p. 16 | Save the Blind by L. N. Muck

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1909

Save the Blind

By L. N. Muck

In Matt. 24:14 we find these words: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Not until this gospel of the kingdom shall have been preached as a witness to the world can the second advent of Christ to this earth take place. The completion of that work is a sure sign of his soon coming. The evidences of the nearness of the end are so positive and so clear that none need be mistaken; for this gospel shall be preached for a witness, then shall the end come. Truly this gospel is being preached as never before. It is penetrating earth’s darkest lands; it is encircling the earth. The glorious sunlight of the gospel message is shining brighter and still brighter; yea, soon our fondest hopes will be realized.

We are commissioned to go and “preach the gospel to every creature.” The gospel is the “power of God unto salvation,” and we are Christ’s light-bearers. As ambassadors of God, we are to bear the light to those in darkness. As we have passed from death unto life, we must give this life to those who are dying. This gospel of the kingdom is full of life and hope. Those who accept it, and believe it, and live it, and give it, are blessed of God.

Striking evidences from every direction tell us that our redemption draweth nigh, and yet we who believe the three-fold message must awake and arouse ourselves to a full sense of what these things mean. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” The flying indicates rapidity. Those who bear the message must be shod with the gospel, and go with all haste. It is no time for idleness, for sleeping. The hour has struck for the last-day message to sound to a perishing world, and we are to make straight his paths; but we must first drink deep of the fountain, and then we shall be able to impart life to the dying.

In Isaiah 43 we have the promise that the redeemed shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and that the blind shall see, and the deaf shall hear. What a precious promise is that! In the last call made to the world are included the blind. We are bidden to bring in the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind, that his house may be filled. This is an important call, because it seems that after these other classes have been warned, and multitudes have accepted the message of mercy, there is still room; and I fully believe that we have reached the point in the message when we are to go out and gather in the blind, and not only those who are deprived of sight, but those who are deaf as well as blind. May the Lord help us to see the importance of gathering these neglected ones. Our work is not complete, and can not be, until those in double darkness receive the last-day call.

And this call must be given to the blind without delay. If the gospel of the kingdom is to be given for a witness to the world, and is to be preached to every creature, and if we are to sound an alarm, then in the name of our God let us throw out the life-line to the blind; let us place in their hands the message in their own language, and by so doing, we shall open their spiritual eyes, and, with Job, “be eyes to the blind.” As watchmen on the walls of Zion, we are to give the alarm to the world; and can we say that the blind are excluded?—No, thanks be to God! He is no respecter of persons. This unfortunate class is precious in his sight, and he has demonstrated this fact by the all-wise provision he has made to bring the sightless into the fold. The Lord is not willing that a single soul should be lost, and for this reason he has established a printing-house where literature bearing the third angel’s message is prepared for the blind.

For ten years this printing plant has been in operation, and the Christian Record, a monthly magazine full of the message, and a number of tracts on the vital points of the message, are being printed and circulated among the blind. As the result of this work in the past, scores have accepted the truth, and many others have been encouraged to live better lives, and we believe that hundreds yet will accept the message before the Lord comes.

But listen. The class we are reaching and have reached are deprived of this world’s goods. They are not only denied the pleasure of beholding the beauties of nature, but they are poverty-stricken. Many of them are in poorhouses and in homes of charity. Not only are they poor, but they are groping their way in double darkness. Many of them, yes, hundreds of them, are isolated, cut off from society and all the pleasures of life, and yet the gospel of the kingdom must be given as a witness to this very class.

How shall this work be done?—Through the avenue which God has given, the Christian Record. This magazine, though small, has borne the gospel message to many a sad heart who was on the very verge of despair, whose light was fast fading because of the terrible affliction; and to-day some of these men and women are full of hope and courage, and are actively engaged in giving the message to others. What a source of encouragement to know that though a man or woman is deprived of sight, a knowledge of the third angel’s message can change the life. It matters not what our circumstances may be, nor how great the affliction, this gospel of the kingdom is sufficient to clear away the dark clouds and to make the blind man see while he sees not, and the deaf man hear while he hears not. And the time is near when the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the dumb tongue shall be loosed, and the deaf ears unstopped, and the lame shall leap as an hart. No more sorrow then, no more disappointments, no more sin, no more tears, for God himself will wipe away all tears. Therefore I beg of you, in the name of Jehovah, to unite with us in bringing in the blind.

As a majority of the blind have no means, they can not pay for literature. Those who are too poor—shall we turn them away to perish? I say, God forbid. We are especially interested in those too poor to pay for literature and who can not help themselves. Hundreds of this class appeal to us every year for something to read, and the question confronts us, What shall we do with them? Then comes the answer, clear and strong, “Preach the gospel to every creature.” My brother, my sister, this is a work of life and death. Many a heart is aching, many a soul is yearning and crying out for sympathy and charity which we are able to give. Will you who are strong and vigorous, will you who have all your faculties, who enjoy perfect sight, and are blessed with a portion of this world’s goods, give some of it to this branch of the Lord’s work in saving the blind?

The Christian Record costs two dollars a year, but many of the blind are not able to pay it. How many of you, dear readers, are willing to send two dollars to apply on the subscription of some blind person? Thus you can be eyes to the blind. We ask you to help us strengthen the feeble knees and hold up the weak hands. We invite those who love the message to respond to this call. The work of saving the blind is a General Conference work, it is a union conference work, it is a local conference work, it is a part of the church work, it is a work which demands the attention of each individual. It appeals to the old and to the young; and because we love the message, and because Jesus died to redeem the world, and because we read, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works shall be,” let us

open our hearts of mercy and respond to the calls made on us by our friends in double darkness.

The Christian Record, and all literature sent out from this office, is prepared and printed by those who can not see. The workers are of good courage, but the work is handicapped for lack of funds. We are sending out about two thousand magazines a month, and it ought to be five thousand, to say the least. Scores of encouraging letters are received every month, and many are in the valley of decision, and we believe that a much better work can be accomplished in the time allotted to us than has been accomplished in the past.

While the Christian Record was started by the General Conference and is in reality a General Conference work, it is under the management of the Central Union Conference, with Elder E. T. Russell chairman of the board. Those wishing to co-operate with us in giving the message to the blind will send all donations and subscriptions to Miss Mettie E. Cornell, Christian Record secretary, College View, Neb., and all funds will be turned over to B. M. Emerson, Union College treasurer. May the Lord help us to see the need of giving the message of life and peace to the sightless.

L. N. MUCK.