Chapter 22—Missionary Work
December 10, 1871, I was shown that God would accomplish a
great work through the truth if devoted, self-sacrificing men would
give themselves unreservedly to the work of presenting it to those in
darkness. Those who have a knowledge of the precious truth and who
are consecrated to God should avail themselves of every opportunity
where there is an opening to press in the truth. Angels of God are
moving on the hearts and consciences of the people of other nations,
and honest souls are troubled as they witness the signs of the times
in the unsettled state of the nations. The inquiry arises in their hearts:
What will be the end of all these things? While God and angels are
at work to impress hearts, the servants of Christ seem to be asleep.
But few are working in unison with the heavenly messengers. All
men and women who are Christians in every sense of the word should
be workers in the vineyard of the Lord. They should be wide-awake,
zealously laboring for the salvation of their fellow men, and should
imitate the example that the Saviour of the world has given them in
His life of self-denial, sacrifice, and faithful, earnest labor.
There has been but little of the missionary spirit among Sabbath-
keeping Adventists. If ministers and people were sufficiently aroused,
they would not rest thus indifferently while God has honored them by
making them the depositaries of His law by printing it in their minds
and writing it upon their hearts. These truths of vital importance are to
test the world; and yet in our own country there are cities, villages, and
towns that have never heard the warning message. Young men who
feel stirred by the appeals that have been made for help in this great
work of advancing the cause of God make some advance moves, but
do not get the burden of the work upon them sufficiently to accomplish
what they might. They are willing to do a small work which does not
require special effort. Therefore they do not learn to place their whole
dependence upon God and by living faith draw from the great Fountain
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and Source of light and strength in order that their efforts may prove
wholly successful.
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