We are living in an age of the world when there is a great lack of real devotion to God and His truth. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the earth, and another spirit is fast gaining control of the hearts and minds of men. Yet there is no lack of form in religious work. Large and costly churches are still being erected; bells are pealing, morning, noon, and evening, summoning the worshipers to the temple of prayer. Neither are large congregations infrequent. But to the observant, there is a decided lack of the fruits of the Spirit of God, which gives little encouragement to those who expect to see their pre-millennium hopes realized in the near future.
With this condition of things confronting the religious world, and the fact that prophecy applies where the conditions prevail, would it not encourage the hearts of the faithful to examine anew the prophetic utterances of the past?
To the writer, a prophecy in the book of Ezekiel seems to find a fitting application to the present conditions: “And as for thee, son of man, the children of thy people talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, everyone to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And, they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but do them not: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass (behold it cometh), then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.” Ezekiel 33:30–33, R. V.
Perhaps many of our workers could at this time, like our Saviour in His days while in the flesh, say to the people: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:21
While this may be true, it should be most encouraging to every worker; for it is but the logical outcome of another prophecy found in Paul’s exhortation to Timothy: “But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1–5, R. V.
Where and when this condition prevails, Ezekiel 30:31–33 will surely find a fulfillment.
But he whose heart is filled with longing desire to meet his Lord in peace, will find in this condition of things encouragement to labor for souls; for amid all this Babylon, there are precious souls who sigh and cry for the abominations of Israel. “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God! Behold, the Lord God will come as a mighty One, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck.” Isaiah 40:9–12, R. V.
Without doubt the prophet Isaiah is here looking down through the ages, to the coming of the Lord to reward His faithful flock. But the feeding of that flock is intrusted to His under-shepherds. The apostle Paul in his instruction to the elders of the church at Ephesus realized this important trust, which he sets forth in the following words: “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28, R. V.
The apostle Peter also sensed the solemn work: to which God called him. The elders of the church in general, he exhorts to “tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the over sight, not of constraint, but willingly, according unto God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2, 3, R. V.
In that noted prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the restoration of the scattered remnant, it is recorded: “And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:3, 4, R. V.
Brethren and sisters, the remnant work is intrusted to our hands. Are we feeding the flock? Are we bringing them to the fold? Are we fruitful? Do we fear? The love of God casteth out all fear. Are we dismayed? “Fear thou not; … for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10. Are we lacking? “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
While true devotion to God and the principles, of righteousness are fast departing, the gathering call is being sounded through the earth: “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. A little longer, and the message will have done its sealing work, and the faithful will have been gathered into the fold.
Let us praise God for a place and part among His workers.
Published in the The Review and Herald, September 10, 1901