p. 140 | The Missionary by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 22, 1883

The Missionary.

By S. N. Haskell

Importance of the Cause of God.

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

There is no work so important as the work of God. There is no enterprise so safe as that which has for its object the salvation of those for whom Christ died. There are no institutions so sacred in God's sight as those which are devoted to the interests of the work of our divine Lord and Master. If there is one period in this world's history more important than another, it is the last days, when the work of probation is closing up. All Heaven is astir, and watching with the most intense interest to aid those who, with hearts and interests inseparably connected with the work of God, are struggling with the evil influences which surround them. There is no position so honorable, no work so ennobling to the human mind as that which is connected with the redemption of man through the blood of Christ. To be connected with the institutions which God in his providence has founded, and over which his watchful care is ever exercised, is a higher honor than this world can give.

In the seventh chapter of Revelation we have a prophecy showing the importance of the closing work of the gospel. The seven seals, commencing in the sixth chapter, present a consecutive history of events transpiring between the first and second advents of Christ. Hence there can be no question concerning the age of the world in which the prophecy of the seventh chapter applies. The great day of wrath is brought to view in the last verses of chapter six. The eighth chapter introduces the seventh seal, when there is silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour, seven days, prophetic time. This is when our Lord comes to this earth to gather his saints. Matt. 24:31. All the holy angels will come with him. Matt. 25:31. This is why there was silence in Heaven. The prophecy of chapter seven is parenthetically thrown in, and has its fulfillment under the sixth seal, after the signs spoken of in the 12th and 13th verses of the sixth chapter. The falling of the stars occurred on the night of Nov. 13, 1833.

So important is the sealing work brought to view in the seventh chapter that angels from glory take their position to hold the winds (margin, Jer. 25:32) until the servants of God are sealed.

There are only two classes of interests in the world—man's personal, selfish interests, and the interests of the world's Redeemer. He that controls the elements of nature, the Author and Creator of worlds, sees that importance to this sealing work that divine agencies are employed to control influences which would impede its progress. Wars, national interests, and all individual concerns, are secondary in importance to this work. When compared with it all, the affairs and interests which pertain wholly to this life sink into insignificance.

If this work is of so much importance in God's sight, we can readily understand how precious those persons must be to him whose personal interests are lost in their efforts to aid in accomplishing his purposes in it. To feel that our own personal interests are too dear for us to consecrate them to this work would be the greatest mistake man ever made. The truths of God's word have greater claims upon his people at the present time than during any previous age or the world's history. Young men and women are wanted to enter the field as canvassers, as colporteurs, and to labor in other ways as the providence of God may indicate. But the world presents to them its fleeting charms, its deceptive attractions of honor and position, making the cross of Christ of none effect. It says, "You may keep the Sabbath and be good Christians, but to go without the camp bearing the reproach is too much." They prefer an easier way. The work of God wants true men and women; who possess humility, moral worth, and sterling integrity,—those who will leave their homes, their quiet fireside, and consider it a privilege to labor for their Lord, who has done so much for them. The cause calls for means. This should come from willing hearts; not simply from those who can give as well as not, but from those with whom it will cost struggles, wearisome labor, and

deep, earnest wrestling with God to accomplish that which is undertaken. It may be true that this does not come natural for us. So we might say with truth, that there are no natural Christians. Our natures should be changed, and it is upon this point that we need the grace of God. He longs to help us, that his name may be glorified through us. He will do great things for us if we will let him.