How Shall We Plan for God's Cause? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 18, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 24.

How Shall We Plan for God's Cause?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

IF we move in harmony with the mind of the Spirit of God, we shall lay our plans wisely and expect great things from his hands. The Bible contains many instances where God has wrought in a wonderful manner for his people. It was not because his people were worthy, but that he might vindicate his own work and the promises he had given them. If we follow his opening providence and lay our plans in harmony with his will, he will always bring deliverance. The dividing of the Red Sea and the parting of the River Jordan, strikingly show that nothing in nature would prevent the fulfillment of his promises in delivering his people. The opening of the earth and the swallowing up of Korah and his company, the raining of great hailstones from heaven and destroying his enemies, also show that the laws governing nature are his resources and that he uses them to vindicate the right. The treasures of snow and hail God has reserved against the time of trouble and the day of battle and war.

There has been no age of the world in which God was more willing to vindicate his truth and favor his people than the present. Our existence as a people, scattered as we are, and in many instances having no privileges of meeting with others of like faith, is a standing miracle. Could our eyes be opened and we see the extent that the publications which advocate the law of God have gone throughout the world, we would be led to exclaim, See what God hath wrought! From a very small beginning, less than forty years since, the truths which relate to God's law, and the special judgments to follow their proclamation, have gone to earth's remotest bounds. There are no people who have greater reason for encouragement than those who believe in the solemn warning found recorded in Rev. 14: 9-12. He has raised up men to proclaim this truth, and has prepared the way for its promulgation. Hearts have been prepared for its reception, and as the rays of the light of truth have found their way to men, they have joyfully accepted it. We have now reached the most important era that has existed since this special work commenced.

God calls men to enter the field as canvassers, colporters, Bible-readers, and heralds of the cross, in any manner that will give the truth to those whose hearts the angels of God have prepared for its reception. There should be twenty laborers in the field where there is one to-day. It should be the prayer of every loyal heart for the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to enter the great harvest-field. It is God who gives his Spirit and prepares hearts, but he has committed the carrying forward of his work to his people. We should lay our plans and provide the means as though we expected that God would do great things in a brief period of time. To the disciples he said: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." And again, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." He assured the disciples that he would be with them "even unto the end of the world;" that he is more willing to give them his Holy Spirit than parents are to give good things to their children. But he does not bestow his gifts upon men to consume on their lusts.

He longs to pour out his Spirit and magnify his name in advancing his precious cause. He invites all to come and share in the fitting up to accomplish his design in the earth. He has made the spirit of

sacrifice the test of the fellowship of his Spirit. When we were lost without any hope, Christ gave his life that we might be saved. This is the chief corner-stone of salvation. The first religious act of Adam was to make an offering to God. It was a sacrifice that expressed his faith in Christ, the world's Redeemer. If we are unwilling to sacrifice for his sake, we prove ourselves unworthy of his Spirit, and consequently we lose eternal life. But upon this point Satan will deceive thousands who now believe in the truth of God. They will feel that they are willing to make any sacrifice, and at the same time they will have their plans laid just how they will make the sacrifice. If God does not see fit to open the way before them according to their own ideas, then they will flatter themselves that they were willing, but God's providence did not open the way before them. We are to make circumstances, and not permit circumstances to control us. Those who do not do this will find that they have made a fatal mistake. God's ways are not our ways any more than his thoughts are our thoughts. God will test his people not according as we might arrange the test, but in that way that infinite wisdom sees is best for us.

The time has fully come when we should awake and prepare for the coming conflict. We should look and expect that he will do for us when we do the best that we can. We should lay our plans with the expectation that God will co-operate with every unselfish act. The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, and easy to be entreated. New fields are to be entered; new victories gained. The truth of God is to be planted not only in the isles of the sea, but in every nation under heaven. The heralds of the cross of Christ are to go forth with the word of God into the hardest, as well as the easiest fields. Plans should be laid accordingly and more active steps taken to fill the commission to preach the everlasting gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. When the Saviour gave the great commission, he assured the disciples that "all power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth;" and it was upon this fact that he based the broad commission, "Go ye therefore into all the world."

He has servants to whom he has entrusted means to sustain those who thus go forth. If such individuals fail to fulfill their commission in sustaining the work of God, he will set them one side and let the mantle of his Spirit fall upon others. All Heaven is interested in the carrying out of the divine purpose of sending the truth to all parts of the civilized world. The work is not ours; it is God's. He permits us to be instruments in his hands to carry out his designs. Nothing can be more honorable than this work. To be permitted to co-operate with the Saviour of mankind in the salvation of the human family, is the most elevated calling that can be given to man. All should be thankful that we have the privilege even at the eleventh hour of probation, of being connected with so honorable a work.

Soon the work will close and then will come the great reckoning day. To those who have been faithful and earnest to act their part in lifting at the great wheel of reform as far as it lay in their power, especially when help was most needed, it will be said: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." As long as God's resources are infinite; as long as the cattle upon a thousand hills are his; as long as the silver and the gold belong to him; and as long as he has willing servants, we say, Lay plans for the advancement of the truth, large and broad, then work to them. Work in faith, in hope, in courage, and we shall see the salvation of God.

S. N. H.

PLEASE read carefully and ponder Jer. 48: 10.