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The Blessed Commission

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 27, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 43.

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The Blessed Commission

By Wm. Covert

WM. COVERT
SHOULD not the old, sweet story of God's love for sinners be told now with the same decisive emphasis that Peter told it in his day? The same commission that inspired Peter and the other disciples holds good to-day,—“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” No other plan has been devised, nor has any changing of the plan been authorized. If this commission has come to mean anything less than Peter and his companions in labor understood it to mean, we do not know it. Those earnest disciples received their inspiration from the same mighty Helper who gave the commission, and who has promised to be with all who go forth in obedience to its commands, even to the end of the world. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” What a promise for the toiling servants of the Master!
Mighty deeds were accomplished in the early days of the church, when those who went forth to preach the gospel were filled with the power of God. And the same power which made the word then spoken burn its way into men's hearts, and set them on fire with zeal in God's service, can be had to-day in the same way that it was obtained at that time. Why, then, is so much time spent, why is so little accomplished, in the winning of souls? Jesus has not lost his interest in the great commission; for he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. The fault must be with us. We may be able to repeat the command and the promise by rote; but we must do more: we must feed upon the theme until we become vitalized with its power; then shall we see souls won to Christ and his truth through our ministry.
And God will fulfil his promise; he will be with his servants wherever they go, as long as time shall last. Through the Spirit, he can go with a thousand workers to a thousand places at the same moment. He can not be overworked, nor can he be kept too busy with soul-saving interests. It is this that he lives to do; it is soul-saving that gives him his greatest joy. And his way of doing this is through the ministry of his servants. We are to bear Jesus to the people. Through our ministry, sinners are to be won to him. There is no name given under heaven through which sinners can be saved except the name of Jesus; and the heaven-authorized way for sinners to find him is through the way of the blessed commission. It says, Go; and as you go and preach, the Spirit will say to sinners, Come. Then the Spirit's call will gather them in, and angels in heaven will rejoice with God's servants on earth.
Chicago, Ill.