January 16  An Urgent Message

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. 22:9

Millerite believers felt a sense of urgency to warn the world to prepare for the coming of Christ. One of the major instruments they utilized would be the camp meeting, a form of religious gathering employed by the Methodists and others since about 1800.

The initiative for the first Millerite camp meeting took place at the Boston general conference in May 1842. By that date the year 1843 loomed perilously close, with most of the world yet to be warned.

L. C. Collins expressed the faith of many when he wrote: "My faith is strong in the coming of Christ in '43. I make no calculations for any thing beyond, but glory. . .But with so short a time a awake the slumbering virgins, and save souls, we must work; work night and day. God has thrust us out in haste, to give the last invitation, and we must labor in earnest, and compel them to come in, so that his house may be filled. . .Strong men in Iarael are rallying to our help. The midnight cry must yet be made to ring, and ring through every valley and over every hilltop and plain. An awful trembling must yet seize upon sinners in Zion. A crisis must come, before the door of mercy is everlastingly shut against them. They must be made to feel that it is now or never."

A sense of urgency and responsibility rested heavily upon the Millerites by mid-1842. The day after Collins penned his letter, the momentous Boston general conference opened, with Joseph Bates, at the helm. That conference not only voted to hold camp meetings-it also appointed a committee to superintend them. The principal object of the meetings was "to awake sinners and purify Chiristians by giving the Midnight Cry."

Some Millerites felt that the very attempt to hold such meetings was a bit presumptive. After all, a camp meeting was a great undertaking. "What," declared some, "a little handful of Adventists hold a camp meeting! Why, they are hardly able to hold a house meeting." But the key word was that they would "TRY" in spite of appearances.

And God rewarded their faith, Josiah Litch estimates that 500-600 were converted to God during the first two Adventist camp meetings. There is a lesson here. It is not outward appearnces that count, but God's blessings. And He is still willing to bless those who step out in faith and "TRY."

Jesus, while He dwelt on earth, dignified life in all its details by keeping before men the glory of God, and by subordinating everything to the will of His Father. If we follow His example, His assurance to us is that all things needful in this life "shall be added." Poverty or wealth, sickness or health, simplicity or wisdom--all are provided for in the promise of His grace(TFMB 99).