BY
LIVIU TUDOROIU—writing from Canada
 hose
who destroy themselves by their own acts will never have eternal life.
They that will continue to abuse the health and life given them of
God in this world, would not make a right use of health and immortal
life were they granted them in God's everlasting kingdom."1
The
invasion of information
It is
nearly impossible to fathom all the strange marvels found in our society
today. The invasion of information is as dense as the fog in springtime.
Everywhere you hear about hybrids and genetic mutants, along with
cloned birds, sheep, horses and even attempts with people. The magazines
everywhere invite you to a multicolored diversity of recipes such
as how to become skinny in just a few days, how to gain perfect symmetry
of your face, how to take this or that vitamin to keep your body in
good shape and, if you have sufficient courage, you can even enroll
"online" to be part of a free experiment for a "scientific institute"
that works on a top secret project to create the "great universal
soldiers." On the streets of our world can be heard the expression:
"What's new?" This has since been updated to "What's up?"
So the
topic "A Healthy People" will not make much sensation in a world where
the hands, the feet, vital organs, and—finally some may imagine—even
the brain can be replaced. It seems to me that as long as this little
elephant called "Science" grows more and more without ethics or moral
standards, our world may become so robotic that one day we will get
the language of an "iron tongue" speaking about beautiful cemeteries,
good hospitals, necessary divorces, and in the end, natural selection,
as so-called "father" Charles Darwin tried to teach us. That is why
this wonderful ideal initially designed by God—"a healthy people"—soon
will become our worldwide utopia.
The
missing link
"Many
are suffering from maladies of the soul far more than from diseases
of the body, and they will find no relief until they shall come to
Christ, the wellspring of life. Complaints of weariness, loneliness,
and dissatisfaction will then cease. Satisfying joys will give vigor
to the mind, and health and vital energy to the body."2
Detrimental
to the fact that there is widespread public interest in health and
happiness, the physical and mental values of mankind are depreciating
daily. There is a missing link. Something is wrong with the expectation
about health and happiness—a lot of money is spent in vain just
as it was in the case of the woman in the Bible who spent all that
she had in search of a cure for her issue of blood. We read in Mark
5:25–29 that "a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve
years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent
all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched
his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall
be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up;
and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague."
The Spirit
of Prophecy likewise records this event:
"In the
throng there was a woman who had long been troubled with a painful
malady. For twelve years she had suffered with this disease. She had
spent all she had on physicians, and was nothing bettered, but rather
grew worse. She was told of Christ's power, but she did not think
herself worthy of His notice. 'If I may but touch His garment,' she
thought, 'I shall be whole.' She watched her opportunity, and Christ
in His infinite love knowing her heart's desire, moved in her direction.
By faith she put forth her hand, and, touching the hem of His garment,
was instantly made whole. Her faith was not in the garment, but in
the virtue which the garment covered."3
This poor
sufferer found her last and only hope in Jesus. It has always been
like this. Jesus is so often the last in our affairs. We come to Him
only when we have no other solution. We cannot talk about health,
thinking of a perfect diet and a wrong spirit, or vice versa. We know
that perfect health has more to do with our state of mind than with
a yogi's concept of eating some special diet to become a spiritual
guru elevated above the rest of society and to be worshiped like a
little god. In our Christian life everything should start with Jesus.
Maybe it is not in vogue anymore or maybe we have tended to build
our own way of thinking, or our own way to heaven outside of what
is written, but in order to be a healthy people we need Christ in
our entire life. The fatal mistake that the Christians might fall
into is to contrast spiritual health against physical health. It is
necessary to maintain a balance between these two pillars in our life.
In most of the healings that Jesus performed the prevailing question
was: "Do you believe?" In the life of Jesus, spiritual health was
first and the physical came as a natural result. Health is important
in order to maintain the harmony of our character that has been built
on our knees in earnest prayer. I do not believe that there was ever
a person healthier than Jesus. He was an example for all. So let us
learn from the life of "The Man" who divided history.
Hidden
treasure
The object
that we are looking for can be found usually in the last place where
our mind will search.
In the
life of Jesus, it is very hard to see whether He had a rigorous program
of eating, sleeping, and working. The biblical record does not allocate
a lot of space to the subject as far as what He ate, when He slept
and how much, and so forth, but there is plenty of information for
us to understand that His weary life was full of events, sorrow, and
a lot of rejection. In spite of these, the power that He received
came from two sources that marked His life and confounded the science
of the world: "Fasting and prayer." It is amazing to see a Man like
Jesus living according to the highest standard of health reform in
a very austere condition in the Palestine of two thousands years ago.
He was involved in the work of healing much more that in the work
of preaching. Yes, He was the Master of the world, but His hand was
always in the right time at the right place to touch the weak and
helpless, to feed the hungry, and to resurrect the dead, without making
even a single mistake.
Fasting
Today's
medicine has begun to consider more carefully the issue of fasting
and it's impact upon health. This topic has been explored for centuries,
and medical science has reached a stage of understanding the connection
between fasting and improving health. Let us read some of the inspired
records which could revolutionize the world of medical science if
seriously considered:
"Our Saviour
fasted nearly six weeks that He might gain for man the victory upon
the point of appetite. How can professed Christians with enlightened
consciences, and with Christ before them as their pattern, yield to
the indulgence of those appetites which have an enervating influence
upon the mind and body? It is a painful fact that habits of self-gratification
at the expense of health and moral power are at the present time holding
a large share of the Christian world in the bonds of slavery.
"Many
who profess godliness do not inquire into the reason of Christ's long
period of fasting and suffering in the wilderness. His anguish was
not so much from the pangs of hunger as from His sense of the fearful
result of the indulgence of appetite and passion upon the race. He
knew that appetite would be man's idol and would lead him to forget
God and would stand directly in the way of his salvation."4
Fasting
is one of the very first treatments that can be given easily to all
those who have abused their life in the indulgence of appetite. The
performance of such treatment results in a strengthening of the will
power, sharpening the mind, cleansing the body, and humbling the heart
to create a predisposition for prayer.
Prayer
"Not a
sigh is breathed, not a pain felt, not a grief pierces the soul, but
the throb vibrates to the Father's heart. . . .
"God is
bending from His throne to hear the cry of the oppressed. To every
sincere prayer He answers, 'Here am I.' He uplifts the distressed
and downtrodden. In all our afflictions He is afflicted. In every
temptation and every trial the angel of His presence is near to deliver."5
We can
only wonder how it was possible for Jesus to spend the entire night
in prayer and supplication, and in the morning be so amicable and
well disposed as to start a new day—only to be again confronted
by unbelief and questioning from the professedly religious leaders.
Even the disappointing behavior of His own disciples often added to
the complexities and trials of His life. Prayer was the source of
His success; it is one of the conditions for maintaining a good state
of mind. It was the source of power, hope, and happiness in the life
of Jesus. To communicate with God the Father, to uplift continually
the mind toward heaven is one of the most important channels of health.
It is a human law that by contemplating we become changed. According
to today's scientific sources we need ten seconds to undergo a transformation
of personality and three weeks to create a new habit. Prayer might
help in these two aspects of our mental health as well. Prayer is
a good medication against stress, insecurity, fear, anxiety, depression
and many other spiritual problems.
Fresh
air, sunshine and a natural environment
Fresh
air will purify the blood, refresh the body, and help to make it strong
and healthy. "The invigoration produced will be reflected upon the
mind, imparting to it tone and clearness, as well as a degree of composure
and serenity. It gives a healthful stimulus to the appetite, renders
the digestion of food more perfect, and induces sound, sweet sleep.
Living in close, ill- ventilated rooms, weakens the system, makes
the mind gloomy, the skin sallow, and the circulation feeble; the
blood moves sluggishly, digestion is retarded, and the system is rendered
peculiarly sensitive to cold. One should so accustom himself to fresh,
cool air that he will not be affected by slight changes of temperature.
Of course he should be careful not to sit in a draft or in a cold
room when weary, or when in a perspiration."6
Ellen
White relates an interesting experience:
"One autumn
evening I was traveling in a crowded car. The exhalations from so
many lungs and bodies rendered the atmosphere very impure, and caused
a sickening sensation to come over me. I raised my window, and was
enjoying the fresh air, when a lady in earnest, imploring tones, cried
out, 'Do put down that window! You will take cold and be sick; the
night air is so unhealthful!' I replied, 'Madam, we have no other
air than night air, in this car or out of it. If you refuse to breathe
the night air, you must stop breathing.' In the cool of the evening
it may be necessary to guard against chilliness by extra clothing;
but there should be a free circulation of pure air through the room
during sleeping hours. The free air of heaven, by day or night, is
one of the richest blessings we can enjoy."7
We need
not wonder why people having a stagnant, sedentary type of labor cannot
easily be healthy. The lack of fresh air will always be a sure path
towards premature death. Air for the lungs is what prayer is for the
spirit. A lack of air and well oxygenated rooms will, in the long
run, enfeeble the immune system to such a degree that cancer will
be at home in such an environment. Many dangerous germs are carried
to and fro by an infected, polluted air. That is why instead of luxurious
furniture in the house we should have plenty of trees in reasonably
close proximity, and instead of flowers pictured on the walls we need
a real garden. Instead of having lights in the houses at midnight
we would be better off to have the light of the moon and the shining
rays of the sun during the daytime. Artificial life will never replace
the Creator's authentic and original design, just as the truth cannot
be replaced with some smart explanation in defense of sin.
"It is
not God who has brought upon us the many woes which mortals now inherit.
Our own folly has led us to deprive ourselves of things that are precious,
of the blessings which, if properly used, are of inestimable value
in the maintenance of health. If you would have your home sweet and
inviting, make it bright with air and sunshine. Remove your heavy
curtains, open the windows, throw back the blinds, and enjoy the rich
sunlight, even if it be at the expense of the colors of your carpets.
. . .
Water
and cleanliness
"Upon
rising in the morning, most persons would be benefited by taking a
sponge or hand bath. This will remove all impurities from the skin,
and keep it moist and supple, thereby aiding the circulation. Persons
in health should on no account neglect frequent bathing. Whether a
person is sick or well, respiration is rendered more free and full
by bathing. The mind and body are alike invigorated. The muscles become
more flexible, every faculty of the intellect is made brighter. The
bath is a soother of the nerves. Instead of increasing the liability
of taking cold, it fortifies against cold, because it improves the
circulation; the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy
and regular flow of the vital fluid is obtained."8
"The children
of Israel were in no case to allow any impurities to remain upon their
clothing or upon themselves. Those who had any personal uncleanness
were to be shut out of the camp until the evening, and then were required
to cleanse themselves and their clothing before they could return.
They were also commanded to carry all their refuse to a great distance
from the camp. And this was a sanitary measure, as well as a religious
regulation. The Lord requires no less of His people now than He did
anciently. A neglect of cleanliness will induce disease. Sickness
does not come without a cause. Violent epidemics of fevers have occurred
in villages and cities that were considered perfectly healthful, and
these have resulted in death or broken constitutions. In many instances
the premises of the very ones who fell victims to these epidemics,
contained the agents of destruction which sent forth deadly poison
into the atmosphere, to be inhaled by the family and the neighborhood.
It is astonishing to witness the prevailing ignorance relative to
the effects which slackness and recklessness produce upon health.
"When
Lord Palmerston, premier of England, was petitioned by the Scottish
clergy to appoint a day of fasting and prayer to avert the cholera,
he replied, 'Cleanse and disinfect your streets and houses, promote
cleanliness and health among the poor, and see that they are plentifully
supplied with good food and raiment, and employ right sanitary measures
generally, and you will have no occasion to fast and pray. Nor will
the Lord hear your prayers while these, His preventives, remain unheeded.'"9
A
life of physical activity
There
is a persistent seeking for comfort and relaxation in the worst sense
of the word. Physical labor was conceived by God for humanity's sake.
But who really believes in this provision? A good amount of scientific
effort is directed to serve this purpose: How can I live without making
physical effort? What can I invent to make my life easier than it
is? And what do you think? Instead of making life more comfortable,
instead of saving time, the slavery of our civilization affects the
morality, the education and cultures of the nations, up to the final
destruction.
A hundred
years ago the fastest speed that human beings could dream about was
not higher than the speed of a horse. And the people of that generation
still managed to arrive everywhere on time. Moreover, in front of
the houses they had a bench where in the afternoon they could relax
a little bit, sitting and socializing with the neighbors, and so forth.
The social relation of that generation was healthier than ours. They
had a more natural environment and all the assets necessary to make
life enjoyable.
Today
we have supersonics, cell phones, and e-mail, but we do not know our
neighbors well enough to share the gospel with them. It is the end
of the world!
"The physical
constitution of Jesus, as well as His spiritual development, is brought
before us in these words, 'the child grew,' and 'increased in stature.'
In childhood and youth attention should be given to physical development.
Parents should so train their children in good habits of eating and
drinking, dressing, and exercise, that a good foundation will be laid
for sound health in afterlife. The physical organism should have special
care, that the powers of the body may not be dwarfed, but developed
to their full extent. This places the children and youth in a favorable
position, so that, with proper religious training, they may, like
Christ, wax strong in spirit."10
"Men who
have good physical powers should educate themselves to think as well
as to act, and not depend upon others to be brains for them. It is
a popular error with a large class to regard work as degrading. Therefore
young men are very anxious to educate themselves to become teachers,
clerks, merchants, lawyers, and to occupy almost any position that
does not require physical labor. Young women regard housework as demeaning.
And although the physical exercise required to perform household labor,
if not too severe, is calculated to promote health, they will seek
for education that will fit them to become teachers or clerks, or
will learn some trade which will confine them indoors to sedentary
employment. The bloom of health fades from their cheeks, and disease
fastens upon them, because they are robbed of physical exercise and
their habits are perverted generally. All things because it is fashionable!
They enjoy delicate life, which is feebleness and decay."11
There
are many conditions for accomplishing the desire to have a healthy
lifestyle and the list can be long, but what is important is to know
Christ. If we know Him, then He will lead us into all truth, including
the question of how to live a healthy lifestyle. I am fully confident
that the new world will come very soon, with the tree of life, whose
leaves will be used for the healing of the nations. In the Garden
of Eden from which our first parents were banished, the roses of Sharon
and Carmel will blossom and the Lamb of God will reign with the saints
in a healthy world, a healthy environment, in a place where appetite
and passion will be servants and not masters.
"A healthy
people" is an aim that comes from above. All who think about heaven
and salvation should understand that, without having Christ in control
of their lives, there will be no real victory over appetite, self-
indulgence, hatred, pride and many other deformities of human nature.
Without Christ there can only be a sick, hypocritical mind that deceives
itself. Forgiveness is the solution for many problems in the personal
life, family life, church life and even world affairs. Forgiveness
is the last remedy that Jesus uttered on the cross of Calvary for
humanity. Forgiveness is a state of mind, it is a constant behavior,
it is a mental choice, a proof of conversion. Forgiveness is a gate
towards deliverance and the ultimate solution for mental relief.
A healthy
people "shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least
to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews
8:11, 12).
May we
be willing to learn of our Lord Jesus His humble lifestyle. Amen.
_________________________
1 A
Solemn Appeal, p. 74.
2 Counsels on Health, p. 241.
3 The Signs of the Times, October 25, 1899.
4 Confrontation, pp. 50, 51 (emphasis supplied).
5 The Desire of Ages, p. 356.
6 Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 104.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid., pp. 106, 107 (emphasis supplied).
9 Ibid., pp. 105, 106 (emphasis supplied).
10 Child Guidance, p. 187.
11 Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 158.
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