Eight tall shadows fall across the wooden ramp. The wood creaks as the family walks together up it, their eyes focused forward. Below them, a sea of humans hurls all manner of taunts and jeers at them. With quickening steps, the little family reaches the threshold of the ark and is about to enter when the Patriarch turns to face the mob.
A sudden and immediate hush falls on the multitude, all eyes fixing on the man standing at the door of the ark. With hand outstretched in invitation and deep emotion in his voice, the Patriarch declares, “Dear friends, everything has been prepared. There is enough room for all of you. The rain is coming. Please–please–come into the ark. Save your souls! The Lord has provided…” At the mention of the name of the Lord, the silent mob comes to life with a roar. Some burst into laughter, others yell profanities, but none move toward the ark and its safety. The air is again polluted by their boisterous noise and evil threats. The Patriarch’s outstretched hand slowly returns to his side as he sorrowfully bows his head.
Suddenly, a loud shriek pierces through all the racket, and everyone turns to watch as pairs of every animal on earth make their way to the ark. Close behind is a cloud of birds of every color, size, and description, flying into the ark as if led by an invisible hand. In fear and amazement, the unruly multitude involuntarily splits to allow for this unnatural procession to take place. A question is whispered among the multitude: “What is the meaning of this?” The wise and learned men, who for decades past have reassured the multitude against Noah’s warnings, are now speechless. But as soon as the last pair of animals disappears into the ark, the multitude awakens out of their trance, resuming their taunts and jeers with more hostility than ever before–this time, however, coupled with horrific threats of violence. Without warning, a brilliant flash covers the entrance to the ark, and a most glorious cloud descends from Heaven, settling next to the immense door. A gasp escapes the crowd as the gopherwood door groans and sways; slowly, and without human assistance, the massive door swings securely shut, leaving Noah and his family within, and all others without.[1] The decision of the mob has now been ratified by Heaven.
…
The days of Noah were evil days. The world was full of violence and sin; every thought of mankind was evil.[2] God investigated the situation of earth and judged that–in all the earth–only one man was righteous. To this righteous man God revealed His plan to destroy Earth and everything in it. However, He also gave him instructions on how to build a boat that would be the salvation of anyone who entered it. God’s instructions for building this boat were detailed and specific. For example, God commanded that one window and one door be made: The former, at the top of the ark and the latter, on its side.[3] For the next 120 years while Noah built the ark, he preached to the inhabitants of the earth of their impending doom and begged them to enter the ark of salvation God had provided for all.[4] Once Noah, his family, and the animals were in the ark and the inhabitants of the earth had finally rejected God’s merciful invitation to enter the ark, God forever shut the door of mercy on the antediluvian world. When God shut the door of the ark, those inside the ark were sealed for salvation, while those outside were marked for destruction.
“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”[5] To many, it is apparent that our world is no longer as it used to be. Wars and rumors of war, great natural disasters, terrible pestilence, and destructive famines have occurred continually throughout the earth’s history and are still occurring all over the world today. As in the days of Noah, love for God and man has grown cold in the hearts of many. God has investigated the state of the inhabitants of the earth and judged that the day is fast approaching when sin and sinners will be no more.
To the righteous on earth, God has given the everlasting gospel, the good news of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, to be preached to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. Through the proclamation of the three angels’ messages, God is pleading for the last time with the inhabitants of earth to enter the “gospel ark” and be sealed. It is through the third angel’s message that God desires to loudly warn the inhabitants of the earth of rejecting His seal: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation….”[6] God has given the righteous detailed and specific instructions on how this final appeal is to be given to all the world. His chosen method for the final proclamation of the three angels’ messages, and especially the third angel’s message, is medical missionary work.[7]
This Issue, Sealing: Set the Door, discusses the calling God’s people have always had to be medical evangelists (Homan) and how following this calling will always bring success (Murray). It takes a look at God’s ideal for medical missionary work and the instructions given to us to give the world its last call to experience revival, reformation, and true education as a result of the everlasting gospel (Jensen). It epitomizes the greater purpose and call behind medical missionary work (Magan).
The gospel will be preached all over the earth, transforming the hearts of many. And it is our privilege to follow God’s instructions and use the method of medical missionary work God has given us, to share the everlasting gospel with every nation, tribe, tongue, and people that those who hear might be sealed. Today, may we pledge ourselves, by God’s grace, to use medical missionary work as God intended—to share the three angels’ messages with the whole world that Jesus might return, in this generation, to take His sealed children home.
[1] Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1890), 98.
[2] Gen. 6:5
[3] Gen. 6:16
[4] White, Patriarchs and Prophets, 92.
[5] Matt. 24:37
[6] Rev. 14:9,10
[7] Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1946), 515.