The Story of our Health Message

An Important Injunction

To all, whether lay or professional, comes the injunction, no less forceful today than when it was penned more than seventy years ago: “The health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body. ... To make plain natural law, and urge the obedience of it, is the work that accompanies the third angel’s message to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.”—Testimonies for the Church 3:161. SHM 436.4

The medical missionary work is much broader than that which can be estimated by the number of institutions or of workers graduated. Many a mother in the home, who has intelligently planned a wholesome, appetizing diet for her husband and her children, who has provided for their comfort and their health, or in times of illness has given simple treatments to the members of her family, or to neighbors, may be numbered among the ranks of faithful medical missionaries. It is in the light of this suggestion that we may better understand the statement that at first might seem difficult of comprehension: SHM 437.1

“We have come to a time when every member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work. The world is a lazar house filled with victims of both physical and spiritual disease. Everywhere people are perishing for lack of a knowledge of the truths that have been committed to us. The members of the church are in need of an awakening, that they may realize their responsibility to impart these truths.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:62. (Italics mine.) SHM 437.2

Seventh-day Adventists have for many years been looking forward to the time when the earth should be lightened with the glory of God, when with mighty, divine power the message of Christ’s imminent return should so stir the world that there would be seen a repetition of the scenes of Pentecost. As one of the contributing factors to this experience, the medical missionary work is to come even more prominently than ever before to the front. SHM 437.3

“As we near the close of time, we must rise higher and still higher upon the question of health reform and Christian temperance, presenting it in a more positive and decided manner. We must strive continually to educate the people, not only by our words but by our practice. Precept and practice combined have a telling influence.”—Testimonies for the Church 6:112. (Italics mine.) SHM 437.4