The Review and Herald
July 8, 1890
Determination in the Work of God
[Morning talk at Orebro, Sweden, June 25,1886.]
After the Israelites had left Egypt, and had come to the Red Sea, the armies of the Egyptians came out to compel them to return. The people that Moses was leading out were in great distress; they knew not what to do. The eye of God was upon his people, and he did not mean that they should perish. The pillar of cloud that had gone before them by day, at night became a pillar of fire, and hung between them and the Egyptian army, so that God was indeed a wall of fire round about his people. Although they were in a desert, no harm befell them. There seemed to be no way for their escape; there were mountains round about them, and the Red Sea before them, and they began to murmur and complain of Moses because he had brought them out of the land of bondage to perish by the hand of the Egyptians. RH July 8, 1890, par. 1
Moses told them to go forward into the waters of the Red Sea. It was according to God's command that Moses bade them go forward, and they went until they stepped into the waters, and by a rod in the hand of Moses, the Lord parted the Red Sea, and the children of Israel went through on dry land. We should have faith in God, and obey the command, “Go forward.” We should not wait to see what the Lord will do for us first, but go forward and believe that he will do just what he has promised. It may seem that our way is hedged up on every side, but we are to move forward. Our Heavenly Father would have us believe that he has ways and means that we cannot see, and going forward does not mean to stand still. RH July 8, 1890, par. 2
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” God would not have you bind about his precious work with unbelief; he would have you go forward, making progress continually in the building up of his cause upon the earth. You should not fix your eyes upon unfavorable circumstances and surroundings that will bind you in unbelief and in discouragement; it is your privilege to believe that God has ways and means to do his work. The great message of truth must go to all people, and nations, and kindreds, and tongues, and then shall the end come. We should ever keep this in view, and try to spread the knowledge of the present truth. You want faith at every step you take. You should engage in the work as though all depended upon you, and yet with perfect trust. God has intrusted to us the great work of warning the world of the coming judgment. We are to act our part in bringing this truth to all we can. We must pray God to water the seeds sown, that they may spring up and bear fruit to his glory. RH July 8, 1890, par. 3
There were but very few of us to carry forward the work at first, and it was very necessary for us to be of one mind in order to have the work advance with order and uniformity. When we saw the importance of being in the unity of faith, our prayers were answered, and Christ's prayer was answered that we should be one as he was one with the Father. We were as destitute of means as you are here in these kingdoms, and we frequently went hungry, and suffered from cold for want of proper clothing. But we saw that the truth must advance, and we must have means to carry it forward. We then sought the Lord most earnestly that he would open ways that we might reach the people in the different cities and towns, and my husband and myself would have to work with our hands to get means to carry us from place to place, to open the treasures of faith to others. We could see that the Lord of heaven was preparing the way before us in the work. My husband has worked at handling stone till the skin was worn from his fingers, and the blood started from the wounds, that he might get means to carry him from place to place to speak to the people the words of truth. This is the way the work went in the beginning, and our petitions must now ascend to the God of heaven as they did then, that he will open the way, and the truth find access to hearts. The gold and the silver are the Lord's. The cattle upon the thousand hills are his; but he wants you to move forward in faith just as far and as fast as you can. The Lord's blessing will rest upon those who do to the very best of their ability. It is the privilege of those who have embraced the truth in these countries to place themselves in a position of faith where God will manifest himself to them. I cannot see why the work and the plans should be different here from the work and the plans in America. Every one should be where he will feel that he is a part of the great work of God, and that he must help carry it forward. RH July 8, 1890, par. 4
When the Scriptures were opened in the Piedmont Valleys, the truth was carried forward by those who were very poor in this world's goods. Those who had Bible truth were not allowed to bring it before the people; they could not get Bibles into families, so they went as merchants selling goods, and carried parts of the Bible with them, and when they saw that it would do, they would read from the Scriptures; and those who were hungering for truth, could in this way obtain light. With bare and bleeding feet, these men traveled over the hard rocks of the mountains in order that they might reach souls, and open to them the words of life. I wish the very same spirit that animated them was in the heart of every one who professes the truth at the present time. We can every one of us do something, if we will only take the position that God would have us. Every move that you make to enlighten others, brings you nearer in harmony with the God of heaven. If you sit down and look at yourself and say, “I can barely support my family,” you will never do anything; but if you say, “I will do something for the truth, I will see it advance, I will do what I can,” God will open ways so that you can do something. You should invest in the cause of truth so that you will feel that you are a part of it. God does not require of the man to whom he has given one talent, the interest of ten. Remember that it was the man who had one talent that wrapped it in a napkin and hid it in the earth. You should use the talent, influence, and means which God has given you that you may act a part in this work. In these kingdoms those in the truth are numbered by scores, but you may number them by hundreds before another year comes round, if you faithfully work for God. Just as good souls are waiting for the truth, as are here today. Many are longing to be fed by the word of truth. The angel of the Lord has presented this people before me, and I know whereof I speak. But it will require earnest work on your part, mingled with living faith and the power of God, that the work may be accomplished. But you must broaden your ideas, brethren; you must by living faith take hold of the Arm of our strength, and say, “I can, and I will work for God,” and you will see of the salvation of God; for success will crown your efforts. RH July 8, 1890, par. 5