The Medical Missionary
September 1, 1892
The Christian's Duty is to Make Christ Known to the World
The manifest duty of those who believe in Christ is to make him known to the world; for “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Freely Christ has given the invitation, “Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life.” To young and old, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, bond and free, the gracious invitation is extended. And yet what are we doing to proclaim Christ to the world, to extend the message of the Master? What efforts are we making to second the efforts of Christ? What sacrifices are we making to enrich others with the imperishable treasure of truth? Millions are perishing for the water of life, and what account will those who sit at ease have to render because of their selfishness, their neglect of souls for whom Christ died? Many who profess the name of Christ, are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; they put forth no personal effort to save others, neither do they deny self that they may give of the means which God has entrusted to them, that they may be a blessing to their fellowmen, that those who are willing may go forth to advance the interests of Christ's kingdom in the world. MMis September 1, 1892, par. 1
God has provided for the world a free gospel; and yet it is bound away from hungry souls for lack of means, and for want of earnest, self-sacrificing workers. The Rock of salvation has been smitten for you, that you may drink, that Christ may be in you a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. Then for Christ's sake, drink; for your soul will be refreshed with the living stream, and you will long to see others quenching their souls’ thirst at the fountain of life. Your heart will be softened and subdued by the love of Christ, and your soul invigorated to go forth and work for others. You will awake to the peril and privilege of the time in which you live. Today the people are breaking the law of God, and the warning cry is to be sounded. The warning message has come to you in order that you may repeat it to those who are in darkness and ignorance as to what is coming upon the world. The Lord has said,” If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” MMis September 1, 1892, par. 2
With the knowledge of this warning, with the understanding that this curse is hanging over the souls of those who violate the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, how is it that we have not shown greater interest, earnestness, and zeal in giving to the world the warning of the third angel's message? With such momentous events before us,—events which will decide the destiny of the world,—how is it that we have been so indifferent, so selfish, so engrossed in the things of this world? Have we entirely separated from Christ? Has the truth become too plain, too pointed, too close in its application to our souls? and like the disciples of old, have we turned from Christ, choosing rather the weak and beggarly elements of the world? How many spend money for the gratification of self, with no thought of the souls that are perishing without a knowledge of Jesus and the truth! How long shall this state of indifference continue? How long shall it be before those who profess to believe the present truth, will come into right relation with God? We must have living faith, which works by love, and purifies the soul. How ready are many to indulge self, how reluctant to do anything for those who are perishing for the bread of life! Let no one claim to be a member of the royal family above, unless he can show that he has a holy pedigree,—that he is a partaker of the divine nature. MMis September 1, 1892, par. 3
The trouble with those who have a name to live and are dead, is that they are seeking to serve two masters. Let us hear what the Lord has to say on this matter: “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” O, let us heed the admonition of Christ! He says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.... Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” MMis September 1, 1892, par. 4
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” MMis September 1, 1892, par. 5
Shall we not now have a selling time, in which we shall cut down our possessions, and devote our means to the cause of God? Shall we not make an investment in the missionary line, and lay up treasure in the bank of heaven? Shall we not make a free-will offering to the cause of God, and return a portion of the goods the Master has left in trust for his service? If we love God supremely, and our neighbors as ourselves, we shall give tangible proof of our faith, and souls will be saved in the kingdom of God as the result of unselfish effort. O that the Spirit of God might enlighten the hearts of his people, and open their eyes to discern the things that belong unto their peace! Look at the martyrs and holy men who have left us an example of godliness in the past. They valued the truth of God above every earthly consideration, above life itself. Their faith was vigorous, their principles unbending, their piety untarnished. Daily they were eating the flesh of the Son of God, and drinking his blood, and his life was in them. They read the word of God, meditated upon it, and carried out its instruction in their life; therefore they were practical Christians; and only those who go; and do likewise, will hear the words from the lips of the Master, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” If we would enter into the joy of our Lord, in the kingdom above, we must here partake of his self-denial and sacrifice, drawing nourishment from the word of God, whose sustenance is as enduring as eternity. MMis September 1, 1892, par. 6