Drawing by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 20, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 42.

Drawing

By W. N. G.

Drawing.—“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel of salvation. It is that Gospel that He wants His ministers to proclaim to the world. It is this that He has given us with which to draw men. It is of no value to sinners to be drawn by anything else; and there is no call for a minister of the Gospel to use any other “drawing cards;” for the people of the world can do enough of that. Mr. Moody has been credited with the following utterance on this subject:—

“The people are hungry for the Word of God. Can we say that we retain the apostolic idea of preaching when ministers can preach only half an hour once or twice a week, and then have to take two or three months’ rest during the summer? The truth is, they wear themselves out looking for novelties, which prove to be vanity, because they bring no healthy increase in number or in spirituality. I undertake to say that a man who studies his Bible faithfully will be running over with sermons, and will always be in demand. There is nothing that draws crowds like the old Gospel.”

Illustrative of this thought, it is pertinent to cite an instance in this city. A few years ago an “evangelist” came and conducted “revival” services for several weeks. The regular house of worship of the church which he came to serve was too small for the large attendance, and a commodious hall was secured. Over two hundred additions to the church were reported as a result of the “revival.” Much ado was made over this, and it was announced that a larger house would have to be built immediately to accommodate the increased membership. Twice since that time the same evangelist has been here, and was much advertised, and “drew.” But that church, instead of building an enlarged house, is now worshiping in a smaller house than they occupied before the great “revival.” It doesn’t do any good to “draw” men unless they are drawn to Christ, unless they are drawn by the Spirit and the Word to that place where they can be kept by the power of God. W. N. G.