God’s Design in Our Sanitariums
[
Testimonies for the Church 6:219-228
(1900).]
Every institution established by Seventh-day Adventists is to be to
the world what Joseph was in Egypt and what Daniel and his fellows
were in Babylon. As in the providence of God these chosen ones
were taken captive, it was to carry to heathen nations the blessings
that come to humanity through a knowledge of God. They were to
be representatives of Jehovah. They were never to compromise with
idolaters; their religious faith and their name as worshipers of the
living God they were to bear as a special honor.
And this they did. In prosperity and adversity they honored God,
and God honored them....
So the institutions established by God’s people today are to glorify
His name. The only way in which we can fulfill His expectation is by
being representatives of the truth for this time. God is to be recognized
in the institutions established by Seventh-day Adventists. By them the
truth for this time is to be represented before the world with convincing
power.
We are called to represent to the world the character of God as it
was revealed to Moses. In answer to the prayer of Moses, “Show me
Thy glory,” the Lord promised, “I will make all My goodness pass
before thee.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and
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abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, for-
giving iniquity and transgression and sin.”
Exodus 33:18, 19
;
34:6,
7
. This is the fruit that God desires from His people. In the purity
of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and
loving-kindness and compassion, they are to demonstrate that “the law
of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”
Psalm 19:7
.
God’s purpose for His institutions today may also be read in the
purpose which He sought to accomplish through the Jewish nation.
Through Israel it was His design to impart rich blessings to all peoples.
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