Gods Sabbath

374

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

From Principles to Practice

The production of this book is also an apt illustration of these principles of co-working. The decision to produce the book is rightfully God’s alone. If the idea is conceived in a human mind, then it is man taking God’s place as the Plan Maker. Not only is it God’s prerogative to decide that the book shall be written, but He must also deter mine when this will happen and who the writer shall be. When the human instrument undertakes this task, the Lord does not dictate the book to him or her word by word. Once the general and specific orders have been given to do the work, it be comes the human’s responsibility to organize the assigned task. The writer must use all the skills and abilities that God has giv en, in order to express the message in the most powerful and ef fective way possible. But this does not mean that the Lord’s part is complete when He gives His direction to the worker. God’s part never ceases. From the time when the commission is given and the actual work begins, God and human are to be co-workers. The true Christian writer is consciously and continually dependent on di vine wisdom and guidance. The author never commences writ ing without first asking God’s guidance and blessing. Then every time a problem appears, another prayer ascends to the divine Problem Solver. So the work progresses until it is finished. When the manuscript has been completed, it is not yet deemed ready for print. Proof readers and editors check the copy, correcting, and noting many places where changes are called for. Some sections are rewritten. Even so, the author wishes that more time could be spent on polishing and perfect ing the manuscript. After a number of years, the first edition of the book having been distributed, the need may arise to print a second. During those years the skills of the writer have improved. Many lessons on the art of writing have been mastered, knowledge of the sub ject matter has greatly enlarged and new light has also been giv en. This means that the author is now able to effect a much bet ter result than in the original book. Accordingly, before the sec-