p. 530 | The Call of God

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 13, 1901

The Call of God.

The Lord has said: “The time has come when a large work should be done by canvassers. The world is asleep, and as watchmen they are to ring the warning bell to awake the sleepers to their danger. The churches know not the time of their visitation. Often they can best learn the truth through the efforts of the canvasser.” — “Manual for Canvassers,” page 8.

“The world must be warned of the coming day of wrath, that all who desire may flee.” “God has ordained the canvassing work as a means of presenting before the people the light contained in our books; and canvassers should be impressed with the importance of bringing before the world as fast as possible the books necessary for their spiritual education and enlightenment. This is the very work the Lord desires His people to do at this time. All who consecrate themselves to God to work as canvassers are assisting to give the last message of warning to the world.” — Id., page 5.

Every soul that is in Christ is to be a minister; and to each one is “given the ministry of reconciliation.” If we fail to warn the world of its coming doom, their blood will be required at our hand. The canvassing work must revive; and that means that each one must take hold in faith, and labor earnestly to get our books into the hands of the people. Four of the State camp-meetings in the Lake Union Conference will be held soon. At these meetings special efforts will be made to help all who desire to enter the canvassing work. Instruction will be given that will enable many to enter this important field of evangelistic work at once. Are there not many of our brethren and sisters in the churches who can come to these meetings prepared to go out into the canvassing work? Many who once were engaged in this important work, and were successful, have left the canvassing field. Why is this?

“A great and important work is before us. The enemy of souls realizes this, and he is using every means in his power to lead the canvassers to take up some other line of work. This order of things should be changed. GOD CALLS the canvassers back to THEIR work.” Will all who have left this work return at the call of God?

Does not your heart stir you up to “come unto the work to do it”? Ex. 36:2. “The canvassing work should now be pushed forward with vigor, for the time is coming when we shall not be able to travel over the country as freely and easily, or get access to the people as readily, as we do now.” — Mrs. E. G. White, in General Conference Bulletin, page 84. Will not every soul take these words to heart before it is too late, and many be forced to join that bitter wail, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved”?

Brethren and sisters, let us engage in this work with such zeal and such confidence in God as have not been seen since the days of the apostles. The angels of God are waiting to co-operate with us in this work. The Lord says of the canvasser: “If he puts his trust in the Lord as he travels from place to place, angels of God will be round about him, giving him words to speak that will bring light and hope and courage to many souls.” “Every canvasser has positive and constant need of the angelic ministrations. . . . Those who are born again, who are willing to be guided by the Holy Spirit, . . . will be accompanied and instructed by holy angels, who will go before them to the dwellings of the people, preparing the way for them.” — “Manual for Canvassers,” pages 8, 12. Is not this just as wonderful an experience as Daniel had in the lions’ den when the angel shut the lions’ mouths? God calls us to this work, that we may have this experience. If there are those who wish to enter the canvassing work, and cannot attend the camp-meetings, let them write to their State agent, and he will help them get into the work as soon as possible.

Gen. Agt. L. U. Conf.