Our Plain Duty by A. E. Lemon

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 10, 1903

Our Plain Duty

By A. E. Lemon

A. E. Lemon

In every critical time our people instinctively look to the spirit of prophecy for some revelation. And as no time has ever come in our work more critical than the present, the question of what we ought to do comes to every one.

There is no doubt that the present condition of the world, and its urgent need of the last warning message, demand that every Seventh-day Adventist be wide awake and hard at work.

“And how shall the message be given? What has the Lord said? May we not see in the light already given, a plan by which the work may be accomplished,

if followed up in the strength of God? Let us read:—

“We are nearing the end of this earth’s history, and God calls upon all to lift the standard bearing the inscription, ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ He calls upon his people to work in perfect harmony. He calls upon those engaged in our medical work to unite with the ministry; he calls upon the ministry to co-operate with the medical missionary workers; and he calls upon the church to take up their appointed duty, holding up the standard of true reform in their own territory, leaving the trained and experienced workers to press on into new fields.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 292.

When this testimony is carried out, we shall have two important things: (1) complete union: all our forces will be united for work. The great burden of Christ for his followers was that they might be one; (2) laborers for the fields beyond. The people in our churches will carry on the work in their own territory, and leave the trained workers, ministers and all, to carry the message to new fields. See Vol. VI, page 30. This would at once furnish trained workers for the Mission Board, so that the many urgent calls for help from every foreign field could be supplied. And the same means that it takes to support these workers in the home field, would go to support them in foreign fields.

What more efficient plan could we expect the Lord to lay before us? Of course it means a cross for all to bear. But if we cheerfully bear the cross, the crown is ours forever. Let us not be hearers only, but doers of the word. Let us walk in the light, and press on to victory.