The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

Figures Illustrative of Soul-winning Work

Quite a number of figures are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures illustrative of the work of winning men and women to God. The winner of souls is likened: BSPC 188.3

1. To a Fisherman

Jesus taught this lesson quite strikingly to His disciples. We are all acquainted with the story of the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, and how, at the command of their Lord, the disciples thrust out from the land. We know how they toiled all night long and caught nothing. We know also how, at the behest of Jesus, discouraged as they were, they let down their nets once again. This time they “enclosed a great multitude of fishes,” so much so that their net broke. (Luke 5:6.) BSPC 188.4

Then followed the dismay of the disciples; they were astonished, yes, they were even humbled in heart. Peter, quickly responding, fell down at the feet of Jesus, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” But the Master said, “Fear not, from henceforth thou shall catch men.” Verses 8, 10. Here, then, is the lesson. Both ministers and laymen are likened to fishermen, casting forth the net; and the promise of the Savior is that we shall catch men. Jesus repeated this lesson just before His ascension. Again they were by the seaside. Again the Savior bade them cast forth their nets. Again they had results from their efforts, and what results! The record reads, “They were not able to draw it [the net] for the multitude of fishes.” John 21:6. When the net was finally brought to land and they counted the catch, it was found that this time they had caught “great fishes.” These were not the small herrings they had caught before; these were large fishes. The lesson doubtless is that in our ministry for God the gospel net will bring in those from the high places of earth as well as those from the lower walks of life. To all men the call is to be given, and from all levels of society men and women will come to drink of the water of life freely. BSPC 188.5

2. To a Hunter

This figure is used in Jeremiah, where Jehovah refers to both fishermen and hunters in connection with His work. BSPC 189.1

“Behold, I will send for many fishers, says the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.” Jeremiah 16:16. BSPC 189.2

Here are men likened to “hunters,” men who go to the difficult places of earth, sometimes to places sparsely inhabited, away off in the solitary areas of this old world to find the souls for whom Christ died. How like the work of the faithful colporteur. BSPC 189.3

3. To a Light Bearer

The Lord has also likened His servants to light bearers. “You are the light of the world,” were the words of our Savior. Matthew 5:14. The apostle Paul caught the thought also and passed it on to the believers in his day when he said, “You shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:15. This is God’s purpose for His church. They are to shine as lights amid the darkness of this world of sin; they are to hold aloft the lamp of light and seek to lead men and women to Jesus, the Light of the world. BSPC 189.4

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God.... There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.”Testimonies for the Church 9:19. BSPC 190.1

Working for souls brings blessings, unspeakable blessings, not only to those who are won for God and who rejoice in Christ as their Savior, but also to our own hearts. BSPC 190.2