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Physician, an Educator
87
However skilled and faithful a physician may be, there is in his
experience much of apparent discouragement and defeat. Often his
work fails of accomplishing that which he longs to see accomplished.
Though health is restored to his patients, it may be no real benefit
to them or to the world. Many recover health, only to repeat the
indulgences that invited disease. With the same eagerness as before,
they plunge again into the round of self-indulgence and folly. The
physician’s work for them seems like effort thrown away.
Christ had the same experience, yet He did not cease His efforts
for one suffering soul. Of the ten lepers who were cleansed, only
one appreciated the gift, and he was a stranger and a Samaritan. For
the sake of that one, Christ healed the ten. If the physician meets
with no better success than the Saviour had, let him learn a lesson
from the Chief Physician. Of Christ it is written, “He shall not fail
nor be discouraged.” “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and
shall be satisfied.”
Isaiah 42:4
;
53:11
.
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If but one soul would have accepted the gospel of His grace,
Christ would, to save that one, have chosen His life of toil and
humiliation and His death of shame. If through our efforts one
human being shall be uplifted and ennobled, fitted to shine in the
courts of the Lord, have we not cause for rejoicing?
The duties of the physician are arduous and trying. In order to
perform them most successfully he needs to have a strong constitu-
tion and vigorous health. A man that is feeble or diseased cannot
endure the wearing labor incident to the physician’s calling. One
who lacks perfect self-control cannot become qualified to deal with
all classes of disease.
Often deprived of sleep, neglecting even to take food, cut off
in great degree from social enjoyment and religious privileges, the
physician’s life seems to lie under a continual shadow. The affliction
he beholds, the dependent mortals longing for help, his contact with
the depraved, make the heart sick, and well-nigh destroy confidence
in humanity.
In the battle with disease and death every energy is taxed to
the limit of endurance. The reaction from this terrible strain tests
the character to the utmost. Then it is that temptation has greatest
power. More than men in any other calling, is the physician in need
of self-control, purity of spirit, and that faith which takes hold on