WAS THIS YOU? by P. M. Howe

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 14, 1900

WAS THIS YOU?

By P. M. Howe

P. M. HOWE.

While visiting an elder of one of our churches, I inquired of him if he had read certain important articles in the last week's REVIEW. The reply was, “No, I have not read those things yet.” Then I asked, “Did you read Sister White's article and those written by the editors? They are right to the point, just what all our churches need now.” The elder then confessed that he had not seen the last week's REVIEW. Though it had been several days in the house, it had not been looked at, nor even opened; and so he was ignorant of all that it contained. The Sabbath had come, and had gone; but the very message that God had sent for that day was unknown to him, and was therefore unheeded.

Some of our people do not take the REVIEW, and so do not have an opportunity to see what is in it. This is a great loss; but when those, even church elders, who do take it, do not care enough for it and for the flock to read it, this is a greater loss. Unless our elders are wide awake to receive the light that the Lord is sending week by week, and to give it to the flock, they are in darkness. “Walk while ye have the light,” said Christ. “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Several years ago the Lord told the ministers to go to “regions beyond,” but it seemed impossible for any considerable number to do so, because of the cry for help among the churches. Many were without the REVIEW AND HERALD, and others were not paying tithe and offerings, so it was thought best to hold institutes among the churches. But the Lord has said to the churches that they must not expect the ministers to come. We quote the following from the Home Missionary of December, 1897, pages 224, 225, 227: “But you can not depend upon ministers to come and help you; for they must go to places where the word of God has never been heard.”

“Thousands are groping in darkness who ought to have had light long ago. Time and money have been consumed unnecessarily, and voices that could speak have been silent when they should have been giving the last message of mercy to the world. Oh, how much the people of God have to learn before they will realize that it is not those who know the truth who are to be forever favored with the work of the ministers; but the ministers should work with their God-given ability to erect the standard of truth among those who have not even heard that there is such a people as Seventh-day Adventists.”

Now, if this counsel of the Lord is heeded, will he leave the churches to themselves to grope in darkness?—No; for he has said, “I will never leave thee.”

He was with the church in the wilderness, and he is still with his people, though they wander as did Israel of old. The Bible is for the church, and in every REVIEW we hear the Lord speaking. There should be no need of the coming of a minister to wake up the church.

If the instruction God is sending through the REVIEW is not read and heeded as it comes to us, how can our churches keep alive? The voice of God may be heard if the words he speaks are read and reread with prayer.

If the minister comes, he must go away; but not so with the REVIEW; it comes to stay, and will do faithful work in the hearts of all who love its instruction.