Loma Linda Messages

“For the Healing of the Nations”

Elder R. S. Owen: I have been intensely interested in the question before us. This is the second year of my connection with the faculty of the Loma Linda College of Evangelists. I wish to say that, as a faculty, we have given careful study to this question of establishing a medical school at Loma Linda, and have agreed in the main as to the purpose and scope of such a school. We have also nearly agreed on the curriculum. LLM 520.1

Now, in order that you may get a picture of what we see, I believe it will be necessary for me to take up a little line of Bible study with you. LLM 520.2

The Place of the Bible in Education

In the first place, the Bible is to be the basis of all the instruction given in the schools we establish. Through the testimonies, we learn that the Lord is displeased because the Bible has not been given its proper place in all our schools in the past. As a faculty, we have determined at Loma Linda to devote much time to a careful study of the Bible, and to make this a leading feature of our school work. LLM 520.3

And now I ask an interest in the prayers of those who are present, that I may be able to present something of the picture that is in our minds: LLM 520.4

Life Eternal

In John 17:3 we read: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” This text very clearly teaches that to have life eternal is to have a knowledge of God, and that this knowledge of God comes through Jesus Christ, whom He has sent into this world. In order to understand this text more fully, let us go back for a moment to Creation. LLM 520.5

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Impartation of Life Through God's Word

We find that all things were brought into existence by the word of God; for “by the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.... For He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood fast.” So we see that all the vast universe was called into existence by the word of God. That same word imparted life to every creature that we see; and God is the source and author of life. All life comes from God. It is impossible to get life from any other source; everything has been called into existence—life has been given to all—by that word. LLM 520.6

Sin and Death

We find that sin came in. Sin is the transgression of God's law. Sin is simply being out of harmony with God's word. Sin brought with it death, so that death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. There settled down over this fair world that God had created, the pall of death. Everywhere it was seen. It was manifest in the falling leaf, the fading flower, and the dying man; and so death passed over all the world, because of a lack of harmony with the life-giving word of God. But God did not leave this world without hope. He had placed in the garden of Eden a tree of life. LLM 521.1

The Tree of Life

Let us study for a few moments some thoughts with reference to the tree of life. This tree, you remember, stood in the midst of the garden, beside that other tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life was not the only thing that had power to impart life and vigor to man; the same word of life that had brought into existence that tree of life, had also brought into existence the grains, fruits, and nuts, and had given them power to administer life to man. But to the tree of life was given life-giving power to such a degree that so long as man had access to this tree, he could not die; hence it was called the “tree of life.” Remember, however, that the life that was in that tree, came from the same word of power that had imparted life to every other tree and every other part of the creation of God. LLM 521.2

That tree of life was taken away from the world; but I thank God that He did not leave the world without something that would lead man to the Source of Life. He began to drop some of the leaves from the real tree of life—fragments of the word—precious promises that have been given fallen man all through the ages. One of the first of these leaves, from the tree of life that came to man after the fall, was the promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. God established in the world the Spirit of prophecy, by which He could communicate to man; and so through the Spirit of prophecy He has been letting down leaf after leaf; until today, in this blessed Book of books, we have a whole basketful of leaves from the tree of life. And I want to tell you that those leaves—those promises—that were dropped down into the world away back in the beginning, are just as precious and fresh today as they were when they fell from the lips of the Master. Every one of the precious promises contained in this living Word, is a leaf from the tree of life. All these leaves are given for the healing of the nations. LLM 521.3

Further: There is not a particle of healing that does not have its origin in the word of God (the tree of life). When we recognize this fact, that the word of God is the source of all healing in this world, we recognize a cardinal principle underlying medical missionary work. LLM 522.1

I wish that every one of us today understood perfectly that the words which come to us through that gift by which the Scriptures were written by holy men of old, are all leaves from the tree of life. I wish we were willing today to receive them as such. I wish we all stood thus related to those leaves from the tree of life that come to us through the Spirit of prophecy. LLM 522.2

Life-giving Power of God's Word

Notice further: Some of the men in past ages, grasping these leaves from the tree of life by faith, were able to do wonderful things with them. One man was strong enough to stay the heavens, that it did not rain for the space of three years and six months; and then by another fragment of the word he caused the rain to come in copious showers. Another found life-giving power enough to heal the sick; another to multiply food for the needy and to raise the dead to life. It was by virtue of the leaves of the tree of life, that all these miracles were wrought. LLM 522.3

Christ the Living Word

Nations went on; generation after generation staggered in blindness and darkness, becoming less and still less effective in their ability to see, until it became necessary for God to give a new revelation, and present before men, in a more striking way, the fact that His word was the source of all life. And so, in the fulness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. That Son was the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” He was the Word of life which we have seen and handled. LLM 522.4

The Son of God came into this world, I say, as a living Word to represent to dying men the life that was imparted to mankind in the beginning. He came also to demonstrate to the human family that there is life in the Word. And the Spirit of prophecy has told us that as He went from town to town, He was like a life-giving current, diffusing joy and health wherever He went. Why, there was not a building large enough in Palestine to accommodate His medical missionary work; and so He set up His hospital, as the Spirit of prophecy says, on the green slopes of the hillsides, by the lake, in the crowded thoroughfares of the city,—everywhere He went, there Christ established His hospital, and ministered life and health to all those who came in contact with Him. LLM 522.5

The Touch of Faith

One poor woman who had been sick for twelve years, and had found no relief, learned that the Life-giver was about to pass by a certain way. As she pressed through the throng, in an effort to approach close to the Saviour, she was able only to touch the hem of His garment; but she was made whole. Hers was the touch of faith, and from that living Word came a power that thrilled her being with new life. LLM 523.1

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O, I tell you, friends, it is the touch of faith, it is taking hold of the word of God by living faith, that brings us Heaven's richest blessings! All is vested in that Word. O, the power of that Word! The woman who reached forth and touched the hem of the garment of the great Physician as He passed by, was made whole. And during those days of Christ's ministry on earth, not only this woman of faith, but many others all over the land of Palestine, rejoiced in newness of life, both physical and spiritual. As we are told in Ministry of Healing, wherever the Saviour went, He left joy and happiness and life. Thousands whom He had blessed, were trying their newly found powers. O, what a picture that presents to my mind! I imagine I see a man who had been lame, and who never had walked before, now testing his newly found powers—trying to see how fast he could walk, and whether he could run, ... wondering if he could do this or that. He tries, and finds that the power that has been imparted enables him to do all these things he attempts. O, what a demonstration of life-giving power in that Word! LLM 523.2

Union of Priest and Physician

Let us now go back and take just another glance down through the history of the world. When the promise was made that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, it looked forward to Christ, the living Word; and, as you know, only one Saviour was promised,—not one Saviour for the body, and another for the Spirit. There was just one sin, one fall, one plan of salvation, one way by which man could have restoration by faith in Jesus Christ; and that way was through his substitution and priesthood. And so, back in that dispensation, the leper and the sinner both went to the priest. Why?—Because there was only one system, one plan of healing, and that was the plan of Salvation; and the sinner grasped this plan in the sanctuary and its services. There was a union in the evangelistic and the medical in the one person, the priest. This was God's plan. We have not followed this plan as we should have followed it; but you can see how this union of the healing of soul and of body was effected in those days. LLM 523.3

If time afforded, I could read many passages from the Spirit of prophecy, indicating why both the sinner and the leper came to the priest. One statement must suffice: “The sufferer from disease and the sin-sick soul must both be pointed to the mercy-seat.” Yes, there is no healing aside from the mercy-seat. This is a great principle that we must recognize in our medical work. LLM 524.1

Life Flowing From the Mercy-Seat

In the sanctuary question, God has given us the most wonderful truth that He has ever committed to any people. The sanctuary truth is a key to unlock the Bible, and out of it flows a flood of life-giving light. The prophet Ezekiel, you remember, saw a river, a river of life, flowing out of the sanctuary. Why was it seen flowing out of the sanctuary?—Because that sanctuary is the place where Christ ministers as High Priest, and because there is the mercy-seat. The river of life flows out from beneath the mercy-seat. LLM 524.2

Brethren and sisters, that great river is flowing today. All along the banks of that river were trees; and the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations. These trees certainly grow, and sustain their leaves, and bear their fruit, because they are by the river. All the value they have for mankind, is drawn from that stream. LLM 524.3

What, then, is the river? and what are the trees? and what is the fruit? and what are the leaves? LLM 524.4

The river is the stream of salvation, which comes to us through the sufferings of Christ and His work as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. LLM 524.5

The trees are the revelations which have come to the human family through the Spirit of prophecy, throughout all time. LLM 524.6

The fruit is, firstly, the spiritual food which is imparted through these revelations to those who desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. Second, the fruit represents the grains, fruits, and nuts with which God supplies us as the proper diet for the physical man. LLM 524.7

The leaves are sunlight, pure air, water, fomentation cloths, blankets for packs, physical exercise, and all other natural remedial agencies that God has provided for the healing of the nations. LLM 524.8

Remedial Agencies a Means to an End

Are these remedial agencies, as, for instance, fomentation cloths, the end sought for, or the means by which the end is reached?—These agencies are simply stepping stones to bring sin-sick souls to the great Healer of all diseases. We must persuade our fellows to advance into the river; they will find it first ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then to the waist, and then a river in which to swim. Thus those who seek recovery of health, may find restoration for the whole man—physically, mentally, spiritually. LLM 524.9

All the remedies that are given us for the alleviation of suffering and woe, are simply means by which to help the faith of the individual to lay hold on Christ and His power to restore life. If ever we establish another medical college of any kind, let us plan to establish it in such a way that the eyes of everyone connected with it shall be turned toward Christ as the only Healer. Let us use these remedial agencies as helps to turn men to the only real Source of help. I believe, brethren, that if we can establish a school on this basis, we shall have one that God can bless. And I am glad to be able to tell you that we have a faculty at Loma Linda, the members of which are determined to do that very thing. LLM 525.1

Dependence on God

Some one has suggested the thought that the present faculty at Loma Linda haven't brains enough to run a successful medical school. I want to tell you, brethren, we know it, and we are glad we know it. And the most unfortunate thing that could ever happen to Loma Linda, would be for the school to fall into the hands of a group of men who were confident that they had brains enough to run it successfully. This is just the trouble with God's work in some places today—there are too many men who think they have brains enough to run it, and they do not get humbly at the foot of the cross, and ask God to help them. That which we hold to be a hopeful feature in connection with the faculty of the Loma Linda school, is not the amount of brains they have; it is the fact that they are willing to learn of the great Teacher, and have respect for the words of counsel and admonition (874) coming to them through the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy. In all the changes that may come with the passing of the years and the development of the work, I hope that this encouraging feature will always remain a leading characteristic of every faculty that the Loma Linda school may have from this time to the end. LLM 525.2

I could relate many incidents in connection with our school and sanitarium work, but time forbids, so I will close by saying, God is blessing us at Loma Linda. LLM 525.3