p. 3 | Our Preparation for His Work by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 22, 1906

Our Preparation for His Work

By C. M. S.

The greater the work we essay to do, the greater the preparation necessary to do it aright.

With the greatest work upon our hands that has ever been committed to mortals, we need the most perfect preparation that has ever been given to mortals for any work.

As this work is a finishing work, the preparation for it must be a finished preparation. As it is God's work, the preparation for it must be wholly of him. Every element of the human will be an element of weakness and a precursor of defeat; and defeat in this work means a loss that is an eternal one.

Jesus set the example in this matter. He began his work with a long-continued season of prayer. Though bound into the human family, with the weaknesses and desires of human flesh in his being, he was able to carry out his Father's purpose to perfection, and finally to open the very tomb itself, that they who followed him “should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In the wilderness with the wild beasts and tempted of the devil; in the market-place and the synagogue where men thirsted for his blood; in the quiet mountain

retreat after a day of exhausting toil; in the garden of Gethsemane after his betrayal to his foes; and finally on Calvary's cross buying our salvation with his blood, our Saviour found his strength, his comfort, and his guidance in prayer.

This was not the outgrowth of emotion, but the following of a settled purpose, with a definite aim in view, and was his design concerning his followers as well as himself. So we hear him speaking a certain “parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” It is the prayerless Christian that falters and faints and fails in the day of adversity. When the Christian's heart grows faint, it is a certain indication that the soul is withering for lack of prayer.

Earnest prayer is a sure remedy for that kind of fainting. It is an essential if we would reap the reward of the righteous. The apostle Paul says: “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Failing in prayer, we have nothing to keep us from fainting; and if we faint, we have no assurance of the reward. Now there is One “who is able to keep us from falling;” but even he can not accomplish that for us if we sever our connection with him by neglect of prayer.

To do the work God requires of us we need wisdom that is more than mortal, strength that is more than human, and courage springing from a heart wholly consecrated to his service. Think of it! God is bringing to a close his great work for the human race. For thousands of years that work has been going on, with all the power and cunning of demons and deceived men against it—and we are seeing its climax. No soul will be won out of this world without a fierce battle with the adversary of souls. With our sin-blurred eyes we can not hope to see our way out of the maze of Babylonish confusion. We can not hope to stand in our own strength against the power of the kingdom of darkness. We can not meet and overthrow the sophistries of Satan with only the wisdom of the human. Never did mankind need to utilize the privilege of prayer as now. We have a wily foe. He knows how to trap us whenever we are trusting in ourselves. But we have also a strong defender, one tempted as we are tempted, one who knows our frame from having lived himself in human form, one who will not turn us empty away.

Whenever God's people have come to him in times of crisis, he has heard and answered. Israel was threatened with utter destruction at the hands of Sennacherib. The king sought God earnestly, and the Assyrians were turned again into their own country. Daniel sought God in behalf of his exiled people, and the history of the world and the coming of the Messiah were opened up before him. In answer to prayer the gates flew open for imprisoned Peter.

The crisis of the world is upon us. Heaven's last appeal to this world is now going into every part of the earth to witness to God's faithfulness in seeking the lost. That we may give that message, and that we ourselves may stand while giving it, we need a complete riddance of self, and a complete consecration to God, and a fervent continuance in effectual prayer. Through a people thus prepared individually God can do a mighty work and a quick work in spreading the knowledge of this saving truth.

C. M. S.