The Signs of the Times
October 14, 1889
The Work of God's People
[Sermon at Chicago, April 9, 1889.]
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” ST October 14, 1889, par. 1
We should take heed that we do not make a mistake in this life that can never be remedied either here or in eternity. It is the purpose of your heavenly Father that his servants should carry the truth to all nations, but it is the design of the enemy to fasten their affection on the things of this life, and so thwart the purpose of God. There was a great work to be done after the ascension of Christ, but the disciples did not comprehend this fact. After the crucifixion they were placed in a situation of peculiar sorrow and trial. They had lost their Master, and were in despair, unable to understand why he should be taken from them. ST October 14, 1889, par. 2
While two of the disciples were journeying toward Emmaus, talking sadly of what had occurred, a stranger drew near and joined them as they toiled up and down the hills from Jerusalem to their place of abode. The stranger asked, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” They were surprised that he should ask such a question, and said, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.” ST October 14, 1889, par. 3
“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” The disciples were not able to believe the testimony of the women at the sepulcher. Their hearts were filled with unbelief and disappointment. Though Jesus had told them while he was yet with them that he would suffer these very things, all his words were forgotten in the hour of trial; but when this stranger showed from the prophecies the relation of these events to the Sacred Word, they were filled with new hope. Light began to break upon their minds, and when they came to their journey's end, they insisted that the stranger should abide with them. He entered their dwelling at their urgent invitation, and as they sat at meat, as he lifted up his hands, they saw the print of the nails, and recognized their risen Lord. As they rose to greet him, he vanished from their sight. ST October 14, 1889, par. 4
Then they began to talk of their experience as he talked with them by the way, and they said, “Did not our heart burn within us?” But the disciples were not content to enjoy this great blessing alone. They felt that they must hasten back over the rough way to communicate the good news to those who were bowed down in sorrow and disappointment. How is it with us? Do we feel this interest in others? When we have found some precious jewel in the mine of truth, are we content to keep it to ourselves? We cannot do this, if Christ is with us. If we have found the field that contains the treasure, we shall want everybody to rejoice with us. ST October 14, 1889, par. 5
The disciples went back the way they had come, but the distance did not seem long as they talked of their hope. They hastened through the streets of Jerusalem to the upper chamber where the disciples were wont to gather. They knew just where to find them. They had also heard the reports of the women, but they did not believe them to be true, and now these two others come to add their testimony to the certainty of Christ's resurrection. The disciples from Emmaus told over all the circumstances of their meeting with Jesus, and how he was known to them in the breaking of bread. They declared that though their hopes had been buried with Christ, they now believed that he would indeed reign on the throne of David. And while they were uttering these words of faith, Jesus himself stood among them, and said, “Peace be unto you.” Those hands that were uplifted in blessing, were the same hands that had been pierced upon the cross. He unfolded to their minds the prophecies concerning his life and death and resurrection. He took up the Old Testament and confirmed it by the facts that are now recorded in the New Testament. He proved to the disciples that he was indeed the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. ST October 14, 1889, par. 6
Christ did on this occasion just as he desires us to do now. We are to show that the specifications of prophecy have been fulfilled in the history of the world. In the light of the prophetic word the disciples did not have the least reason for unbelief, for all had come to pass according to the Scriptures. We should take the Old Testament to explain the New Testament, and the New Testament to reflect light into the Old. The typical service pointed forward to Christ, and in him type met antitype. The disciples were to carry on this very work, for they were to go forth to teach all nations that the Messiah had come. ST October 14, 1889, par. 7
When Jesus spoke to them of the work that they must do, and how the Holy Ghost should come upon them, they asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” He told them that a great work was to be accomplished before he should reign on the throne of David. He said, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The disciples were to begin their work where he had sown the seeds of truth. Multitudes had heard his words, and believed them, but they did not have the moral courage to acknowledge him as their Saviour, lest they should be turned out of the synagogue. When the Holy Ghost was poured out, the seed that Christ had sowed blossomed and ripened into fruit. Courage and hope inspired the disciples, and they were ready to go to the uttermost part of the earth to proclaim a risen Saviour. The early disciples accomplished their work, and from age to age, men have been raised up to carry forward the gospel. Advanced light has shone upon every succeeding generation, and today we are nearer the great white throne, we are nearer the consummation of the Christian's hope, than ever a people were before. We have more distinct views of Jesus than any have had before. ST October 14, 1889, par. 8
Is it not appropriate to read this text at this time, “Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal”? How many are laying up their treasures upon the earth. I have known those who professed to love God, and yet who would add field to field and place to place, and the more they accumulated, the less willing they were to give to the cause of Christ. I dare not ask for property. I do not know how I would bear the test. I do not want anything here on which to place my heart. I want my treasure in heaven. I once knew a woman whose husband was a drunkard, and she was obliged to wash for a living. She used to wish that she had riches so that she could help the cause. And the Lord tested her with riches, but she did not remember the cause of God. She built a fine house, and furnished it with every luxury. She added land to land, and kept promising herself that she would give to the cause as soon as she had accomplished this or that. I visited her. ST October 14, 1889, par. 9
One of her sons was intemperate and wild. I said, “You should give your means to God while you can. You do not know what may happen. Don't wait. It will prove a perfect loss to you if you do, for you will be tested again with poverty, if you cling to your earthly possessions.” She promised that she would give to the cause. She said she meant to do it, but she never gave anything. She became a poor woman, poorer even than she had been in the beginning. When she died, she had nothing to leave to the cause of Christ. It is much safer to be tested with poverty than with wealth; but if God gives you riches, he intends that you shall use them for his glory, to save souls for whom Christ has died. God has given us all that we have, and we should not consider that it is ours at all. All we enjoy is ours, only because of the righteousness of Christ. We should say, “All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own do we give unto thee.” We should not rob God, but let his means flow into the treasury. ST October 14, 1889, par. 10
Says the prophet, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” If we have robbed God, we should repent and make restitution as far as it lies in our power. If we had faith in God, we should see that we are only stewards of his means. You should mix faith with your prayers, and come up to God's requirement, that he may open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that you shall not be able to receive. As soon as you humble your heart before God, he will fill you with his Spirit and power. How do you expect sinners to be converted unless you do something to place the light of truth before them? You are to “lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” You should put your treasure in an unfailing bank, into bags that wax not old. ST October 14, 1889, par. 11
We read of disciples who, although they were poor, sent a contribution by the hand of Paul to distribute for the necessity of the poor saints at Jerusalem. Oh, that selfishness might all go out of our hearts! We should let our sympathies go out to the precious souls for whom Christ has died. I would not be deprived of doing something in the work of salvation, for all this world can afford. Christ left the royal throne, he clothed his divinity with humanity, he came to a world all marred and [scarred] by the curse, to rescue lost humanity, to rescue you and me. Oh, I want my heart exercised to carry on the work that he has left for me to do. I want to see the gospel preached to perishing souls. I want an interest in everything that is started for the advancement of the cause of Christ. Every one of us can do something, and we must come up to the responsibility that has been placed upon us. If we do this, we shall see every soul melted into tenderness and humility before God. ST October 14, 1889, par. 12