God Wants You by D. T. Taylor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1875

God Wants You.

By D. T. Taylor

O men and women, God wants you! A mighty conflict is in progress. It is the war of the centuries between truth and falsehood, holiness and sin, good and evil, God and the devil. This conflict deepens. There is not a soul on earth who does not bear a part in it. Each and every one is for or against; neutral positions in this war, there are none. He or she that is idle is against God; and to be against him is to be in peril of irretrievable loss, for Jehovah will at last certainly win. There is so much to do and so short a time in which to do it, that to do nothing is a crime of the deepest dye. Besides, to sit down and sit still is personally perilous. Resist, or be swept away. All may, and should work. Wisdom cries, Work well. Some can do much; others but little; each can do something; all can do more than they dream.

Mankind are treading the verge of a wonderful age. Mighty foes heave and toss society. Mighty activities accelerate its masses to a pitch of speed absolutely headlong. Rest or calm there is none. Hurry, hurry, haste, haste, goads on all men. A trumpet-call sounds, “To arms!” Under a blood-stained banner or beneath a black flag all are ranging. What are you doing? Where is your place? Come out of your hiding, come into the light. Report for active service. You are wanted in the King’s grand army. Cling to the evil, and you will go down in the swift-coming struggle. Awake! Bestir thyself. Fold not your arms in lazy lock. At the foe. Dare to do right, dare to be true. Do your own work. No other can do it for you. The conflict intensifies as the age’s end approaches. It is the last age of sin’s reign on the earth. The sinful cherub rages, and his dragon voice roars hideously. His day of doom is fast nearing. Men may well be alarmed at his fury and power, but God is not alarmed. God’s hour of eternal victory cometh. The storm will end in glorious, ceaseless calm; all that sin has disjointed and marred shall return sweetly into its assigned place, and be restored to its old-time beauty. The conqueror shall rest from toil, and wear the laurels of the hard-won fight.

Once more I charge you that you are wanted in this sacred war. Again, I say, Do something for God. Do it, even though it is but a little. Enlist, not for a day nor an hour, but for life. Join the thinned ranks of the holy. Inquire reverently, “Lord what more can I do?” Do nothing rashly nor impetuously, but in the calmness of assured hope and conscious salvation. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” To the warriors on Time’s battle fields, Eternity’s day will be long, its throne will be sure, and its rest will be sweet. The King cries, “Behold I come quickly, to give to every man according as his work shall be.” Then work, O reader, work for your Lord; he wants you!—D. T. TAYLOR, in The Christian.