Preparation for the Work.
By John Nevins Andrews
God does not call men to work for him without fitting them for his work if they will allow him to do it. They may refuse to be benefited by his effort to instruct them, but it is nevertheless true that he does give them an opportunity and means of preparation to fit themselves for his work. It is not for the honor of God that men should enter into his work till they are prepared to do it in a manner that he can approve. God gave to Isaiah a vision of heavenly glory. When he had seen it, he cried out, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isa. 6:5. Upon this, one of the seraphim took a live coal from off the altar and laid it upon his lips, and said, “Lo this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” Then he heard the Lord make this inquiry, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And thus he records his response: “Then said I, Here am I; send me.” And the Lord then bade him go forth to fulfill his solemn commission. This teaches us a great lesson. Before men go out to work for God, they must have his work first wrought within themselves. When the live coal from the altar had been laid upon the lips of Isaiah, his iniquity was purged. Then he could speak for God, for he had something to say, and he was fitted to say it in a manner that God could accept. God does not want men to go out to labor for him till they have had their iniquity taken away. No man can lead others to Christ till he has first become personally acquainted with him. Men cannot preach the truth acceptably to God till they have first felt its saving power on their hearts. Wherever self exists, the work of God will be marred. It is not enough that the truth should be preached. It must be preached from pure motives. The honor of God and the salvation of men are the only reasons which should prompt the acts of Christ’s ministers. When they preach for the purpose of gaining the applause of men, God will not accept their work. Whatever is done to be seen of men, will have no reward from the God of Heaven. Before we can work for God, we must be soundly converted. When our hearts are right in his sight, our motives will be pure before him. We shall not then seek our own worldly interests, nor the praise of men, nor our own ease and convenience, but shall seek only the honor which comes from God, and for this will cheerfully bear burdens, and make sacrifices without one word of complaint. God will regard what men do with such motives as these. He will not accept that which is done from other motives. It is no light thing to work for God. The sacredness of the work cannot be over estimated. God will not be trifled with. He sees through all disguises, and he detects the most secret motives of the heart. The action is valued according to the motive which prompts it. Those who name the name of Christ must depart from all iniquity. They must not bear the vessels of the Lord without being themselves clean in his sight. Who is then sufficient for these things?