“UNTO WHOMSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL BE MUCH REQUIRED.”
By T. E. Bowen
ACCOUNTABILITY attaches to light bestowed. Upon whom God bestows many spiritual blessings, of them he has a right to expect corresponding returns. Most persons are willing to accept the blessings and bounties of heaven. But the difficulty lies in returning to the Giver that true heart-service he has a right to expect. Upon our loved ones in the home we bestow much love and affection, and how quickly we notice any omission in these mutual kindnesses. Our denominational sin lies at this point—a failure to dispense to the world the light given us. In 1896 were published these words: “God has given his messengers the truth to proclaim. Then the churches are to voice the truth from the lips of the messengers, and use their talents in every way possible to make the ministry a power to communicate truth by their catching the first rays of light, and diffusing the same. Here is our great sin. We are years behind.” Again, in a Special Testimony sent to New York in 1886, we find these words: “God will work for us just in accordance with our faith. At the slow rate our people in many States are working, it would take a temporal millennium to warn the world.” Our sin is in being behind,—years behind,—and in going at a slow rate. But a change has come. We have reached a crisis in our missionary work. Activity is taking the place of inactivity. God is setting in operation simple methods by which all may become efficient laborers. “The very simplest modes of work should be devised, and set in operation among the churches.” This is being done. Our Reading Circle work is very simple, and yet, under God, will result in arousing many to “regard their do-nothing position as a sinful neglect to use the talents which God has given them.” The blood of souls will be upon our garments in the awful and fast-approaching day of God if we fail now, just now, in doing our individual and Heaven-appointed personal work for souls. But to engage in this personal work for souls requires heart preparation. Before Isaiah heard the voice of God asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” before he said, “Behold me [margin]; send me,” a holy seraphim had touched his lips with a live coal from off the altar, taking away his iniquity, and purging his sin. Before we can point sinners to Christ, we must know the power of the Christ-life to take away, and keep from, sin. Before we can rescue those who are drifting with the tide, we must be anchored to the throne of God—to the Rock Christ Jesus. Ponder this searching statement: “There is plenty animal machinery [institutions, methods, and even workers of the kind] at work. Christ in truth is advocated, but is not represented; and for this reason the truth is dishonored by the very ones who advocate it.” Three hundred, with Gideon, rescued Israel from the Midianites; Jonathan and his armor-bearer started another deliverance; Daniel, by standing alone for God, caused kings to tremble before the word of the Lord; whole cities were stirred at the presence of one or two Spirit-filled men during the former rain, and it is for such men as these that God is now looking. Shall he look in vain? Let us cease simply advocating truth, and let us represent it, by being it. “Angels who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, are saying, to every true saint, There is work for you to do. ‘Go, stand and speak . . . to the people all the words of this life.’ If those addressed would obey this injunction, the Lord would prepare the way before them, putting them in possession of means whereby they could go.” Let us study carefully the message of truth by which the world is to be saved, and the field, white for harvest, to which it is to go, and then commit ourselves, as did Isaiah of old, fully to God to be used until the end shall come. “Behold me; send me.”