The Review and Herald
March 20, 1900
Young Workers to Be Taught by Those of Experience
“This is life eternal,” Christ prayed, “that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” There is in this prayer a greatness that no human language can express. Thousands upon thousands long for a knowledge of God. Some have a partial knowledge of him, but not the fullness of knowledge. Others, filled with unrest, long for something that they have not. RH March 20, 1900, par. 1
Christ longed to help and save the perishing, and he expressed his longing in the words, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.” RH March 20, 1900, par. 2
The labor for which Christ saw there was so much need was harvesting. Harvesters are few. The work of gathering in the grain takes tact and skill, that none be lost. Winnowers of souls are needed in every place where the standard of truth, on which is inscribed the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, has been uplifted. RH March 20, 1900, par. 3
“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.” When Christ made this statement, there were scribes and Pharisees, priests and rulers, in every city and town in the land. But the Saviour saw that these teachers were wholly unfitted to minister to the spiritual needs of the people. “Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God,” he said to them. Ye teach for doctrine the commandments of men. RH March 20, 1900, par. 4
To every one God has committed a work. Each one is invited to take Christ's yoke and learn of him. Intensity is needed in the work of seeking to save those who are perishing out of Christ. Satan is intense in his efforts to deceive souls and gather them under his banner of apostasy and rebellion, and his laborers are without number. The Lord has a great work to be done. He has decisive battles to be fought, and he calls upon young men and young women to fight for him, to consecrate themselves to his work. “I have written unto you, young men,” John says, “because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.... Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” RH March 20, 1900, par. 5
And the apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” RH March 20, 1900, par. 6
God calls upon his aged servants to act as counselors, to teach the young men what to do in cases of emergency. Aged workers are to bear, as did John, a living testimony of real experience. And when these faithful workers are laid away to rest, with the words, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,” there should be found in our schools men and women who can take the standard and raise it in new places. RH March 20, 1900, par. 7
While the aged standard bearers are in the field, let those who have been benefited by their labors care for and respect them. Do not load them down with burdens. Appreciate their advice, their words of counsel. Treat them as fathers and mothers who have borne the burden of the work. The workers who have in the past anticipated the needs of the cause do a noble work when, in the place of carrying all the burdens themselves, they lay them upon the shoulders of younger men and women, and educate them as Elijah educated Elisha. RH March 20, 1900, par. 8
David offered to God a tribute of gratitude for the divine teaching and guidance he had received. “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,” he declared. Those who in the history of the message have borne the burden and heat of the day, are to remember that the same Lord who taught them from their youth, inviting them, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me,” and giving them the light of truth, is just as willing to teach young men and women today as he was to teach them. RH March 20, 1900, par. 9
It is wisdom for those who have borne heavy loads to come apart and rest awhile. These faithful workers should be relieved of every taxing burden. The work they can do as educators should be appreciated. The Lord himself will co-operate with them in their efforts to teach others. They should leave the wrestling to those who are younger; the future work must be done by strong young men. The work is under the control of the Author and Finisher of our faith. He can and will give fitness to men of opportunity. He will raise up those who can fight his battles. He never leaves his work to chance. This work is a great and solemn one, and it is to go forward. RH March 20, 1900, par. 10
It is not God's will that the fathers in his cause should use up their remaining vitality in bearing heavy loads. Let the young men shoulder every responsibility they can, and fight manfully the good fight of faith. The Lord knows better whom to select to do his work than do the wisest men, however interested they may be. It is God who implants his Spirit in the hearts of young men, leading them to fight for him against great odds. Thus he inspired Paul of Tarsus, who fought with all his intrusted capabilities for heaven's revealed truth, against apostates who ought to have upheld him. God's servants will have today to meet the same difficulties that Paul met. This experience some have had who are now raising the banner of truth. It is such men who can stand in defense of the truth. If they continue to be learners, God can use them to vindicate his law. RH March 20, 1900, par. 11
Let not the aged workers think that they must carry all the responsibilities, all the loads. New fields of labor are constantly opening before us. Let the young men unite with experienced laborers who understand the Scriptures, who have long been doers of the Word, who have brought the truth into the practical life, relying upon Christ day by day, who seek the Lord as Daniel did. Three times a day Daniel offered his petitions to God. He knew that One mighty in counsel was the source of wisdom and power. The truth as it is in Jesus—the sword of the Spirit, which cuts both ways—was his weapon of warfare. In word, in spirit, in principle, the men who have made God their trust are an example to the youth connected with them. These faithful servants of God are to link up with young men, drawing them with the cords of love because they are themselves drawn to them by the cords of Christ's love. RH March 20, 1900, par. 12