15 Nov Mayest Prosper and be in Health Part 3
That Thou Mayest Prosper and be in Health – Part 3
(Continued from Oct. Issue)
How to Maintain Health
All must remember that our bodies are made of sixteen elements. If one should run out of any of these, it would impair his health and bring trouble as does the lack of gas, oil, grease, water, oxygen, or the absence of electric current to a motor car — surrenders its usefulness. Therefore, let us not be less careful in caring for our bodies than we do for our vehicles which can be easily replaced by more suitable ones, for though we can buy a new car we cannot replace our God given bodies. {1SC17: 7.4}
There is no drug, medicine, or any other manufactured product that will supply these life-giving elements. Our Creator has placed these essentials in the food and in the air He has created for our use, and as these body building materials wear out by daily supplying energy for the upkeep of the ever moving organism, they must be replenished daily to maintain life and health in our beings and the usefulness of our most delicate and enduring mechanism. Hence, for the upkeep of our wonderful body’s ceaseless need, God said, “I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Gen. 1:29.) {1SC17: 7.5}
Consequently, no one can obtain all these elements by the use of one kind or limited variety of food. Had the Creator of the earth placed every good and useful thing in life in one place or locality of the earth’s area, the human family would have settled on that one spot as the early post-diluvians attempted to, and said: “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” (Gen. 11:4.) {1SC17: 7.6}
The natural inclination and desire of an earthly being is always the opposite of God’s intention. But as His purpose was that man should “replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28), He has distributed those things which are essential in life and pleasant for the eye throughout the earth; that is, we cannot find everything in one place. Thus compelling us to search for them almost everywhere — so to accomplish His purpose for our good. In like manner He has scattered those life-giving elements over a large variety of foods — urging us to make use of all His creation! {1SC17: 7.7}
Consequently, we cannot maintain good health by the use of only one kind or variety of good — we need to use many. As electric current and gas — the one obtainable from the air and the other from the ground — are two of the first and the most important commodities in the operation of a gasoline engine, so it is with the human machine — without oxygen and iron — the one from the air and the other from the ground — life would cease in less than five minutes as would the absence of gas and spark deadlock every moving part in a gasoline engine. {1SC17: 8.1}
In the beginning, God breathed into man’s “nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7.) Therefore, oxygen is the most vital element in our living being and though it costs nothing in cash, and though it is obtainable in every inch of the earth’s area, the human race, as a whole, is starving for it! {1SC17: 8.2}
Says the Spirit of Prophecy: “The effects produced by living in close, ill-ventilated rooms are these: The system becomes weak and unhealthy, the circulation is depressed, the blood moves sluggishly through the system because it is not purified and vitalized by the pure, invigorating air of heaven. The mind becomes depressed and gloomy, while the whole system is enervated; and fevers and other acute diseases are liable to be generated. Your careful exclusion of external air, and fear of free ventilation, leave you to breathe the corrupt, unwholesome air which is exhaled from the lungs of those staying in these rooms, and which is poisonous, unfit for the support of life. The body becomes relaxed, the skin becomes sallow; digestion is retarded, and the system is peculiarly sensitive to the influence of cold. A slight exposure produces serious diseases. Great care should be exercised not to sit in a draught or in a cold room when weary, or when in a perspiration. You should so accustom yourself to the air that you will not be under the necessity of having the mercury higher than sixty-five degrees.” — “Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 702, 703. {1SC17: 8.3}
“Air, air, the precious boon of Heaven, which all may have, will bless you with its invigorating influence, if you will not refuse it entrance. Welcome it, cultivate a love for it, and it will prove a precious soother of the nerves. Air must be in constant circulation to be kept pure. The influence of pure, fresh air is to cause the blood to circulate healthfully through the system. It refreshes the body, and tends to render it strong and healthy, while at the same time its influence is decidedly felt upon the mind, imparting a degree of composure and serenity. It excites the appetite, and renders the digestion of food more perfect, and induces sound and sweet sleep.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 1, p. 702. {1SC17: 8.4}
“The chief if not the only reason why many become invalids is that the blood does not circulate freely, and the changes in the vital fluid, which are necessary to life and health, do not take place. They have not given their bodies exercise nor their lungs food, which is pure, fresh air; therefore it is impossible for the blood to be vitalized, and it pursues its course sluggishly through the system…. {1SC17: 8.5}
“The season most to be dreaded by one going among these invalids, is winter. It is winter indeed, not only out doors, but in, to those who are compelled to live in the same house and sleep in the same room. These victims of a diseased imagination shut themselves in doors and close the windows; for the air affects their lungs and their heads. Imagination is active; they expect to take cold, and they will have it. No amount of reasoning can make them believe that they do not understand the philosophy of the whole matter.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 2, p. 525, paragraphs 2 and 1. {1SC17: 8.6}
As previously mentioned, we again call the reader’s attention to the fact that man’s thoughts and ideas of life are always contrary to God’s. We implore every follower of Christ to abandon all that he has not received from the Word of God by which to govern his life! Then he will be a true convert to Christ — wholly His. {1SC17: 8.7}
“Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for He is thy Lord; and worship thou Him.” “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I come not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of Me.” (Ps. 45:10, 11; Isa. 52:1; Matt. 10:34-37.) {1SC17: 8.8}
Evidently, the present system of living, at least to a large extent, is contrary to good health, and spiritual life; that is, the unseen evil power who has planted in man the sinful nature has devised ways and means, fashioned and polished in such a way as to please man’s eyes in his sinful state and to appeal to the desires of his evil heart — leading him, with a smile on his face, farther and farther away from God and on to eternal ruin! O, what a surprise it will be when they reach their destiny! {1SC17: 9.1}
“The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.” (Isa. 3:13.) “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isa. 55:7.) {1SC17: 9.2}
Therefore, my brethren, change your methods and learn how to live. Make it your determined purpose by ceaseless effort to live right — breathe correctly and eat temperately, work actively, rest unwarily, sleep sufficiently — be systematic with punctuality — never late to start, never late to stop, be like God (Zech. 12:8), and whatsoever you do, do it to the glory of God. Do not waste your life before the mirror or in useless so-called home duties or satanic pleasures. {1SC17: 9.3}
Never try to live happy without sunshine and outdoor exercise or in an ill-ventilated room, and do not forget to open all your windows in your sleeping room before you retire at night. {1SC17: 9.4}
You are wasting your money and your time, also your life’s energy in preparing fine, fancy, costly foods if you do not inhale pure air, for the iron in your wholesome food will profit you but little without the oxygen. Do not wait for “a more convenient season” — start right now. {1SC17: 9.5}