One of the results of easy money and so-called good times has been to develop a ministry who depend too much upon material things for success. Too many of our own evangelists have stressed the necessity of acquiring a large amount of equipment to attract crowds rather than of spending much time in the secret place of the Most High.
Since the so-called depression has struck us, some have lost their courage. They say, "Our hands are tied because of financial conditions in our conference, and we can do nothing but mark time until this condition changes, and we have more money to spend." In the humble opinion of this writer all of us have as much money as we know how to handle successfully, and this day of new levels has come in order that we may check up on ourselves to see whither we are drifting. Nothing is clearer in the writings of the Spirit of prophecy than that a decided change will come in our plan of working. One such statement is found on page 300 of "Testimonies to Ministers:"
"The Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning."
And again, on page 80 of Volume V of the "Testimonies," we read:
"Those who have rendered supreme homage to 'science falsely so called,' will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent, will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. . . . In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them."
Two things will be noted in these quotations: first, that a change of plans must come in our work, at which time we shall see clearly that God is turning us away from our own human planning to His divine program; second, that we shall not depend upon our own genius, talent, and self-sufficiency, but upon the light which God desires to give us for just such an hour as this. Then what shall we depend upon in order that our work may progress in the strong way commensurate with the stupendous task and the shortness of time in which to perform it?
This question is answered in the Bible and the writings of the Spirit of prophecy. Read Isaiah 52:1: "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." Here we have clearly set before us a picture of Zion, or the church, after she has been clothed in the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness.
In Early Writings pg. 271, we read:
"I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound, some wives by their husbands. and some children by their parents. The honest who had been prevented from hearing the truth, now eagerly laid hold upon it."
Thus we see that God's servants who have laid aside the stately trappings of men and have been "clothed with the armor," will speak forth God's truth with mighty power, and it will be effectual. And the angel answers the question as to what causes this great change by saying that "it is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel."
Dear fellow workers, shall we not thank God and take courage from the fact that He has in these last days an effective armor for which we can exchange our feeble trappings, and go forth under the direction of the Lord Himself, who will finish His own work and cut it short in righteousness?
Charlotte, N. C.
