When the Books Are Opened by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 1, 1914

When the Books Are Opened

By R. A. Underwood

R. A. UNDERWOOD

How different will appear the present estimation of man when the unerring record, kept by the angels of God, is made known in the judgment! What a surprise it will be to many!

Often prejudice or other influences so affect the mind that it is almost impossible to write a biography or even give a report of the work of men and state the exact truth. Two individuals will give quite a different report of the same thing, and yet they may desire to tell the truth. But when viewed from still another standpoint, the facts appear in altogether a different light. Sometimes this is so when reports are made of the results of ministerial labor in a tent or city effort. Sometimes one person is given credit for accomplishing a large work, when in reality others have done more in bringing about the results than the one who receives the credit, yet no mention is made of their labor.

I remember one of our older ministers once conducted a tent effort which resulted in the organization of a church of thirty-five or forty members. He was about to make a full report of his work in the REVIEW when it occurred to him that it would be well to find out how many of the company had really embraced the truth as the result of his effort. So he asked each person who had joined the church to state just what had led to his acceptance of the message. As he called on one after another he was greatly surprised, and as the result of his investigation made a report quite different from that which he had in mind at first.

Only four or five of the forty persons had first heard the truth from his lips. Several had been convinced as a result of reading the Signs of the Times or the REVIEW. Others had purchased "Bible Readings for the Home Circle" or "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," from a canvasser, and thus learned of the truth. Still others had received help from a Bible worker in another State. In most cases this minister had simply been watering the seed sown by others, and he said: "This investigation was an eye opener to me. I had been building upon the work of others, and in reality a small part of the results of the tent effort was due to my own labors."

Frequently this is the case; and in the day of sure rewards, when every man receives his due according to his work (Eccl. 12:14), God will give the faithful Bible worker, the canvasser, the brother or sister who has sent out the books and papers on their mission of love, a sure reward, regardless of who has had the credit in this life.

At the present time the minister has an organized church doing missionary work, paying their tithes and offerings; Bible workers to assist; a corps of canvassers on the firing line; and, aided by the prayers of the believers and the ministration of angels, he is only one of many in accomplishing the results that may come from nearly all our efforts. Only the angels are able to make a full report that will give credit to whom credit belongs. Hence, where all these agencies are at work, we should be a little modest in claiming too much as the result of any one person's effort. One has planted, another has watered, but it is God who gives the increase.