Come Over and Help Us by Mrs. W. C. Hankins

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 15, 1906

“Come Over and Help Us”

By Mrs. W. C. Hankins

MRS. W. C. HANKINS

CHINA, with approximately one fourth of the world’s population, is entirely ignorant of the fact that the Saviour is coming again soon, and, in truth, very few of her people are aware of the fact that there is a Saviour who is able “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.”

Every year millions of these people are going to their graves unsaved, knowing nothing of that gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation,” and has the power to lift them from the depths of sin into which they have fallen.

Now, every Seventh-day Adventist believes that we have the grandest system of truth that the Lord has ever given to any people, and that the rays of gospel light of all past generations are now concentrated upon the Word of God, so that we are living in the noonday glare of that light, and that the third angel’s message is the gospel of God for this generation.

Now, dear friends, if this be true,—and we believe it is,—the possession of this most precious of all treasures brings with it a grave responsibility.

We read how the Saviour healed the sick, and brought the dead back to life again, and we think what a grand thing it would be to have that power, so that we could relieve the misery of the afflicted ones around us. If we had that healing, life-giving power, would we sit quietly at home, and never use it or let it be known? And if the Lord would promise us that power, if we were willing to go to China, and there use it for the glory of his name, would we be willing to go? And if he promised us that the mighty power of God would accompany us, even as it did the apostles of old, would we refuse to go? And if he promised you the gift of tongues, so you could learn the language quickly, would you consider the language an insurmountable barrier?

Then why not come, and come at once? for all this has he promised, and more. Listen to his words: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28: 18-20.

Have you, dear reader, obtained salvation? Do you know your sins are forgiven? Is this gospel of Christ the most precious of all your treasures? Are you looking forward with joy and confidence to the coming of Christ, and a life of endless joy with your Saviour? If so, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matt. 10: 8. And remember that if you would keep what you already have, you must give it away; for “there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Prov. 11: 24.

Do we believe that these people are lost without the gospel? that “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” but the name of Jesus?—Yes, we believe that, and we believe that it is some one’s duty to go and tell them about the gospel, and to reveal the power of that gospel in their lives, and to warn them of the wrath to come. But did we ever think that perhaps our own soul’s salvation depended on our doing it? No? Then listen to the words of the Lord: “If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Prov. 24: 11, 12.

But some will say, “We can not all go to India, or China, or Africa.” No, all can not go; but that does not mean that they can, therefore, do nothing for those people. If you can not go to the heathen, then you should be earnestly seeking the Lord to send some one else in your stead. And say, like many did during the Civil War, “If I can not go, I will pay some one else to go as my substitute.” And if you can not do that, do all you possibly can toward paying the expenses of some one who will go. And, having sent men to the front, remember that they are facing danger, and hardships, and perhaps death, while you are in your comfortable home, among your loved ones, and constantly and earnestly pray for them and their work, and give so freely of the means that the Lord has entrusted to your keeping that the work in these needy fields need not be retarded for lack of money.

And now, who should come? As you read this, does your heart warm toward these poor people as Christ’s did toward you? Do you wish to help them? If you were here, could the Lord use you? Are you specially called by God to some other work? Have you a living faith in God, and a working knowledge of his word? Are you willing to face danger, privation, and perhaps death, that others may have eternal life? Are you willing to give up cherished plans and ambitions, that you may help along the work in the most needy and difficult fields? Are you willing to plod away at a foreign language, if by so doing you can hasten the Lord’s coming? All these questions and more ask yourself, and then ask the Lord if he wants you to come, and follow the dictates of his Holy Spirit—remember, not of your own desires, but of the Spirit of God.

And now as to our needs. Any consecrated worker can be used here, but above all we need some of the strongest men in the denomination for the work here in China; for China constitutes fully half the heathen world, and requires strenuous work. And this has been the Lord’s plan in the past; for instead of sending Paul, the best educated of the apostles, to strengthen the work at Jerusalem, he sent him to the heathen, with the result that the whole world soon heard the gospel.

The Lord chose men to carry on the work at Jerusalem, and they were men of power, full of the Spirit, and just the men for the place, and so the work prospered. But Paul, who “was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles,” he sent to the heathen. And so now we need mighty men here in Asia, who, like Paul, can carry forward the work with great power.

Brethren, China’s millions are calling from the depths of sin and woe, “Come over and help us.” Who will come?

Amoy, China.