THE WORK OF THE PHYSICIAN

The Saviour in His miracles revealed the power that is continually at work in man’s behalf, to sustain and to
heal him. Through the agencies of nature, God is working, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, to keep
us alive, to build up and restore us. When any part of the body sustains injury, a healing process is at once begun;
nature’s agencies are set at work to restore soundness. But the power working through these agencies is the power of God. All life-giving power is from Him. When one recovers from disease, it is God who restores him.
Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.
The words spoken to Israel are true today of those who recover health of body or health of soul. “I am the Lord
that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26.
The desire of God for every human being is expressed in the words, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.
He it is who “forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:3, 4.
When Christ healed disease, He warned many of the afflicted ones, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto
thee.” John 5:14. Thus He taught that they had brought disease upon themselves by transgressing the laws of God,
and that health could be preserved only by obedience.
The physician should teach his patients that they are to cooperate with God in the work of restoration. The
physician has a continually increasing realization of the fact that disease is the result of sin. He knows that the laws
of nature, as truly as the precepts of the Decalogue, are divine, and that only in obedience to them can health be
recovered or preserved. He sees many suffering as the result of hurtful practices who might be restored to health if
they would do what they might for their own restoration. They need to be taught that every practice which destroys
the physical, mental, or spiritual energies is sin, and that health is to be secured through obedience to the laws that
God has established for the good of all mankind. When a physician sees a patient suffering from disease caused by improper eating and drinking or other wrong habits, yet neglects to tell him of this, he is doing his fellow being an injury. Drunkards, maniacs, those who are given over to licentiousness, all appeal to the physician to declare clearly and distinctly that suffering results from sin. Those who understand the principles of life should be in earnest in striving to counteract the causes of disease. Seeing the continual conflict with pain, laboring constantly to alleviate suffering, how can the physician hold his peace? Is he benevolent and merciful if he does not teach strict temperance as a remedy for disease? Let it be made plain that the way of God’s commandments is the way of life. God has established the laws
of nature, but His laws are not arbitrary exactions. Every “Thou shalt not,” whether in physical or in moral law,
implies a promise. If we obey it, blessing will attend our steps. God never forces us to do right, but He seeks to
save us from the evil and lead us to the good.
Let attention be called to the laws that were taught to Israel. God gave them definite instruction in regard to
their habits of life. He made known to them the laws relating to both physical and spiritual well-being; and on
condition of obedience He assured them, “The Lord will take away from thee all sickness.” Deuteronomy 7:15.
“Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day.” “For they are life unto those that find them,
and health to all their flesh.” Deuteronomy 32:46; Proverbs 4:22. God desires us to reach the standard of perfection made possible for us by the gift of Christ. He calls upon us to make our choice on the right side, to connect with heavenly agencies, to adopt principles that will restore in us the divine image.
Men need to learn that the blessings of obedience, in their fullness, can be theirs only as they receive the grace
of Christ. It is His grace that gives man power to obey the laws of God. It is this that enables him to break the
bondage of evil habit. This is the only power that can make him and keep him steadfast in the right path.
When the gospel is received in its purity and power, it is a cure for the maladies that originated in sin. The
Sun of Righteousness arises, “with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2. Not all this world bestows can heal a
broken heart, or impart peace of mind, or remove care, or banish disease.