The Signs of the Times
June 3, 1889
The Work of Reform
When Wesley began his career in England, there were only a few who rallied around his standard. When the Puritans emigrated from England to America, they were like shipwrecked mariners who had barely escaped with their lives. Left without friends or influence, all they had was their precious faith, their strong will, and their earnest devotion to God. They were as sheep without a shepherd. The believers were few. Like the mustard seed, which is the least of all seeds, so seemed the Pilgrims; but their influence became powerful and far-reaching. The faith of the Puritans was as a coal from the altar of God, an inextinguishable light that glorified the land with its radiance. The Puritans were obliged to practice the most rigid economy and self-denial, yet they did not neglect to build houses in which to worship God. They were guided by the providence of God. They realized their need of schools to educate their children in the way of the Lord, for it was necessary to raise barriers on every side against the influence from which they had fled. The establishment of schools under their own control was of great advantage to the maintenance of their faith. Special effort was made to educate their children and fit them for the work of diffusing the light of the gospel, and of upholding the principles of religious liberty. The history of past reform is repeated in the work of today. The people who have the precious truth for these last days are to turn their attention especially to the provisions God has made for them to become intelligent, in order that they may be qualified to meet the coming issues. The truth for these last days has not been supported by large legacies or advanced by worldly influence. God has given us the privilege of becoming partakers with Christ in his sufferings here, and he has provided that we may have a title to an inheritance in the earth made new. The secret of our success in the work of God will be found in the harmonious working of our people. There must be concentrated action. Every member of the body of Christ must act his part in the cause of God, according to the ability that God has given him. The body has been compacted by that which every joint supplieth to the effectual working of every part. ST June 3, 1889, par. 1
The hearts of our people must move in unison. There must be no holding back by anyone. We must press together against obstructions and difficulties, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart. I look back with pleasure and with gratitude to God on the work that has been done by our people in the past. I look at the small beginning both east and west of the Rocky Mountains, and then to the large institutions that have been established, and exclaim, “What hath God wrought!” When I consider the work that has been done, I do not fear to move forward, but I do fear for those who forget the lessons of the past. We have grown from a few believers to a numerous people, and as God has given us great and important truths, we have great and important duties, and weighty responsibilities to bear. ST June 3, 1889, par. 2
We owe all our prosperity to God, and we should co-operate with him in training our children to become missionaries for home and foreign fields. As a people whom God has highly favored, we should do all that it is possible to do to exercise our God-given powers, to adorn with truth and holiness the cause we profess to love. We must give less attention to fine houses, costly furniture, and changeable suits of apparel. Moral and intellectual training must be provided for the young, and for those newly come to the faith. We must deny self, and plan for increased facilities for the spread of the truth. Our work is to be extended by missionary effort. We must not only gain new ground, but cultivate the fields where the truth has already entered. We must depend less upon the preacher, and more upon personal effort, opening the Scriptures from house to house. ST June 3, 1889, par. 3
We are not at liberty to leave our children unprovided for, nor to subject them to influences unfavorable to the truth and to the perfecting of Christian character. We must not wait for every apparent obstruction to be removed from our pathway, but we must be bold, undaunted soldiers of Christ, who are looking forward to the heavenly reward. We are fast hastening to the Judgment, where we must render an account for all our works. We call upon all to do the very utmost of their ability. Let no one feel that this does not mean me. It means every soul that has tasted of the powers of the world to come. You have solemn, earnest work to do for the Master. Put away pride, put away everything hurtful, and come in sincerity to the foot of the cross. Give yourself to Him who has bought you with his own blood. He requires all that there is of you. Not only are the ministers called upon to labor for the salvation of souls, but every individual member of the church should make efforts to enlighten his friends and neighbors. Let us do our work in such a way that when our Lord shall reckon with his servants we may say, “Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.” ST June 3, 1889, par. 4
The Lord requires careful thought, and the highest use of the intellect. When he comes to reckon with his servants, he will not inquire how successful you have been in gathering means; he will inquire, What have you done with the talents I have given you? What have you done for me in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, and the fatherless? I was sick, poor, hungry, and destitute of clothing; what did you do for me with my intrusted means? How was the time I lent you employed? How did you use your pen, your voice, your money, your influence? I made you the depositary of a precious trust by opening before you the thrilling truths that heralded my second coming? What have you done with the light and knowledge I gave you to make men wise unto salvation? ST June 3, 1889, par. 5
Our Lord has gone away to receive his kingdom, but he will prepare mansions for us, and then he will come and take us to himself. In his absence he has given us the privilege of being co-laborers in the work of rescuing souls to enter those mansions of light and glory. We are either building upon the foundation, wood, hay, and stubble, to be consumed in the last great conflagration, and our life-work be lost; or we are building upon the true foundation, gold, silver, and precious stones, which will never perish, but shine the brighter amid the devouring elements that will try every man's work. Any unfaithfulness in spiritual and eternal things will result in loss throughout endless ages. I present these thoughts to the laymen of the church, that they may awaken to a sense of their responsibility. Work for Jesus. Put your entire interest into God's cause. Self-deception may make you feel that you are doing about right; but how does your life compare with the life of Jesus? Christ has done everything for you; he withheld not even himself. Now show zeal and earnestness in putting all your powers to work for him, and you will receive eternal life as your reward. ST June 3, 1889, par. 6