A siren sounds, and automatically the cars pull over to the side of the street to allow room for the fire engine to get through. Even in crowded downtown New York, where the cars are bumper to bumper and from curb to curb, the sound of a siren will miraculously open a way for the fire engine. A passenger on a boat will wake up in the middle of the night at the raucous sound of the fog horn and know that his boat is groping its way through the fog. In the same way people respond to the call of church bells or take shelter when they hear an air-raid siren. We might attribute this to modern efficiency, but the system is older than history. Truly there is nothing new under the sun.
In ancient Israel many details of the lives of the people were regulated by the blowing of trumpets or horns. During their sojourn in the wilderness, when the twelve tribes were encamped around the tabernacle as instructed by God, Moses was told to make two trumpets of silver, “. . . that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and the journeying of the camps” (Number 10:2). Everything was to be done in an orderly fashion. Certain blasts on the trumpet indicated definite actions on the part of the people. “And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey . . . But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm” (Numbers 10: 3-8). The trumpets were also to be blown in a certain manner when they were going to war against their enemies.
At a much later date we hear of the trumpet being used to warn the people when danger approached. This was done at the direct command of God, as recorded in Ezekiel 33. 1-5: “Again the word of the Lord came unto me saying . . . take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman. If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.”
We can see, therefore, that it was very necessary for the watchman to blow in such a way that the people would understand his message. As we are told in I Corinthians 14: 7,8: “. . . whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle.” This is further emphasized in the sixth verse of Ezekiel 33 where we read: “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Thus the responsibility is placed squarely on the shoulders of the watchman. If he fails to warn the people of the impending peril, he will be called to account for not doing his duty.
The Scriptures are full of admonitions to watch. Matthew 24:42 reads: “Watch, therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Chapter 25:13 states: “Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” In Mark 13:33 we have the same instructions in other words. This time Jesus says: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Continuing in the 34th verse, Jesus illustrates His meaning with the parable of a man “taking a far journey”, and before departing giving each servant his work and instructing the porter to watch. The 35th to 37th verses inclusive, read: “Watch ye, therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.” Verse could be added to verse, but all say the same thing. We are servants of the Lord, and He has gone into a “far country”, heaven, and will return. We have been given our duties to perform in His absence and told to watch. This puts us in the same position as the watchman of old, who was in duty bound to let the people know when to prepare for battle. We must watch and let the people know what to do to be ready for the second coming of Jesus.
If we sound the warning in clear tones, and the hearers do not take heed, they will perish, but their blood will be upon their own heads. We cannot make people obey the commands of God, but we must make sure they are instructed and know what they should do. Their course of action, after being told, will depend on them and we will not be held responsible for what they do. If they heed the call to salvation, they will put themselves in a position to be saved when Jesus returns. There is no more important work that we can do in the world than try to bring the message of salvation to as many people as possible.
Those who have gone from door to door offering the correspondence course have proved that there are still a number of people who take an interest in the things of God. Many who start taking the course will drop out, but the seed has been sown, and we can only plant and water. God gives the increase.
There are many ways of spreading the good news of the Gospel and each person can choose the way appropriate for him or for her. The Sunday night lecture, radio broadcasting, the correspondence course, personal interviews, or even teaching Sunday School or sending literature to friends have all been used effectively, so there is something each one of us can do. We know that such activity is pleasing to God, because Daniel 12:3 tells us: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Even if our efforts bring no visible results, we need not be discouraged. We have the example of Noah, who was a preacher of righteousness, and yet there is no record of anyone excepting his own family responding to over a century of preaching.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One