HOW TO HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE LORD.
By B. G. Wilkinson
A young man came to me the other day, anxious to learn how to secure something that he felt he did not have. He said that he had observed in certain Christian workers the existence of an article that he did not possess. His knowledge of his lack kept him from engaging in active Christian service, and he was thoroughly dissatisfied with his condition. The case of this young man is representative of a large number of professed Christians. They are not inactive in the work because they wish to be inactive; neither do they disbelieve the power and willingness of God to bless their efforts; but they recognize that they lack a definite message. Unlike Jeremiah, the word of God is not a fire in their bones. They read and hear much exhortation to go to work. They are asked to have faith, only believe. But after all this, they feel an intense longing within, voicing itself in the question, how? How can I have a definite message? This longing comes from God. And if God gives us this desire, he does not do so that he may take delight in withholding from us its satisfying object. Be sure that if God gives us a desire to work, it is because there is work to be done. If it pleased God to bring us into existence for a definite purpose, it will much more please him to see that purpose fulfilled. And as none can give to others what he himself does not possess, so no man can elevate humanity who has not received his message from above. To be without a real message from God is to fail in meeting God’s plan, and thus fail in being a blessing to mankind. With confidence in God we may then turn to the place where this real message can be secured. And this is how to secure it: “God has given us his precious word, and on our knees we should study it, until his light shall break upon us, and we have a message that we can not withhold from others.”—Review and Herald, first page, June 11, 1889. If your Christian life has become cold and uncertain, it is your privilege to have it warm and glowing; because God has said, “I would that thou wert cold or hot.” “I would.” Could infinite love express more strongly its yearning to see us with a living message? Do you feel that your message has become lifeless? You may have it full of life, because Jesus has said: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” A soul that is without spiritual life and energy is one that is neglecting to draw from God’s word the supply of living bread. This is what Christ indicated when he said: “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” As a man is devoid of energy who does not eat proper food, so if he does not eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood,—his word,—he has no spiritual life. Concerning God’s heroes of old, I read that “through faith” they “obtained promises.” To them and their faith we owe some of the exceedingly great and precious promises contained in Scripture. If they by faith were strong enough to secure promises, are we not strong enough in faith to secure their confirmation? God placed these promises on record that we by studying them might be encouraged to secure others. If the writings of the Bible were but the sayings of men, then Jesus did but mock us when he asked us to search them; for then we should draw from their study only human spirit and human life. Also there would be no reason why we should search them, for why should we search for that which we already have? The Bible was given to man charged with the life of God. And he who misses on earth the definite work God has for him does it by the neglect of Scripture. Why is it that the Scriptures are so much neglected, especially by those who name the name of Christ? Is it not because they are repeating the mistake of Martha? An examination of the way they spend their time would reveal to them the application of the words of Jesus: “Thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful.” Is it not strange they do not fear the result implied in the next words, “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”? Neglecting to choose the most needful thing, they will finally have taken away from them the possessions upon which they have spent so much. If farms, if friends, if earthly affections, keep you from having your portion with the Lord, cut loose from them; for it were better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to lose all. Cease from trying to encircle so much, choose the one thing needful, and then you will have a message from the Lord. For if God loved you enough to send you a message when your affections were alienated, will he withhold from you a message when they have become reconciled? To have us burdened with many cares is Satan’s plan to keep us from studying the Scriptures. If we have so much to do that God and his word are crowded out, we have more to do than God intended we should have. When one is intrusted with a message for God, its fruits will be the evidence that it is genuine. The message elevates the messenger, placing him above man’s smile of favor or his frown of censure. The message comes to the hearer, not with the sound of brass or tinkling cymbal, but with the true ring of heavenly music. The listener is startled by words convicting him of sin, and a power of persuasion inviting him to turn to God. Any professed child of God who to-day does not possess such a message as this, is living beneath his privilege. We have too many messengers who are like clouds and winds without rain; they promise much, but do little. Every true messenger is an interpreter. Like Daniel before the Babylonian king, he is called to interpret God’s providential dealings with men and ages. He reads the hand of the Invisible in the march of events, and, faithful on the walls of Zion, he holds not his peace day or night. O Zion, get thee up on the high mountain; up where thou mayest see as God sees. On your knees before God tarry until he has given you a message. Then go forth, weeping that your defects of character must be mingled with heavenly truth, and sow the seed. Then you will doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing precious sheaves with you.