Until the time of the final, glorious climax in the work of God on this earth, He will increasingly bless the efforts of those who serve in His cause. We read these words in the Book of holy writ : "He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness : because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." Rom. 9:28. Men will be inspired to expand their efforts, and increased blessings from heaven will be placed upon every added effort put forth.
The first physician recorded in Holy Writ as performing the work of a minister of the Word is Luke. God wonderfully blessed his efforts and inspired him to write one of the Gospels in addition to the work he performed as a busy medical practitioner.
Godly physicians are now being used of heaven to speak to suffering men the words of that first pioneer ministerial physician of long ago—Luke the beloved. Special blessings have always accompanied gospel truths spoken by Christian physicians to their patients, and they may now expect increased blessings to attend the words spoken to those who suffer.
We have this word from Mrs. E. G. White : "On the sickbed Christ is often accepted and confessed; and this will be done oftener in the future than it has been in the past; for a quick work will the Lord do in our world. Words of wisdom are to be on the lips of the physician, and Christ will water the seed sown, causing it to bring forth fruit unto eternal life."—"Testimonies," Vol. VI, p. 233.
Because we are now in the time when special and added blessings are to rest upon the work of the godly physician, as he speaks the words of life to his patients, a very special appeal comes to each one to use his talents of influence in this way.
"We lose the most precious opportunities by neglecting to speak a word in season. Too often a precious talent that ought to produce a thousandfold is left unused. If the golden privilege is not watched for, it will pass. Something was allowed to prevent the physician from doing his appointed work as a minister of righteousness. . . .
"Countless are the opportunities of the physician for warning the impenitent, cheering the disconsolate and hopeless, and prescribing for the health of mind and body. As he thus instructs the people in the principles of true temperance, and as a guardian of souls gives advice to those who are mentally and physically diseased, the physician is acting his part in the great work of making ready a people prepared for the Lord. This is what medical missionary work is to accomplish in its relation to the third angel's message. . . .
"This work belongs just as surely to the doctor as to the minister. By public and private effort the physician should seek to win souls to Christ."—"Testimonies," Vol. VI, PP. 233, 234.
Never before in the history of the world has the time been so propitious as now for the work of Christian physicians, and never will times be more propitious. The opportunities now afforded physicians to do this work for Christ will soon be gone forever, for the last message to come to men is now sounding, and it is rapidly nearing its close. There is to be no other message of mercy. There is to be no other opportunity for service. What men fail to do in this our day, they will never again have opportunity to do.
