the spirit of the Macedonian believers. Read 2 Cor. 8:1-5, 9. This last day of the week of prayer is a day to aim especially to lead any who have not yet yielded to the Lord to take their stand. Then, as the offerings are gathered, let all unite in dedicating the gifts of money and hearts to God in prayer.]