Encouraging by M. Wood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 29, 1875

Encouraging.

By M. Wood

UNDER this heading there appeared in the Signs of the Times, of June 10, 1875, many cheering, soul-stirring extracts from letters received at the Signs Office from individuals who had become interested in the present truth and embraced the third angel's message simply from a perusal of the Signs. I often think, after reading of precious souls being brought to a knowledge of the truth through the agency of our periodicals, that none need say, There is nothing for me to do. There is work for all in the wide harvest field of the Master. We learn that whole families have embraced the truth and turned their feet from trampling upon God's holy Sabbath unto the keeping of all his righteous commandments without ever seeing or hearing a living preacher. These are facts that should stir our spirits, and awaken our drowsy energies to make new and more earnest efforts to place our publications in the hands of interested readers.

There are, according to Rev. 7: 2–4; 14: 1, 144,000 to be sealed with the seal of the living God. These are to be gathered from every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. The third angel's message is not a local affair. It is to go with a loud cry until it reaches the utmost parts of the earth. It is the work of God, and it must move onward until the world is warned of the approaching judgment of God, and accept or reject the only terms upon which the priceless boon of eternal life is to be given.

God is moving, by his Spirit, upon the hearts of the people. There are thousands of individuals whose hearts and consciences are made tender, and who are ready to receive the present truth, through whatever source it may be presented, whether by the living preacher or by the silent one in the form of books, periodicals, and tracts, which can go to those who could be reached in no other way.

What a work is ours! What a field lies before the members of the various T. & M. Societies! What opportunities we have of presenting the truth! And how eagerly we would avail ourselves of them did we realize the fearful responsibility which rests upon those who have received the light of present truth. For the manner in which we improve upon these opportunities we must shortly give an account, and receive a reward accordingly. In the day of Judgment all our works will be tried with fire; for the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is; and if any man's work abide, he shall receive a reward. If the blessed words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” are ever addressed to us, it will be because we have done well, and have acted faithfully the part assigned us.

Through the faithful and constant efforts of those who feel the burden of the work and a burden for souls resting upon them, tract organizations have been effected, by means of which the laity are permitted to act in successful co-operation with the preacher in giving the world its last message of warning. There are scores of cities whose inhabitants have never had their attention called to the solemn times in which we are living. In these cities, in towns, and in villages, and upon the highways, the humble missionary can accomplish a mighty work in acting as a pioneer for our preachers. He can act in the same capacity as an engineer corps to an advancing army. He can go ahead, shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace and armed with the sword of the Spirit. With such equipments, and Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, to lead, there is nothing but ultimate victory for the soldier of Christ.

By a judicious and systematic effort upon the part of the members of the T. & M. Society in the distribution of our books, periodicals, and tracts, we can advance the cause of truth by clearing away prejudice from the minds of the people. We can thus prepare the way for more successful labor in new fields.

In order to be successful in the various enterprises connected with the T. & M. Society, we must have a spirit of meekness and Christian love which will manifest itself to those with whom we converse, and show them that our motive is to do them good. We may show them that we do not wish to gain a personal victory, but to lead them to Christ.

A theoretical knowledge of present truth is of no benefit to us unless we put that knowledge to a daily practical use, but it will only increase our condemnation in the day of Judgment; for those who know the Master's will and do it not shall be beaten with many stripes. God will hold us to a strict account for our labors in his vineyard. Even now the Master's voice may be heard saying, “Why stand ye here all the day idle? go ye also into the vineyard.” This language of our divine Lord, dear reader, applies to you and to me. There are no exemption papers issued nor discharges given to the people of God, until the battle is fought and the prize is won. If we feel our lack of ability and our limited means wherewith to work for God and his precious cause, we must seek wisdom of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not. Oh! that we might fully realize our need of God's sustaining grace.

M. WOOD.