God’s Call to Service by Harlem Cliston

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 6, 1909

God’s Call to Service.

By Harlem Cliston

By Harlem Cliston.

GOD wants soldiers for His army. He is sending out His world-wide call to every soul. He has been doing this throughout the ages. His recruiting agents are everywhere. He does not ask that you shall be so tall, so broad, of so much weight. He does not demand that you shall be healthy or well or strong. He does not ask that you shall be so young or so old. Any age is acceptable. He does not debar you if you belong to any one or more of the numerous races or tribes of earth.

He does not require that you shall have made a success in any calling or business hitherto followed. You may have been a failure in everything except sin. He does not request you to come with recommends from previous employers or influential friends. He asks but the one thing,—the whole heart, the willing heart. For all such the great God is looking: “For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” Have you the willing, the perfectly willing heart?—Then no king in sore need would ever welcome more heartily a victorious army to his aid than the great Jehovah will welcome you.

There are many who enlist in earth’s armies because their fancy, their admiration, is aroused by the smart uniform, the gold braid, the easy, happy-go-lucky time the soldiers seem to have. Such prove of little value to an army except to make up in numbers or form targets for the enemy’s guns. Their moral force is of little worth. God does not call to dress parade, selfish pleasure, to love of ease. He calls to service—hard, oftentimes, hard, onerous, wearisome, monotonous service. All may forsake you for the parade drill, for the ease-loving pleasure. Your call is always, ever for duty, homely, ugly, fleshly, undesirable, but always profitable, pleasurable duty sometimes, to the willing heart. Is your heart willing?—If so, He wants you.

Many are “conscripts” in the armies of earth. That is, they are forced to serve from a certain age to a certain age. God asks willing service; He calls for volunteers.

There are no conscripts in His entire army in heaven or earth.

Many enlist in the armies of earthly rulers because of hope of reward, advancement, earthly honors, success. They are there for themselves, to profit themselves, to save themselves. The true soldiers in God’s army are not there for that purpose. Of their Leader it is said: “He saved others; Himself He can not save.” It is preeminently true. It is equally true of all His servants.

God calls to warfare, a warfare within the soul, the flesh, of the human. Against unholy affections, against selfish desires, against unsanctified dispositions, against unruly tempers and tongues, against love of ease and pleasure, against kind friends who would save us from the cross, against the tenderest, most sensitive chords of selfish humanity are we to war, resolutely, determinedly, unweariedly, with no self sympathy, asking no quarters of sin or selfishness, giving none, without compromise, yet with unfaltering love of souls, expecting no praise save God’s approval, giving all the glory to God.

Young man, young woman, God wants you. Do not turn to this one or that one, and say, “Lord, what of this man?” That is not your business; yield all to Him, receive all from Him; follow Him.