PRESENT ACTION by G. H. Bell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 31, 1877

PRESENT ACTION.

By G. H. Bell

[Read before teachers’ meeting at Battle Creek, and furnished for publication by request.]

The present is an important period. The judgment is set, and the books are open. The “Ancient of days,” in all his majesty, is seated upon the throne of judgment, surrounded by a countless retinue of angels. The “dead, small and great,” are passing in solemn procession before the great tribunal; for it is “the time of the dead that they should be judged.” One by one, their cases are decided for eternity. Christ, as our advocate, stands before the throne of his Father, and pleads his blood for the faithful. Soon the cases of the living will be taken up and decided, and oh! how few are prepared for that decision! What an awful decision it will be for those who are unprepared! It will fix their destiny forever. No power can ever reverse that decision. Soon, very soon, the decisive moment will come to us, our friends, and all our fellow-men. Surely, what we do must be done quickly. Prompt and immediate action is required. We must do something, and do it now,—present action is demanded.

But you say, “I cannot do anything; I am not capable of helping others, and I hardly know what to do for myself.” But you can do something; take the first step, and you can then see to take the next. By prayer and the study of his word, you can become better acquainted with God; you can cultivate a love for prayer, a love for the study of the Bible, a love for the precious truths it contains, a love for the divine Author, and for all that bears the impress of his creative hand. And you can do something for others. You can wear a cheerful countenance; you can speak kind words; you can show by all your actions that you love God and his truth more than you love to indulge your appetites and passions, that this world has fewer attractions for you than the world to come, and that you esteem the favor of God of greater value than all the wealth and pleasure which this world can offer. By the manifestation of zeal, courage, constancy, and self-denial, you can inspire the same in others. You can do something to lead others to study the Bible, to obey its precepts, and to become interested in the stirring truths of this message. Do whatever you find to do, and do it with your might. Do first that which first presents itself to be done, or that which you are best prepared to do at the present moment; and, although you can not do it so well as you would wish, do it as well as you can, and try to improve upon the effort at the next trial.

Do the best work you can to-day, and by the experience of to-day learn to work more skillfully to-morrow. Be sure to do something, and do it now. The present opportunity may be the last opportunity. There may be minds around you that are wavering, and will soon make a decision that will shape their whole future course of life—a decision, it may be, that will plunge them into eternal ruin. A word from you at the critical moment may change that decision and save a soul. Speak it now, to-morrow it may be too late. Many are on the point of yielding to temptation; they must have help now; if you neglect the present moment, the fatal step may be taken before another opportunity is offered you. There are hearts just sinking under discouragement: lighten their burden of sorrow now; do not wait till they are crushed under it. If the Spirit of God prompts you to an act of repentance or confession, attend to it at once, or you may find yourself in the sad condition of one of old, who found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. If God gives you good thoughts, speak or write them before they depart to return no more.

All action is present action; for the past we cannot recall, and the future will be present when it comes. Present action, then, can only be opposed to present inaction. And is this a time for inaction? for delaying, and dreaming? Yet how much precious time is squandered!—squandered oftentimes unconsciously! How many minutes pass unimproved! How often the present hour is wasted in anticipating what we hope to do in the next! But do we not need rest, and recreation? Yes; but idleness is not rest, and recreation is best found in change of employment.

Many quiet their consciences, and lose forever the most precious opportunities for doing good, in the fond anticipation of what they expect to do when they have finished their work of preparation; but such neglect a very important part of the preparation that will best fit them for usefulness. It is not every one that has a good education and a thorough knowledge of the truth, that can win souls to Christ. A true missionary spirit is of the utmost importance to those who would labor in any good cause. This spirit must be cherished and cultivated; for it will as surely die out without exercise as a man will die without food or air.

Some have resolved never to attempt anything pertaining to the work of God till they feel that they are well qualified for some responsible position. One might as well resolve never to mount a horse until he had become a skillful rider, or never to enter the water until he had become an expert swimmer. Experience makes one skillful, and experience is gained by practice,—by experimenting. How important that we gain an experience by a proper improvement of the opportunities afforded us in private life, where small mistakes will not be attended with such fearful consequences as would follow mistakes made in responsible positions!

But perhaps you claim that the proper discharge of the duties pertaining to your particular calling or vocation claim all your time and attention; and that in the discharge of these duties, you are gaining just the experience you need, and doing the greatest amount of good. Every one should, however, develop a noble manhood outside of his profession. Your duties as a man are more extended than the duties of your profession. Your obligations as a Christian are higher and broader than those pertaining exclusively to any calling or station in life. They include all others. It is not well for any one to be shut up wholly to the duties and labors of his profession. It prevents the harmonious development of mind and character. It is a species of slavery, and whoever is obliged to submit to it can never attain that breadth of thought and dignity of character that the great Creator intended he should reach.

What a work lies before the people of God at this time! The world lies in darkness concerning the great truth which they most need. Every one who has received this truth is under the most solemn obligation to do all in his power to extend it to others. Are we doing all we can? Are we sure that our own hearts are thoroughly imbued with the love of truth? Let us cultivate a love for it; may God help us to feel its importance, and become thoroughly acquainted with it. Let us do all we can to awaken that interest in the minds of others. Everything demands action, prompt action, PRESENT ACTION. Who will engage in it?

G. H. BELL.

Battle Creek, Mich.