KENTUCKY by Wm. Lenker

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1901

KENTUCKY

By Wm. Lenker

The work is onward here in the mountains, though the laborers are few in comparison even to Gideon's little army; but our God is the same now as in Gideon's time, and He can work with few or with many; the work is not hard when the Lord prepares the way before us. In this rugged land the Lord has precious souls awaiting the truth, which will become jewels to shine as bright gems in some laborer's crown. Will it be yours? Will it be mine? Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be;” and it is written, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Now it is high time to sow for eternity, for soon this blessed privilege will be ended. Sometimes the way seems hard and the path rough and steep; but it is so good, as a person looks over the past, to know that the hard places only drove him nearer to God. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Is it a good time now to lay the armor down?—No, indeed! We are admonished: “Let us not be backward now. That which is to be done in warning the world must be done without delay. Let not the canvassing work be left to languish. Let the books containing the light on present truth be placed before as many as possible.” I know by experience that now, right now, there is a good demand for our books. Since my last report I have been able to work only a few weeks, and have taken over four hundred dollars' worth of orders; and in a letter recently received from my fellow laborer, Brother A. H. Baker, he said that in about three days he had secured seventy-five dollars' worth of orders. Surely the Lord is in the work. Why not, fellow canvassers, take courage, and fight the good fight of faith, and push the battle to the front as never before? I as well as others would be most miserable if we should have to stop before the battle is won. I enjoy putting in good long days. At times there seems to be so much to do that I canvass on Sunday, and find it quite as good as other days.

Brother, sister, in this eleventh hour has our Saviour ever knocked at the door of your heart, and said, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Is it not sad to think that when the Lord crowns every intelligent, well-directed effort with success, there should be such a dearth of canvassers?—only one where there should be a hundred! Do the ninety and nine see Anakims and Goliaths in the way? Why, brethren, one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. Isaiah says: “Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands;” and Jesus tells us, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Yoke in with us, dear reader, and your rich experience will verify to your own soul the truthfulness of our Saviour's words, and if faithful, we shall have a glorious crown.

Wm. Lenker.