Pacific Union Recorder
December 4, 1902
The Regions Beyond
After choosing His disciples, Christ appointed them as His representatives, and gave them their ordination charge, their commission. They were to go forth as His witnesses, to declare what they had seen and heard of Him. Their office was the most important to which human beings had ever been called, and was second only to that of Christ Himself. They were to be workers together with God for the saving of the world. PUR December 4, 1902, par. 1
He who called the first disciples is still calling men to His service. And He is just as willing to manifest His power through us as through the first disciples. However imperfect and sinful we may be, the Lord holds out to us the offer of partnership with Him, of apprenticeship to Christ. He invites us to come under the divine instruction, that, uniting with Christ, we may work the works of God. PUR December 4, 1902, par. 2
God desires His workers to make the world their field of labor, rather than to work only for those who already know the truth. Never did the Lord Jesus confine His labors to one place. We read of Him that He “went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom; and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed of devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.” PUR December 4, 1902, par. 3
We read again: “When the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak; for they knew that He was Christ. And when it was day, He departed and went into a desert place; and the people sought Him, and came unto Him, and stayed Him, that He should not depart from them. And He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also; for therefore am I sent.” PUR December 4, 1902, par. 4
Christian missionary work was to be done in all places. The truth was to go from point to point. Christ worked as He desired His disciples and all other laborers to work. The towns and cities of Palestine resounded with the truths that fell from His lips. PUR December 4, 1902, par. 5
Today the truth is to be proclaimed in the same way. The world is our field. Everywhere the light of truth is to shine forth, that hearts now in the sleep of ignorance may be awakened and converted. In all lands the gospel is to be proclaimed. God's servants are to labor in places nigh and afar off, going to the regions beyond, ever preparing to embrace a wider circumference. They are to work while the day lasts; for the night cometh, in which no man can work. They are to point to a Saviour uplifted on the cross. From many voices are to be heard the words, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” PUR December 4, 1902, par. 6
Churches are to be organized, and plans are to be laid for work to be done by the members of the newly-organized churches. The workers are to keep reaching out, annexing new territory, enlarging the cultivated portions of the vineyard. The circle is to extend until it encircles the world. PUR December 4, 1902, par. 7
As workers go forth, filled with earnest, happy zeal, thrilling with the love of God, the whole church at home is revived. PUR December 4, 1902, par. 8
It is impossible for the man who believes in Christ to see the work that needs to be done, and yet do nothing. Daily the church is to receive from heaven the healing balm of God's grace to impart to the needy and suffering. The Lord's people are weighted with the most solemn responsibilities. There are before them the most glorious possibilities. All who believe the message for this time will go forth into the harvest field to do something for the Master, relying upon the assurance, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” In practical obedience to the divine command, their confidence will increase, and their talents will be multiplied. Obstacles will be removed. The mountain will become a plain. The desert will rejoice and blossom as a rose. PUR December 4, 1902, par. 9
Arise, ye sleeping virgins, and trim your lamps. Take up your appointed work. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent Me unto thee.” PUR December 4, 1902, par. 10
Ellen G. White