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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 4, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 36.

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Editorial

By F. M. Wilcox

A Humble People, but a Great Work

Retrospective and Prospective

A HUMBLE people, but a mighty message! Frail human instrumentalities, but great principles fraught with eternal consequences! This, in a word, describes the messengers and the message as represented in this movement.
It started in weakness. A few humble, devoted men and women were led by searching the Scriptures of Truth to understand the “times and the seasons” of the world’s history, as revealed on the prophetic page. They heard the call of God to give to their fellows the message for this day. They responded, forsaking all, as did the disciples of old, to follow the Master. They were not great men according to the world’s standard. But they were intelligent men, brave and loyal; and because they dedicated to Heaven the powers of their mind and the affections of their heart, God was pleased to accept them as the bearers of mighty truth.
With Heaven’s guidance they built wisely and well, probably far beyond their own conceptions. The foundation of the work in which we are engaged was established. From a small beginning it has spread out to all the world. Truly may we exclaim, “Behold, how God hath wrought in behalf of his work!”
But much remains to be done. We have but touched the borders of some of the world’s great centers of population. Consider even in the United States, where this movement started and where it has made its greatest progress, the large areas yet unworked. Think of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans, and other great cities where we have gained just a foothold. Think of the many smaller cities from Maine to California and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, with contiguous rural districts, into which the herald of this movement has never entered. Then consider the great unentered regions in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, and the islands of the sea. “There is yet much land to be possessed.”
This great field calls for a consecration of all to God—property, talents, and life service. We cannot rest in the achievement of the past; we must lift up our eyes and look on the fields spread out before us. They make to us today a call for a new consecration.
Truly the work before us is great, and we of ourselves have no power to accomplish it; but we serve a great God, a mighty Captain. We are weak, but he is strong; we are humble men and women, but we carry a great message. The power is in the Captain we serve. The principles for which we stand are life-giving. Truth is mighty, and will prevail because it has in it the vitality of heaven.
We can trust to our Leader the outcome. He will make a short work in the earth, and he will use us provided only that we submit to be used. By ways known and unknown to us he will give to others the news of his soon coming. Through the Bible worker, through the canvasser, through the gospel minister, by tongue and pen, in public print and missionary letter, the message will be heralded. By usual and unusual ways the seed will be sown, in the country place, in the busy thoroughfares of travel, in the great centers. Watched by angels, watered by the Spirit, it will spring up into bounteous harvests, which in turn will furnish seed for other fields.
It behooves us to be watchful, faithful, and diligent. The eye of God is upon us. We stand before him as did Elijah. He takes note of our labor, of the spirit with which we labor, of the burden of soul we carry for the unsaved. He will not leave us to failure. He will not pass unrecognized at last our willing, faithful service. F. M. W.