The Stonecutter's Problem

What is causing the delay?

Anonymous

In the evening hour, as you look back at the day with its problems solved and unsolved, have you ever wondered what sort of day heaven has had? Have you ever let your imagination make pictures of some of heaven's conversations, some of its problems? I wonder, sometimes, whether something like this might be taking place:

Picture heaven with all its waiting beauty, and with all its activity in preparation for the day not far distant when every angel will come with the Saviour to escort home all those who have chosen to spend eternity with Him.

And over here, what is this place? Cer­tainly the angels here are very busy. It looks, shall we say, like a heavenly factory of some kind. Oh, these are the stonecutters. They are preparing the precious stones—the diamonds and all the rest—and placing them in the crowns ready for those who soon will wear them. But listen:

"I don't quite know what to do about this gem. It will be worn down if I change it many more times."

"How is that?"

"Well, you see it represents Lydia. She was baptized the other day, and I put it in the pastor's crown. But then a request came in to change it because Lydia took Bible studies from Martha. And now it seems there is some talk of putting it in Uncle Andrew's crown because Lydia read the Signs for so long. "What difference--"

"Oh, it makes a lot of difference to those folks down there. Were you watching on Sab­bath a few weeks ago when dear old Brother Thomas was taken into the church after so many years?"

"Yes, and the pastor asked the one respon­sible for his conversion to come forward. And it was embarrassing, really, for half a dozen people started forward. One had been tak­ing him literature, one had been bringing him to church, one had sold him a book, and one—. Well, you remember."

"What did you do about the gem?"

"We took one of those big diamonds and divided it. It's all right, just so we don't get an order to change it again."

And another angel steps up. "I must tell you about a conference where I was on duty two months ago. The department heads were giv­ing their reports. That is, one was giving his report, and the others were whispering to­gether. It was such a glowing report, telling of the thousands baptized in one field through the work of that department. But another department head whispered, 'We gave them the names in the first place.' And another, 'They couldn't have done that if we hadn't done what we did.' And another said almost Out loud, 'It isn't fair for us to do all the work while they get all the credit.'

"The statistical secretary was in the meet­ing. And I heard him say he had a headache, he was so confused. And he said he was afraid they were more interested in his figures than in the crowns we are making."

The angels all look sad. One of them changes the subject just a little. "We're get­ting many orders from India these days."

"Yes. What is bringing in so many?"

"Evangelists Peter and John are working down there. And they're really getting re­sults."

"I'm so glad. But what will we do about their crowns? They won't hold many more gems."

"That's right. And so many more souls could be won if Timothy and his evangelistic company would go over from Japan to help them. But Timothy told the conference com­mittee he wasn't going to go if Peter was going to get the credit."

An angel who has been listening to the conversation steps up now. "Timothy doesn't know this, and it is my first opportunity to tell you. But Peter and John have both sent word that they don't want any more diamonds cut for their crowns. They want them added to the Saviour's crown. They say they all belong to Him anyway."

And the angels are silent and glad.

"We're getting many orders from the lay­men down in America," says one. "They've been reading the GO magazine."

"Yes; I've been on duty with a group of them. I felt sad the other day at camp meet­ing when the pastor took the credit for all the work they had done."

"Didn't that discourage them?"

"No. They said it didn't matter at all, just so the souls were won. I was so proud of them."

"That makes me think of Pastor James. He was ordained just last year. He gave a fine sermon at Titus' church last winter, and Titus asked him for a copy of it. Then Titus signed his own name to it and sent it to David for the Review."

"Wasn't that quite a test for James when he saw his sermon in print under Titus' name?"

"No, it didn't seem to be. He said he was glad the sermon was good enough that Titus wanted to sign his name to it. I wish there were many more young ministers like James." Just then an angel walks by on the golden streets. And in surprise they call out to him, "How is it that you are here today? Aren't you one of the angels commissioned to pour Out the latter rain?"

"Yes, I am," he replies, it seems a little sadly. "But we haven't been very busy lately. We hope it won't be long until we can do our work."

"What is causing the delay? Aren't they praying for the latter rain?"

"Yes, they're praying for it. But they aren't ready. And of course if we had the latter rain now, it would make a big problem for the stonecutters. You see, there would be so much confusion about who should be credited for all the conversions and all the miracles. We can't do our work until all the evangelists and pastors and teachers and doctors and laymen send up word, like Peter and John, to put all the gems in the Saviour's crown."

And the angels look at one another in understanding and in sadness. And one of them says, "I wish I could go down there and preach a sermon. Just one!"

I wonder. Could it be that today in heaven has been like that?


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Anonymous

November 1956

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