p. 517 | THOUSANDS TO ONE by W. H. Gosmer

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

THOUSANDS TO ONE.

By W. H. Gosmer

W. H. GOSMER. (Butte, Mont.)

“If the followers of Christ were awake to duty, there would be thousands, where there is one to-day, proclaiming the gospel in heathen lands. And all who could not personally engage in the work would yet sustain it with their means, their sympathy, and their prayers.”

What fearful significance attaches to these words! Thousands might be proclaiming the gospel to millions in heathen lands, where one is now proclaiming it to hundreds. Millions are going down into eternal night unwarned, unsaved, without God and without hope—and why?—Because the followers of Christ are not awake to duty.

Then is it not time that every soul should inquire, earnestly and prayerfully: Lord is it I? Is it I upon whose garments is found the blood of those who have perished without hope? Is it I who am squandering money in self-gratification, which should go to send the light to those in darkness? Am I “making a covenant with God by sacrifice” by doing what I am able to do?

Having done all I can, do I then lay the burden upon the Lord, and ask him in faith to bless what I have done? do I ask him to give power to those faithful ones who have forsaken all to carry the message, that many may come to the light, and that the messengers may triumph over disease and death, and over the many obstacles placed in their path by the enemy? And is my own heart clean in his sight, so that the power of God may rest upon his people, that the message may go with mighty power?

Those going to foreign fields yield their lives by faith into the hands of the Author of the great commission; and shall we who remain at home think ourselves free from the duty to exercise faith, by helping to send out new laborers, and by supporting those already sent?

“But having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you . . . to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.” 2 Cor. 10:15, 16. Paul hoped that the Corinthians would so increase in faith that they would be enabled to give more than they could “see their way clear” to give, at the time, in order to carry the gospel to regions beyond. That was giving by faith. “That which is seen is not faith.”

“The scenes of conflict are hastening on, and the day of days is just upon us.” Seeing, then, that we are on the very borders of the heavenly rest, let us take heed lest we come short of it through unbelief, as Israel did in days gone by. “We walk by faith, not by sight.” And let us “pray . . . the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest,” and then earnestly set about answering our own petition. “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.” “He that winneth souls is wise,” and “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”