Light Versus Darkness by Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Oct 2, 1900

Light Versus Darkness.

By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin

MRS. GEO. A. IRWIN.

While at a recent camp-meeting, I was forcibly impressed with the difference in the experience of those who are active in Christian work and those who are not. In conversation with the sisters I made it a point to inquire what they were doing in Woman’s Gospel work. On putting this inquiry to one sister, she began to tell me of the wars and rumors of wars in her church. The church elder was all wrong, there was trouble about the color-line; and altogether it was a most doleful tale that she poured into my ears, with not one word to indicate that any of them were doing anything to advance the Lord’s work.

The next sister to whom I put the same inquiry told me, in a bright, animated way, of the work being done in her home church. First, she mentioned the Dorcas work, telling of the large number of beds they had made for the mission, and of the garments they had made for the poor. She said that they did not give these garments away, but sold them for a small sum, which led to a better appreciation of their value. One sister in the church was having good success giving Bible readings. They have sent many tons of coal to the poor. The sisters’ husbands are much interested in this work, and never refuse financial help. All the church-members are in unity and harmony. There are many colored members, but there is no trouble on that point in this church. All work and worship together.

These two answers to the same inquiry illustrate the difference in experience that I have mentioned, and the latter sister assured me of the willingness of the Lord to use us as co-laborers, if we will allow him. And when our eyes are fixed upon him, our hands working for him, and we closely following the voice of his Spirit, we shall have no time nor inclination to become entangled with the works of darkness. If you are perplexed and troubled because of misunderstandings and inconsistencies in the lives of the brethren and sisters, just open wide the windows of your soul heavenward, and let the Holy Spirit inspire your every word and thought and act, and the sunshine that you will carry with you will make a wide circle of light in the darkness with which Satan is seeking to encompass the “little flock.”