Question

Is There Danger Is Working Too Quickly In Bringing People To Truth?

Quick Response: Maybe!

Scriptural Answer

John 4:35 (KJV) "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

Matthew 9:37-38 (KJV) "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

Inspired Answer

"The fact that things move slowly in _______ is no reason why the great missionary work shall move slowly to meet men's habits and customs for fear of surprising the people. They need to be much more surprised than they have hitherto been. The Lord's business requires haste; souls are perishing without a knowledge of the truth.  {3MR 14.3}     ...      Man becomes a co-laborer with Christ, bringing souls back to God, by representing in actions the character of God, which has been misrepresented, falsified, by Satan. We aim too low. We are hesitating, doubtful; in self-esteem we can do nothing. Caution is needed; but while some of the workers are guarded, and make haste slowly, if there are not united with them in the work those who see the necessity of being aggressive, very much will be lost; opportunities will pass, and the opening providence of God will not be discerned.  {3MR 15.2}        When persons who are under conviction are not brought to make a decision at the earliest period possible, there is danger that the conviction will gradually wear away. When the truth is preached, there should be wise, understanding workers, men and women who commune with God, who derive wisdom from the Source of all power, to make personal efforts for those who are under conviction. Here is the trouble with people in England; they move so slowly that the decision essential for them to make must be urged home without unnecessary delay.  {3MR 15.3}        Let every speaker and every one who believes the truth, show by their actions that they are not children, tossed to and fro, but men and women who thoroughly believe that they have saving truth. Frequently when a congregation is at the very point when the heart is prepared for the Sabbath question, it is delayed through fear of the consequences. This has been done, and the result has not been good. God has made us depositaries of sacred truth; we have a message, a saving message, which we are commanded to give to the world, and which is pregnant with eternal results. To us as a people has been committed light that must illuminate the world.  {3MR 16.1}—Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, p. 16.1

Further Thoughts

Though we must be cautious when leading others to Christ and to advanced truth, we must be careful to not unnecessarily delay or go slowly, because over time conviction disappears and it is often much harder to reach the person later. It goes without saying that Satan is happy with ungodly delay.

Illustration of Witnessing Haste

Joseph Bates Receiving And Sharing The Sabbath