The Closing Work by Ole Andres Olsen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1909

The Closing Work

By Ole Andres Olsen

A Call to Earnestness, Devotion, and Diligence

O. A. OLSEN

(Reading for Wednesday, December 15)

The great advent movement is here in fulfilment of prophecy, and the people that represent it are fulfilling prophecy as verily as John the Baptist was fulfilling prophecy in connection with the first advent of Christ.

The prophecies relating to the closing work of the gospel in the earth are among the most prominent, earnest, and soul-stirring in all the Bible, and this would indicate the nature and character of the work, and the manner in which the message is to be given. The movement is to be world-wide in its extent. It is to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people the message must go, and all to be accomplished in the short period of one generation. This is beyond human comprehension, but the Lord has spoken the word, and therefore it can not fail.

The providence of God has in a most wonderful manner prepared the way for the accomplishment of this work in a short space of time. The great missionary movement of the past century, the translation of the Bible into hundreds of languages, and the wonderful facilities for printing and circulating the Holy Scriptures and other helpful literature are all important factors in the way of preparation for the accomplishment of the closing work. We should also mention the wonderful facilities for travel by sea and land, making it not only possible to reach all parts of the world, but also to get about with such rapid speed, and with such a degree of comfort, that the way is open for missionaries to be sent everywhere in the shortest possible time. Surely all these things are an evidence of the fact that we are now in the time of God's preparation, and great results must be expected. Neither are we in the beginning of this work that is to finish the gospel mission to the world, but rather on the very verge of its closing. Surely this is a momentous time, full of eternal consequences.

It must be evident to every one that such a situation and such a time calls for something far beyond the ordinary in the way of earnestness, devotion, self-sacrifice, and diligence on the part of those who are acting a part in this work.

In Rev. 18:1, 2, the work is represented by an angel coming from heaven, “having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” This is a significant representation. “And he cried mightily with a strong voice.” Power, glory, and great energy are here represented. These, then, will be characteristics of the closing work and the people that carry the message. And now that we claim to be that people, is it out of place to inquire as to whether or not we meet the specifications?

The beginning of this movement was amid many difficulties. Great obstacles in every direction confronted the work, small numbers, lack of funds, none of the present facilities, with much opposition on every hand. But the men who led out in the message were men of great faith, whole-hearted consecration, and determined perseverance and energy. No sacrifice or self-denial was too great when the needs of the work required it.

In times of pressure their source of help was in prayer, yes, earnest, prevailing prayer, with fasting and many tears; and the result was that God wrought mightily. Difficulties were mastered, hindrances were overcome, opposition gave way, and the truth advanced gloriously. There was a power manifest in the work that made itself felt, and success attended the efforts put forth.

Times have changed. Now we are supplied with great facilities. We have publishing houses, training-schools, sanitariums, and other helpful agencies in large numbers, which should be a great help in the rapid advancement of the message, and in hastening it forward to its final glorious consummation.

But institutions and other facilities are not all that is needed. These facilities, all good in themselves, may even become a detriment if too much dependence is placed on them. The personal devotion, the self-sacrifice and determined perseverance must be manifested now, as in the beginning, in order to make the work effectual. Institutions and facilities can never take the place of personal devotion and diligent effort.

Is it not a fact that we all lament the lack of real spiritual power in our work? Is there not a feeling that our laborers do not bring the fruit that we rightly ought to expect? I have heard such sentiments expressed many times; indeed it seems to be quite general. If this is so, there must be a reason for it.

Recently my attention was called to a paragraph in an article from the Lord's servant, Sister E. G. White, published in The Watchman of Oct. 6, 1903, which stirred my soul. It reads this way: “But were the same diligence and self-sacrifice at the present stage of the work as at its beginning, we should see a hundred times more accomplished than is now. If the work is to go forward on the high plane upon which it started, there must be no falling off in moral resources.” That is a startling statement: “Were the same diligence and self-sacrifice at the present stage of the work as at its beginning.” From this it is evident that there is not now the same diligence and self-sacrifice; but if there were, then “we should see a hundred times more accomplished than is now.” “A hundred times more,”—what a difference! This is a sad comment. O that the Spirit of God may properly stir our every heart, that there may be an awakening commensurate with the needs of the time!

But this statement from the Lord's servant is not the only one that has come to us. Here is another: “My heart is filled with anguish when I think of the

tame messages borne by some of our ministers, when they have a message of life and death to bear. The ministers are asleep; the lay members are asleep; and a world is perishing in sin. May God help his people to arouse and walk and work as men and women on the borders of the eternal world. Soon an awful surprise is coming upon the inhabitants of the world. Suddenly, with power and great glory, Christ will come. Then there will be no time to prepare to meet him. Now is the time for us to give the warning message.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VIII, page 37.

We read from another place these words: “The Lord calls for a renewal of the straight testimony borne in years past. He calls for a renewal of spiritual life. The spiritual energies of his people have long been torpid, but there is to be a resurrection from apparent death. By prayer and confession of sin we must clear the King's highway. As we do this, the power of the Spirit will come to us. We need the pentecostal energy. This will come; for the Lord has promised to send his Spirit as the all-conquering power.”—Id., page 297.

These are all solemn and stirring words. “We are living in a time when even greater earnestness is needed than in the apostles' day.”—Id., Vol. V, page 132. That is reasonable. Shall we then arise from our indolence, our sleepy indifference, and put ourselves to the task? “Why has the history of the work of the disciples, as they labored with holy zeal, animated and vitalized by the Holy Spirit, been recorded if it is not that from this record the Lord's people to-day are to gain an inspiration to work earnestly for him? What the Lord did for his people in that time, it is just as essential, and more so, that he do for his people to-day. All that the apostles did, every church-member to-day is to do. And we are to work with as much more fervor, to be accompanied by the Holy Spirit in as much greater measure, as the increase of wickedness demands a more decided call to repentance.”—Id., Vol. VII, page 33.

Thus we are admonished, encouraged, and urged by the Spirit of God to rise to our high calling, that we may meet the mind of God in such a momentous time as this. Not only ought our zeal, diligence, and self-sacrifice to be equal to that in the beginning of the work, but rather in advance of it, as the urgency is so much greater; for the work is about to close, and the destiny of every being to be sealed for eternity.

“In the early days of the message, very many of our people possessed the spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Thus a right beginning was made, and success attended the efforts put forth. . . . The Lord has signified that his work should be carried forward in the same spirit in which it was begun. The world is to be warned. Field after field is to be entered. The command given us is, ‘Add new territory; add new territory.’ Shall we not as a people, by our business arrangements, by our attitude toward a world unsaved, bear a testimony even more clear and decisive than that borne by us twenty or thirty [now thirty-seven] years ago?”—Id., pages 53, 54.

What reply shall we make? What position shall we take? By these quotations from the Testimonies we see that there is not now the same diligence and self-sacrifice, and that the work is not on the same high plane, as when it started; for if it were, “we should see a hundred times more accomplished than is now.” Would we not rejoice to see a hundred times more accomplished? Would not such results rapidly hasten the glorious work to its final consummation? Why shall it not be so?

GROUP OF BELIEVERS ATTENDING THE SOUTH AFRICAN UNION CONFERENCE, TAKEN IN FRONT OF THE CLAREMONT CHURCH BUILDING, NEAR THE COLLEGE

We are blessed with facilities for carrying on the work with strength and power. We are favored with the providences of God in a most marked manner to hasten the message to all parts of the world. Doors that in the past have been closed are now open. The calls for consecrated, earnest laborers, who carry the weight of soul burden on their hearts, have never been so many and so urgent as just now. In the home field there is still a great work to be done. The large cities of our own country, with their thousands and hundreds of thousands of souls on the way to perdition, are a mighty appeal for something to be done to save them. Then the fields afar, with their hundreds of millions—O, what an appeal such a situation as this presents! Is it not great enough to stir every soul to its very depths?

Now is the time, now is the opportunity, to come to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Will any, like Meroz of old, refrain and hold back? “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 the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Judges 5:23. What was the sin of Meroz?—Neglect. They did not do. Let none of us come under such a curse.

The Lord is calling his people to arise, to put on the whole armor, to put themselves to the task of the effort. The Holy Spirit awaits our demand and reception. What is needed is an earnest taking hold on our part. Let us not be satisfied with the little success. Just think! “A hundred times more might be accomplished,” were there the same diligence and self-sacrifice as in the early times. Why should there not be the same diligence and earnestness now as then? If there should be any difference, the diligence and earnestness of the present should be much in advance of the early times,—yes, of every time in the past.

All heaven is waiting to co-operate with human agencies. O, then, let us avail ourselves of our privileges! Let us pray as we never before prayed, with prevailing prayer. Let our faith take hold of God's precious promises, and not be satisfied with anything less than the fulness of power and grace for the work. As laborers and ministers, let us decide that by the grace of God no more tame messages shall pass our lips, but rather that our words and actions shall be animated with holy zeal, and vitalized by the Holy Spirit. This is our privilege. O for the Holy Spirit's fervor and power upon ministers and people! The Lord is as ready now to work for his servants as in the days of the apostles. But to attain to this we are called to repent, to turn to the Lord with all the heart, and give ourselves to the work without any reserve.

May this week of prayer be blessed with the outpourings of the Holy Spirit as never before, fitting and qualifying ministers and people for pressing forward to the finishing of this work with the power and glory the Lord has indicated, and thus hasten the coming of the Just One, and bring the glorious consummation.