Truth Will Triumph--Will You?

They "shall come" was the promise. And "the children of the kingdom"? "Cast out"? "God forbid!" was the horrified response of the Jews to this suggestion often made by Christ (Luke 20:16). But it happened. The Gentiles received the crucified and risen Messiah with an enthusiasm never equaled by the children of light. God did not cast away His people, but only those who would not become His, being "hard­ened," {Rom. 11:7 margin) were "broken off" "because of unbelief" (verses 20).

Are we, Seventh-day Adventists, upon whom "is shining the accumulated light of past ages," in similar danger as was Israel (Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 115)?

Truth Will Triumph

"The truth is soon to triumph gloriously," declares the servant of the Lord (Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 135). "There is no need to doubt, to be fearful that the work will not succeed. God is at the head of the work."—Testimony Treasures, vol. 2, p. 363.

"Do not worry," we are comforted. "The work is under the supervision of the blessed Master. . . . All parts of the work—our churches, missions, Sabbath schools, institu­tions—are carried upon His heart. Why worry?"—Ibid., p. 353. God is well able to "finish the work, and cut it short in right­eousness" (Rom. 9:28). Notice that "he will finish the work." "A short work will the Lord make upon the earth." Speaking of the final ingathering of souls, which could and should have taken place long ago, the inspired pen makes it clear that God is the Master Worker and can do more in a moment than we can in a lifetime.

The message will be carried not so much by ar­gument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The seed has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by mis­sionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been pre­vented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large num­ber take their stand upon the Lord's side.—The Great Controversy, p. 612.

How Long, O Lord?

At a recent camp meeting, we were thrilled by the reports of faithful lay workers. Vacation Bible schools, literature evan­gelism, welfare work, audio-visual Bible studies, youth evangelism—all featured prominently. The joys of Christian service were evident on every face. Yet a number of times came the hopeful, yet somewhat regretful, expression, "The final results are not yet known." In the heart of every mis­sionary worker could be found the occa­sional outcry, "When shall I see the fruits of my labors?"

"I'm afraid to quit," said a lifetime lit­erature evangelist, though admitting that each month of sixteen years had brought a struggle "to make ends meet." He has la­bored in the same small city for this entire time, though suffering much opposition be­cause of religious prejudice. There has been sickness in the family and other diffi­culties to test their faith. Their eldest son had been killed instantly on the highway a short time before.

All of this—and the fruits? He knows of only four or five people who have had the courage to accept the truth that he has so faithfully presented through the years. In his heart, I am sure, is the plea, "How long, O Lord? How long? How long before the harvest, the end of suffering, the resurrec­tion of the righteous, and the reunion of families?"

Shall We Triumph Too?

A young mother, now a faithful branch Sabbath school evangelist, knelt in prayer, an intense longing in her heart for Jesus to come. It seemed that a voice spoke to her, "Marie, if you want Jesus to come, you'll have to do something about it." "The truth is soon to triumph gloriously, and all who now choose to be laborers together with God will triumph with it."—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 135. (Italics supplied.) While reaching for the crown of life, we must never reject the cross of service.

What does it mean to be "laborers to­gether with God"? Is it engaging in what we call "missionary activities?" Distribut­ing literature, feeding the hungry, preach­ing, teaching, and healing? This is all in­cluded, but listen: "Only when selfishness is dead, when strife for supremacy is ban­ished, when gratitude fills the heart, and love makes fragrant the life—it is only then that Christ is abiding in the soul, and we are recognized as laborers together with God."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 402. (Italics supplied.)

A Valuable Lesson 

On a journey from Cape Town to Jo­hannesburg, God taught me how limited was my concept of working for God. Try­ing to go to sleep in an already over­crowded, smoke-filled compartment on the train, I was much annoyed when the sixth man stumbled through the door smelling strongly of liquor. I was disgusted and felt that he should sleep elsewhere if he insisted on drinking. I must confess that I felt like telling him so and thought of asking the conductor to remove him. No, it's not wrong to hate the smell of liquor, but I was having difficulty realizing this liquor was not in a bottle but in a child of God, a candidate for His kingdom. Finding it hard to separate the liquor from the man, I was inclined to cast both out.

God was not long in bringing me to repentance. The night was not pleasant, but I determined to do what I could to help this man. The next day, when alone, we had a long talk. He wept as he told of starting to drink only seven years before, of how he had lost family and job as a re­sult. Now he was on his way to Johannes­burg to seek help at a hospital for alcohol­ics. A man needing help—even seeking help—and I would have cast him out of my presence!

To add to the needed rebuke, only days after I arrived in Johannesburg, I received a letter which began thus: "Dear Mr. Kerbs, Many thanks for your kindness to my son on the train." The son of a praying, worry­ing mother! And I, who claim to be seeking the lost, a worker in God's cause, was almost unready to help him whom God had brought to me!

"To bend every energy toward some ap­parently great work, while we neglect the needy or turn the stranger from his right, is not a service that will meet His approval." —Ibid., p. 384.

Activity Not a Test

Could it be that in the midst of our ac­tivity God is often unable to find room to work? One former worker admitted his mistake: "While my heart was in the Mas­ter's service, the Master wasn't really in my heart."

"So many are full of busy plans, always active; and there is no time or place for the precious Jesus to be a close, dear com­panion."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 393.