"The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Matthew 13:33)
Leaven is not seen, but its influence is felt. Even so it will be with the work of God on earth. "The kingdom of God comes not with observation." (Luke 17:20)
It is not always the work that looks the largest, that accomplishes the most good. No one can know how rapidly the work of God is progressing on earth. Even those who are doing the best work, are unconscious of the greater part of it.
The kingdom of glory will be ushered in at a time when even Christ's most faithful followers and workers will think that much remains to be done; because they will not know the influence of their own lives and work, and they cannot know what other hidden agencies God has at work.
This should serve to admonish us never to think that the coming of the Lord is far off, since we can see comparatively little done, and to encourage us to be content to work in quietness.
Although men may not sound the praise of our work, and even we ourselves may think that it is fruitless, we have the assurance that: "[Our] Father ... sees in secret." (Matthew 6:4,6,18)--Present Truth, May 10, 1894--Timeline: IV-24 (Sermon by the Sea)--Matthew 13:33.