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The Day of Our Visitation

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 21, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 8.

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The Day of Our Visitation

By J. S. Washburn

“If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes . . . because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Luke. 19: 42-44. Opportunities may be repeatedly given, but there comes a last chance, a last day, when on a thought, an act, a word, hangs our destiny for eternity. Not what we have done, always, but what we have not done, what we have left unaccomplished, decides our future for weal or woe.
To-day is the day of our visitation. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world. Earthquake, fire, and flood, social and national intensity and perplexity, the decay of the old faith in God, corruption on every hand,—all declare that our last opportunity for labor has almost, if not quite, arrived, and we should step into the openings for labor, for giving, for using every means within our reach to push this work to quick completion.
The time to step in is when the waters are troubled. In the matter of raising this $150,000, the time has come to raise the largest sum ever attempted in the briefest time ever known in the history of our work. Who stands back indifferently and carelessly at this time will lose a great blessing. A daily offering until the whole fund is raised can be given by all our people. With many quite an amount daily could be laid aside for this work. With others a smaller sum, as God has prospered.
This is not a matter to be acted upon with indifference. It means much to our work, but it means more to those who give. The test of loyalty to the work and to the message affects not so much the work of the message,—for, if necessary, the very stones will cry out and proclaim the truth,—but it means life or death to us; and the careless indifference of the moment may be the point where we shall turn by degrees, and finally wholly, from the ranks. We are in the final death-grip of the struggle of the ages. Who will be loyal and true now? O that all may know the day of visitation! J. S. WASHBURN.