Time to Sacrifice by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1903

Time to Sacrifice

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

FIFTY-NINE full years have passed by with measured tread since our great High Priest entered into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and opened the work of the investigative judgment. Of this fact there is not the slightest question. It can no more be doubted than the nativity of Christ. And somewhere in the annals of mortals preserved in the archives above, this solemn work of investigation is going on; and but little time more can elapse ere the lives of those now living will pass in review before the scrutiny of the eternal Judge, the work be finished, and the fiat go forth announcing that those who are holy must be holy still, and those who are unholy must so remain. The solemnity of the hour should startle us from slumber. Are we ready for the heavenly tribunal to take up our individual cases now, write up the verdict, and settle our destiny forever?

Fifty-nine full years have rolled by since the seventh trumpet began to sound. It is during the sounding of this trumpet that the “mystery of God should be finished,” and the kingdoms of this world “become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and, he shall reign forever.” How much longer will this be delayed?

One hundred and forty-eight full years have passed since the terrible Lisbon earthquake announced to mankind that the Lamb had opened the sixth seal. Under this seal the sun was to be darkened, the moon be turned to blood, the stars fall from heaven, and the seal of God, the Sabbath, be placed in the foreheads of God’s people. This is all fulfilled, or being fulfilled before our very eyes. The next event to take place is for the Lamb to open the seventh seal, and the prophetic half hour of silence begin in heaven.

How much longer before the Saviour will come as King of kings, surrounded with a galaxy of all the angels in heaven, to put the eternal period to sin, and gather the faithful to himself? Are we ready for this glorious hour to come?

Seventy full years have passed into eternity since the fulfilment of the signs in the heavens, when the stars fell to the earth like a fig tree casting its unripe fruit. The great Miller movement immediately following announced the end of the world, and held up to the gaze of all, these signs in the heavens. All who would, saw the signs, and the Lord has declared, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.” Matt. 24: 33, 34.

The end is almost here, but the hours of human probation still linger, as though loath to depart forever. We still have an opportunity to give ourselves to the work, and to place all we have on the altar to be used to hasten the message to the ends of the earth, and finish the work. Then the Lord will come. This is no ordinary time. The issues of eternity are crowded into a remnant of time. We must move quickly; for the days of delay are over, thank the Lord. The work will be cut short in righteousness, and “the day of the Lord will come.” It hastens greatly.

The Orient, with its teeming millions of unwarned souls, appeals to us for help to finish the work. Must it call in vain? Africa, South America, the islands of the sea, and many large cities of our own country send in a Macedonian cry for aid. Shall we continue to send back word, We can not respond now? Now is the very time to respond; for the devil’s work is ripened off in all the earth, and only the work of God remains undone. But this must wait no longer. And when we go to regions beyond, something more is needed than to generalize. We must go with a definite message. With a loud voice we are to proclaim, The Lord is at the door. How many are ready to take such a definite message and go anywhere?

Money as well as talent, is needed. The time has surely come when the hoarded treasures over which we are stewards are to be laid on the altar,—not simply to give what we can spare, but that which involves a sacrifice, what we really need,—a shrinking of earthly possessions, a reducing of the bank account, a giving like the widow who cast in her all. She put in her living.

“I saw that if any held on to their property, and did not inquire duty of the Lord, he would not make duty known, and they would be permitted to keep their property, and in the time of trouble it would come up before them like a mountain to crush them, and they would try to dispose of it, but would not be able. I heard some mourn like this: ‘The cause was languishing, God’s people were starving for the truth, and we made no effort to supply the lack; now our property is useless. O that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven!’”—Early Writings, page 48. These are sad words. The cause is now “languishing.” Shall we let go some property, or shall we hold on to it, and later utter the mournful cry recorded above?

“The angel said, ‘Destruction is coming like a mighty whirlwind.’ I begged of the angel to pity and to save those who loved this world, who were attached to their possessions, and were not willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice to speed the messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep who were perishing for want of spiritual food. As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to believe the truth were letting them die, by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to remove it from me.”—Id., page 40.

“The suffering Jesus, his love so deep as to lead him to give his life for man, was again held up before me; also the lives of those who profess to be his followers, who had this world’s goods, but considered it so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, ‘Can such enter heaven?’ Another angel answered, ‘No, never, never, never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth can never sing the song of redeeming love above.’”—Id., page 41.

“God’s people are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the scantiness of their gifts and offerings, and the feebleness of their efforts in God’s service, mark them as unfaithful stewards.”—Appeal for Missions.

Will the “scantiness of our gifts” during the coming week of prayer continue to mark us as unfaithful, or will the reproach be removed?