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Our Opportunity

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 24, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 25.

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Our Opportunity

By George W. Spies

The Lord has intrusted us with a great work. “The Lord has a special message for us to bear to the world.” “Our message is to go forth in power to all parts of the world, . . . to all nations, tongues, and peoples. Many countries are waiting for the advanced light the Lord has for them.” “The whole world is God’s great vineyard. The cities and villages constitute a part of that vineyard. These must be worked and not passed by.” “Centers should be made in all the cities.” “Every town or village on the railway is to have the message the Lord has given us.” “No district is to be neglected. Any region that is left in darkness testifies to our unfaithfulness.” “All must be willing now to take their place in the vineyard, and cultivate every neglected corner.” “Not one soul is to be left in darkness.” Carry the Word of God to every man’s door, urge its plain statements upon every man’s conscience.”
Surely this is a great work, and one in which the canvasser is to act an important part. And yet we have done so little! “We are years behind.” In 1881 we were told that we were not doing one-twentieth part of what God requires of us. In 1896 we were told that not one one-hundredth part has been done or is being done by members of the churches that God requires of them. In 1901 we were told that “scarcely a thousandth part of the work is being done that ought to be done in missionary fields.” Notwithstanding all this, the Lord tells us that there shall be delay no longer. May he help us redeem the time; for the days are evil, and now, just now, is our great opportunity. We should be recruiting our workers, and organizing for thorough and systematic work.
We who have such a glorious truth should strive most earnestly to carry “to every man’s door” the “most powerful, convincing, telling literature” that our publishing houses can produce. May the Lord help us to do so.
GEO. W. SPIES.