p. 9 | Take It by Force by Luther Warren

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 22, 1902

Take It by Force

By Luther Warren

LUTHER WARREN

TAKE what?—Anything that is worth having. The kingdom of heaven includes everything that is valuable in this life and in the life to come. God has opened the door of heaven wide, and invites all to enter, but he allows Satan to stand outside the door to hinder those who “seek” to enter. Only those who are determined to go in, who say, I will, and mean it, will ever get inside the gate. You must be ready to strive, fight, “thrust men,” if you expect to reach heaven. Whatever is worth having you can have, if you will take it by force.

You would like an education, but the way seems hedged up. Poverty, or some other insurmountable difficulty, keeps you from your desire. Don’t sit around waiting and wishing for the way to open. Be up and at it. Open the way. Take education by force. You can do it. God is longing to help you when you show yourself anxious to be helped. Never in the history of our world have there been better opportunities to make a success of life than just now. The

cause of God needs you. Openings are everywhere. Thousands of young men and women are needed in every branch of service. God is calling for earnest young people to be teachers, nurses, physicians, ministers, and canvassers.

Many would like to have a part in the Lord’s work, but there seems to be no way open. O my brother, my sister, the time of special privilege will soon be over. You are cheating yourself by listlessly waiting and wishing. More yet, you are cheating God and the world out of the service you might render. God has no favorites. He is as anxious to have you make a grand success of life, as any person that ever lived. How can you do it?—First, be faithful in what you have to do to-day. “He that who is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Just as surely as you are faithful in a few things, God will make you ruler over many. If your work is only to sweep the floor, or wash the dishes, or feed the cattle, do it faithfully, do it well, do it the best you can. Do it better every time if possible. Do it with a vim. Don’t be all day about it. Don’t waste minutes. Don’t waste pennies. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, faithful, earnest, cheerful, true. A larger place will open for you.

A friend of mine once said to me, “I wish I knew of some girl that I could help to get an education.” I was a little surprised, because I knew that in the church to which she belonged were a number of young ladies, and I had heard some of them wishing that it were possible to attend a college. Seeing something of this question in my face, my friend explained: “There is Mary, to be sure, and Jennie; they are nice girls, and I like them; they would like to go to school, too, and it seems a pity that they cannot; but they spend their nickels and dimes for gum, candy, and ribbons. If I saw them trying to save and help themselves, I would gladly help them.” I fear these girls will never know the help they missed. Wake up! Shake yourself! Be somebody! Make all that it is possible to make of yourself, that you may not disappoint the One who made you. I would determine that I would go to school. Seek God for wisdom. Settle it with him that you will please him in all things, and he will lead you step by step to the highest peak of progress and success. Make no delay! Time hastens. Very soon this life will be over. Don’t be a failure for eternity. Time and knowledge lost now cannot be made up, even in the eternal ages.