Although man, through present civilization and its scientific and mechanical values, has learned much in quest of the physical world, this is not true as it concerns the physical well-being of man himself. He has discovered how to convey his body around from one place to another in comfort and convenience, with dispatch, ease, and efficiency. However, he has not found the way to control and direct his own bodily function with ease, and so we have dis-ease. He has not avoided internal bodily frictions, and so he has pain. He has not penetrated through to organic efficiency, and so he has illnesses of all kinds. The remark made about the people in Jesus' day, two thousand years ago, is still pertinent: "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd." Matt. 9:36, A.R.V.
But the Master of men did not forsake men in their need. He responded to the need, as we know, by actively and aggressively doing His mighty work of healing. He did not regard them with pitying scorn, and leave them to suffer because of their disregard of natural laws. Their pains became His pain; their suffering, His suffering; and their need of health became His concern for their health. He was "acquainted with sicknesses," as the American Revised Version renders Isaiah 53:3, 4. He sympathetically bore "our griefs and carried our sorrows."
It is this helping of men and women toward health restoration that must characterize the work of Seventh-day Adventists. The challenge and appeal of Christ, following the expression of His profound sympathy, is the demand upon God's people today. "The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest." Matt. 9:37, 38, A.R.V.
"Today the same needs exist. The world is in need of workers who will labor as Christ did for the suffering and the sinful. There is indeed a multitude to be reached. The world is full of sickness, suffering, distress, and sin. It is full of those who need to be ministered unto,—the weak, the helpless, the ignorant, the degraded."—"Counsels on. Health," p. 13.
In conducting this health program for the masses, we as a people are called, first of all, to engage in health educational work to prevent disease before it fastens itself upon the suffering. This may not always be possible, of course, but by proper regard for health principles, much can be done to ward off sickness. Indulgence is one of the marked individual and social sins of our generation. Through intemperate habits in eating and drinking, bodily forces and functions are weakened and impaired. Were the harm done only to the physical nature, it would be bad enough; but as we know, what affects the body also affects the mind and the soul. Lawlessness, despair, even madness and insanity, often result from the vice of indulgence.
Blessed as we are with heavenly light in the proper care of the body, our duty is plain. Health instruction is needed by all classes, rich and poor, ignorant and learned. One of the singular things in this time of marked scientific efficiency and mechanical preciseness, is the utter carelessness which marks most people's attitude toward their own physical well-being. A man will be very anxious about the mechanical efficiency of his automobile, but surprisingly indifferent and negligent about the care of his own body. A woman will be much concerned relative to the expert running of her domestic mechanical appliances, and strangely thoughtless about the smooth operation of her own vital ore-ans. In cases in which station in life would demand an essential regard for physical well-being, where we would expect intelligence enough to insist on it, we find it not.
"Ministers of the gospel, statesmen, authors, men of wealth and talent, men of vast business capacity and power for usefulness, are in deadly peril because they do not see the necessity of strict temperance in all things. They need to have their attention called to the principles of temperance, not in a narrow or arbitrary way, but in the light of God's great purpose for humanity. Could the principles of true temperance be thus brought bef ore them, there are very many of the higher classes who would recognize their value and give them a hearty acceptance."—Id.,pp. 25, 16.
Materialism has come down upon our world with devastating power. Men are given to seeking, first, the things of this world. The things of God are plainly relegated to second or third place, so far as the vast majority are concerned. In the mad rush for possession and wealth, little attention is given to the care of the body. The dire results in heart and other organic diseases are all too evident. Neglect of proper functional safeguard is taking its high toll in nerve and mind impairment. How true is the picture shown to Mrs. White:
"The present enfeebled condition of the human family was presented before me. Every generation has been growing weaker, and disease of every form afflicts the race. Thousands of poor mortals with deformed, sickly bodies, shattered nerves, and gloomy minds, are dragging out a miserable existence. Satan's power upon the human family increases. If the Lord should not soon come and destroy his power, the earth would erelong be depopulated."—/d., p. 18.
We as Seventh-day Adventists are called to do a great work in sound health reform. Let all our medical leaders rally to this call, and thus fulfill the Lord's will that many go forth to proclaim the gospel of salvation in its full setting—giving attention to the health of body, mind, and soul.
