THE Sabbath is God's own sign. It is His special mark. It is the distinctive message of our church to the world. Is it being presented in our evangelistic meetings in a way to reach and convict the greatest number of persons?
Years ago while browsing through Early Writings I came across this statement which caused me to do some thinking:
I saw that the holy Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers; and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear, waiting saints. I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They have not rejected the light upon it. And at the commencement of the time of trouble, we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. ... At this time God's chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth, and they came out and endured the persecution with us.—Early Writings, p. 33.
In Early Writings, page 85, Mrs. White explains "the time of trouble" referred to in the above statement thus: " 'The commencement of that time of trouble' . . . does not refer to the time when the plagues shall begin to be poured out, but to a short period just before they are poured out, while Christ is in the sanctuary."
When we consider the troubles that are coming upon our world today, isn't it time to proclaim "the Sabbath more fully?"
In recent years I have attempted to do this. The usual plan is to present the Sabbath message toward the end of an evangelistic series, as one of the final testing truths brought to the congregation. I have turned this about and now offer it as the first testing truth—while I have the most people, while the hall is still full, while the audience is excited and alert, and while the enthusiasm among our own people is running high.
At first I was resigned to the fact that I would probably lose my audience. Others were sure this would be so, and some of my peers in the ministry endeavored to persuade me to change my approach. But the result has been that from the time the Sabbath is presented, my audiences grow. When the public sees this truth, when they accept the Sabbath message, then every other testing truth falls quickly into place.
Instead of the Sabbath question causing a loss in attendance, it helps to build an audience. The proclamation of the Sabbath, instead of becoming a deterrent, draws interest and intensifies attention to the peculiar message of truth that God's people have to present to the world.
The promise as contained in Early Writings, page 33, has a twofold meaning: first, it promises to unite the fellowship of the saints; second, it calls out of the world God's other children who as yet are not members of the remnant church.
Could it be that we have been dwelling too much on lesser topics? Time is short. The sunset hour of earth's history is approaching. Maybe we ought to prayerfully examine the Sabbath truth more fully. Under God's power and blessing we can enjoy the additional successes in evangelism for which we have all been longing.
Think of the promise, "We were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully.
