MICHIGAN, ATTENTION! by J. D. Gowell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1900

MICHIGAN, ATTENTION!

By J. D. Gowell

I have been thinking for some time that I would set before you the situation as it appears to me. There is something that is keeping the blessing of God from us as a people, and I have been earnestly seeking to know the cause; and while we all would agree that sin is the cause, we greatly desire to learn the particular sin, or sins, that we may by the help of God put them away.

Time and again we have been warned of God to go into new fields, and labor for the perishing ones; but we have not heeded the admonition. We have in a measure excused ourselves on account of the critical condition of so many of our churches, which are constantly calling for help. Now, dear brethren, let us reason together, and see what should be done. Can you as churches not say to the laborers, Go to the lost sheep, and rescue the perishing ones for whom Christ has died? And so be in harmony with the admonition of the Spirit of God, which says, in Special Testimony No. 4, pages 1-7: “Bear the message of warning to those who are in darkness and error, who know not the truth. Time is passing, the perils of the last days are upon us, and how many will say to us in the last great day, when every man shall receive according to his works, Why did you not warn us? You have not told us these things that we should have known.” Christ says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” “Let our ministers go forth weighted with the solemn message of warning. When men have had every advantage to obtain a knowledge of the truth, why shall plans be laid to keep our laborers from the work of saving souls in the darkness of error? The time is short.” “Our ministers should now be working for the saving of the lost.” This is no time for the messengers of God to stop to prop up those who know the truth, and who have every advantage.” Let every one who loves God consider that now, while it is day, is the time to work—not among the sheep already in the fold, but to go out in search for the lost and perishing ones.

“Early Writings,” Supplement, pages 18, 19, says, “I have seen that it is now time for the messengers to move out wherever there is an opening, and that God will go before them and open the hearts of some to hear. New places must be entered and wherever this is done, it would be well, if consistent, to go two and two, so as to hold up each other’s hands. . . . I saw that the servants of God should not go over and over the same field of labor, but should be searching out souls in new places. Those who are already established in the truth should not demand so much of their labor; for they ought to be able to stand alone, and strengthen others about them, while the messengers of God visit the dark and lonely places, setting the truth before those who are not now enlightened as to the present truth.”

Much more might be quoted, but this is sufficient to show that neglect to walk in the light is one cause of the dearth among our churches. Now, dear brethren, can we not have your prayers, that God will go with us to carry the message to the lost; and can you not bid us Godspeed as we go? Will you not support those who go, even if you do not have a minister with you much of the time? The laborers in our old churches are robbing the church of the privilege of laboring for souls in their vicinity. Let us all work together, and form one solid phalanx against the terrible foe. Our churches in Michigan are old, and well established on all points of the truth; and when the minister does come, their testimony is, We have heard these things over and over again. Now, dear brethren, dig deep into the Scriptures, and you will see many things that will help you. Take an interest in the Reading Circle. Study “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.” Buy copies to loan among your neighbors. Tell them, and show them, that Daniel was a prophet for these last days.

I wish to call the attention of our brethren to Rev. 12:17. That work of the enemy is being done now. The dragon has come into the churches, and is making war among the brethren, so that they are constantly calling for the minister to come and settle difficulties; and in many churches the minister himself is the object of the dragon’s especial hatred, after he gets war started among the brethren. How long shall we be deceived by his cunning devices?

Did not God tell us long ago by his Spirit that “Adventists who had rejected the present truth would be our worst enemies”? We have all the time looked for them to be those who had withdrawn from the church. Oh, no! they are those who, having no regard for the true principles taught by those who hold up the standard, yet pretend to live them out. They stay in the churches, and war against the true people of God, and they do not see that they are actuated by the dragon that is at war with the church, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Oh that they could see themselves as God sees them! That was the way with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred and fifty princes. The people were not able to discern between the people of God and those whom God had left to themselves. Read Numbers 16 carefully, and do not put off the fulfillment of Rev. 12:17 until the image is completed; for that work is being done now by the dragon, in accusing the brethren, and thus making war with their brethren in the church, who keep the commandments of God in these last days.

Oh, when shall we see eye to eye, and be so filled with the Holy Spirit, which is Christ’s representative here on earth, that we shall be able to discern between him who serveth God, and him who serveth him not? Then we will all say to the laborers, Go to the lost sheep, and our prayers go with you. We will do what we can to hold the fort at home, and by the help of God keep the dragon from our midst. Then the blessings of God will come to our churches and our laborers, as we fall in line with the directions of the Spirit of God in all things.

My prayer to God is that Israel may be saved, and that the reproach may be wiped away, that God’s blessing may rest upon his people, that the work may be speedily accomplished, and the glorious day ushered in for which we have long been looking and praying.

J. D. GOWELL. Hesperia, Mich.