CIRCLE OF HEALTH
WELCOME TO THE JOURNEY OF RESTORATION!
CIRCLE OF HEALTH was made for you. Yes, you! Because each of us desire perfect health!
The principles that CIRCLE OF HEALTH advocate create myriad of opportunities toward the promotion, preservation, and restoration of our health.
The name CIRCLE OF HEALTH supports two general themes:
CIRCLE – It implies the simple principle of “What goes around comes around” also stated as, “What you sow is what you reap.” Many people forget, however, that how much you sow (1 Corinthians 9:6) is also as important as what you sow (Galatians 6:7,8). Therefore, both quantity and quality are important in the sowing – in our case, the investment – of our health. The Law of Cause and Effect takes place here. When you invest much for health, you may expect to have health, and the opposite is true.
HEALTH – This is the total well-being and harmony of body and spirit. These two human natures are closely related, and breakdown in one affects the other.
CIRCLE OF HEALTH comprehensively integrates God's spiritual and physical laws which allow for the creation and recreation of a beautiful life! Each letter in the name stands for a principle that contributes toward the Creator's plan of restoration. Learn about these health principles today and see how these can change your life for the better!
C - CREATOR
WHO SAID IT?
At home and in the community, we usually follow or obey those we trust or have a strong relationship with or people in authority. Examples are our parents, friends, the school principal, the city mayor, law enforcers, or the church pastor. Knowing the individual personally gives us more confidence that what he/she says is true.
With our health, we usually look to the doctor as the expert authority. In reality, physicians are limited in their knowledge, and doctors themselves also get sick and die. So, who can really be the authority over our health and, ultimately, our lives?
WHO MADE YOU?
Have you ever thought about who made you? The things around us were created by someone - chairs and tables by carpenters, clothes by designers and tailors, loaves of bread by bakers, human-like robots by engineers, etc. But many reject the idea that complex human beings have a Creator. They instead look to other concepts, like the Big Bang theory and evolution, as answers for our existence.
If a wristwatch or a smartphone has a maker, then all the more should there be an intelligent designer and creator for a human being who is breathing, thinking, and moving through unseen but complicated processes! And if a manufacturer has the right to give instructions on its product's proper use and care then humanity's creator all the more has the authority to instruct on the use and care of his creations.
THE CREATOR GOD
Humanity's Creator identifies Himself: "I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator…, your King" (Isaiah 43:15). He further says, "I have made the earth, And created man on it" (Isaiah 45:12).
All things were made through the Creator (John 1:3), including this vast universe and us. He tells us: "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, … And He who formed you, … "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine" "(Isaiah 43:1).
The Lord God is our Creator and is, therefore, the Ultimate Authority in our life. He has the correct information (truth) for human beings on how to have a healthy, long, and happy life.
Sadly, many people do not know the Creator, making it hard for them to trust Him. They don't know that He is a God who is interested in our life and health, wants us to be happy, and plans the best for us. His heart's desire is written in these words, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 1:2).
THE RE-CREATOR GOD
Not only is He the Creator, but also the Restorer and Re-Creator. He can take our broken, damaged selves and transform us into something new and beautiful. The promise for us is: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, emphasis supplied).
OUR SUSTAINER & GREAT PROVIDER
Knowing that we have a Creator God gives us our identity as created beings made in His image (Genesis 1:26) and called by Him as His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18). And because we are created, we acknowledge that everything we need to live comes from the Creator. "For in Him we live, and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). That means every breath of air we take, every pumping action of our heart, all the love our spirit needs to thrive, is sourced from the fountain of life Himself (Psalm 36:9).
Our Creator is the ultimate Provider of our physical and spiritual needs (which He affirms by His other titles): water (He is the Fountain of Life), food (He is the Bread of Life), shelter (He is our Refuge and Strong Tower), light (He is the Light of the world), protection (He is the Good Shepherd), love (God is love), direction (He is The Way), correct information (He is The Truth), health and existence (He is The Life). Everything we need as created beings comes from our Creator, the Owner of our lives.
Knowing that God is our Creator and Great Provider will mean nothing if we don't have a relationship with Him. Being in a trusting relationship with our Creator will allow us to experience the joy of having an eternal Father who cares for His children and provides for their needs.
This is our blessing and privilege, our peace, and hope, when we acknowledge our Creator God -- the One who made us, who is concerned about our well-being, and who wants to take care of us. He is a Promise-Keeper who is "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin" (Exodus 34:6b,7a).
It is beautiful to personally know the Creator and Owner of our lives and experience life with Him. Knowing Him and not just knowing about Him allows us to choose intelligently to be committed to our relationship with Him.
WHAT CAN I DO TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CREATOR OR TO MAKE MY BOND WITH HIM STRONGER?
No meaningful relationship ever existed without trust. We trust our Creator God because He created us and knows what is best for us. We build our trust through knowing Him. We get to know God when we spend time with Him. We spend time with Him by talking to Him, called praying, and He talks back to us through His printed words, called the Bible, our Instruction Manual.
● How to program time with God? Set aside regular pockets of time every day - preferably upon waking up, before bedtime, and multiple periods in between - to talk with the Creator. Share your joys, sorrows, and burdens with Him just like you would with a friend.
● If you don't know how to pray, a simple guide is in the word PRAY itself:
P – Praise and thank God for who He is and what He has done, is doing, and will do for you (Psalm 100:4).
R – Repent and confess your sins to Him (1 John 1:9).
A – Ask Him for what you need with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).
Y – Yield and surrender everything to Him because He knows what is best for you (Psalm 37:5).
● Because communication in a meaningful relationship is two-way, listen to God talk to you through what He has left for us - humanity's operating manual (called the Bible) and through contemplating nature, the second book of God.
● Our Creator wants a trustful relationship with His created beings. He shows His plans for us through what He says in His word, through what He does/how He provides, and through the impressions of His Spirit. Be aware that God may speak to you in various ways throughout the day.
Our knowing God is a top priority with Him. How do we know that? Because He says so: "Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me' " (Jeremiah 9:23,24).
It's never too late to have a relationship with our Creator God. We are told: "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you" (Job 22:21).
Why not take this challenge today? Get to know the Creator God, the One who knows and loves you best!
______________
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
I - INSTRUCTIONS
MANUALS
Most mobile phones now are the smartphone type. But every smartphone has to be designed, programmed, and put together by someone before it can work. The manufacturer then gives a manual with the information for the proper care of the phone and the correct use of its features so that the phone can work to the best of its capability.
The human body is more complex than any smartphone, computer, or robot. Do you think our Creator would leave us lost and confused about how to properly care for ourselves? Of course not! So, yes, we have an Owner's manual – an Operating Manual and Guidebook: The Bible, which simply means "Book." Humanity's Operating Manual helps us to have the best life possible. Some that have this manual don't study it. So, we often treat our bodies and ourselves wrongly because we don't know the instructions, don't believe it, or don't care about it. These result in our unhappiness, depression, sickness, suffering, and even death.
INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL ARE FOR OUR LIFE AND HEALTH
The wise King Solomon said, "Take firm hold of instruction, do not let her go; Keep her, for she is your life" (Proverbs 4:13). He added that instruction is "life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:22).
Our Creator says: "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63b, emphasis supplied). God's words are instructions for us to have the best function of our body, mind, and spirit (Hebrews 4:12).
Some people see instructions as restrictions and reject them. But in every command, our Creator only has our good in mind (Jeremiah 29:11). We read: "The LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day" (Deuteronomy 6:24).
For some in pain and suffering or dying, our compassionate Father still longs for their good and says: "Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth" (Jeremiah 33:6). And even if God, in His wisdom, denies physical healing in this earth, He has promised the resurrection and eternal life for the believing ones who rest in His love (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).
TRUE OR FALSE INFORMATION? WHAT'S YOUR SOURCE?
In a December 2020 report, the World Health Organization revealed that the top 2 causes of death worldwide were heart disease and stroke.1 These diseases are called lifestyle diseases because they are diseases of behavior. And how we behave is influenced by our acceptance or rejection of information.
For over 2,000 years, people believed that bloodletting (withdrawing blood from a person) was a helpful therapy in standard medical practice. Bloodletting supposedly cured diseases such as acne, asthma, cancer, cholera, convulsions, diabetes, insanity, pneumonia, stroke, and tuberculosis.2 George Washington, the first president of the United States of America, died unnecessarily at 67 because of severe blood loss through this treatment method. Sadly, although wrong, bloodletting to cure diseases was accepted as correct information (truth) at the time.
WHERE DO I GET CORRECT INFORMATION?
Nature operates through laws, like the law of gravity. Human beings also have natural laws that keep us functioning efficiently. God provided a Guidebook for us so we can live happily without getting sick. His primary rule for health preservation is: "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you... For I am the LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:26, 27).
Just as city laws exist to keep trouble out, our Creator's laws exist for our safety and efficiency and to help us avoid harm and damage to ourselves. These instructions are in the Guidebook God gave us, His written Word.
THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
Life and health also come through the law of cause and effect. The wise King Solomon mentioned this principle when he said that a curse does not come without a cause (Proverbs 26:2). The logical phrase, "What you sow is what you reap," actually comes from humanity's instruction manual. (Galatians 6:7). If you sow goodness, you will harvest goodness. In general, the same is true for health. If you invest in health, you can expect healthful results. If you follow the laws of health, you can expect to see the good effects of obeying the laws. On the other hand, when a health rule is broken, one can expect weakness and sickness sooner or later.
In the presence of disease (effect), it is important then to know the real reason (cause) for the disease. For example, what would be the reason (cause) of high blood pressure?? Well, blood pressure rises when the blood vessels become narrow and clamp down on the blood inside them. But what would be the cause of this narrowing?
In finding the root of the problem, sooner or later, we discover that the cause is a broken health law; a law set in place by the Creator.
Bottom line: Disease does not care about race, sex, age, or wealth. The good news is that the same is true for the laws and principles that promote, preserve, or restore health! The instructions for our health are universal and timeless. Now more than ever is the time to take the opportunity to use these instructions for our well-being. Our Guidebook is free for us to study!
HOW DO I LEARN THE HEALTH INSTRUCTIONS?
Here are some ways you can learn God's health principles:
● READ. Read the Instructions for yourself. If you don't have a Bible yet, prayerfully purchase one or download a free offline Bible app like the Unfeigned Bible KJV app or an NKJV app.
● On your Bible app, learn about health principles by typing in keywords like "life," "health," "healing," or "diseases," and "wounds," etc. Compare each text with another for correct understanding and interpretation.
● Read stories of healing, like the story of Naaman, Hezekiah, or Paul, and study stories of Jesus' ways of healing. Learn about the practical ways to have spiritual and physical health.
● Read Leviticus chapter 11 to know part of God's dietary instructions. With the help of the internet, compare what science has to say about the diseases that this prohibited food brings.
● Visit internet sites (e.g., audioverse.org, americanchristrianministries.org, or awr.org/health/) with Bible-based health lectures.
● PRAY. Be sure to ask the Creator for guidance, understanding, and a humble heart every time you study His Guidebook.
Yes, life, health, healing, and restoration — for body, mind, and spirit — can be found in God's written instructions. Why not open the Bible today and learn and experience for yourself the blessings received from following the instructions?
1 World Health Organization 2020, The top 10 causes of death, accessed 11 July 2021, <www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death>.
2 Carter 2005, Wikipedia, accessed 10 August 2020, < en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodletting>.
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
R - REST
24/7 LIFE – A CONVENIENCE?
We live in a culture that is obsessed with activity. We slave away to the demands of family, school, work, society, and life in general. Work was supposed to be a blessing to humanity, but we have carried it to the extreme and have made life a 24/7 nonstop circuit of action. We crave hyperactivity in real life and virtual cyberspace, and our mobile phones add to our restlessness and discontent. And when our mind cries for quietness and peace, its pleas are drowned by the false need to be saturated by sight and sound.
True rest has become hard to achieve, and unfortunately, we have fallen for the trap of substituting quality rejuvenation with out-of-town R&R amusements that are neither restful to the spirit nor relaxing to the body.
WHY REST?
Proper rest/sleep is essential. Lack of sleep affects judgment, mood, mental function, and work endurance. Its long-term effects include increased risk of medical conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, poor immune function, mood disorders, and a shortened life expectancy in general.1 Research says that people who habitually sleep less than 5 hours shorten their lives by as much as 15%.2 That means that for an average life expectancy of 75 years, a habitual short sleeper would prematurely lose ~11 years. That's a lot of years to give up because of the lack of sleep! If you want to live healthier and longer, recognize that quality sleep is as important as the food you eat or the air you breathe.
COME, REST AWHILE
Jesus, our Creator, knew the importance of timely rest. When His disciples arrived one day and reported on their various activities of preaching, healing, and teaching, He directed them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31).
Jesus knew the disciples needed to preserve their physical, mental, and spiritual energies. They needed to pause, rest, and recharge for the next demanding round of work.
Interestingly, our Creator placed biological clocks in our bodies that tell us when to sleep or wake up. Sadly, crazy work schedules like the graveyard shift ruin this, as well as all-night amusements, social lifestyles, and international business operations. But in 21st-century life, our Creator's appeal remains the same, "Come…and rest a while."
Amazingly, not only does our Creator want us to have our daily (nightly) rest, but He asks us to set aside a FULL day to rest every week! He calls this day "Sabbath" which means “rest.”
Most employers would not be happy to give mandatory 24-hour offs with pay each week. But being our Creator, He knows what is best for us and commands us to rest while He pours His limitless blessings on us in this sacred time. In case we forgot this rule, He starts His love-based, life-preserving instruction by saying, "Remember" (Exodus 20:8).
Resting one day a week allows us to reset ourselves after six days of work and recondition ourselves for the next six days. On the Sabbath rest, we break away for 24 hours from materialistic ambitions and the world's chaos. Celebrating the Sabbath rest also allows us to give the gift of time to those we love. More importantly, it assures us one-on-one time with our Creator and the Giver of time Himself.
LETTING DUST REST
Good farmers and agriculturists know that land needs to lie idle at particular periods. But many do not know that the instruction to let the land rest every seventh year came from the Creator Himself (Leviticus 25:1-5). If even soil rests every seven years, why don’t dust-made humans take up the privilege of rest every seventh day?
We deprive ourselves of this rest for different reasons. But the Owner of our lives tells us: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work" (Exodus 20:8-10a).
We have units of time that make up the different cycles of our lives. A day is evening and morning, accomplished by the earth rotating on its axis. A month is when the moon orbits the Earth. A year is when the Earth completes its orbit around the sun. But what about the week? Have you ever wondered where the week (the cycle of seven days) comes from? No natural phenomenon or heavenly body dictates the weekly cycle. The only explanation for it is because God said it should be so! The weekly rest then is something we should seriously pay attention to.
As created beings, experiencing the seventh-day Sabbath rest/the Lord's day with the Lord of the Sabbath gives us the opportunity to realign ourselves with the Creator every week. In accepting this gift, we continue to grow, expand, and develop balanced physical, mental, and spiritual capabilities.
Proper rest each night repairs our cells and tissues and regenerates our bodies. The Sabbath rest each seventh day repairs our broken, damaged selves and renews our spirits. This recreative work of God makes our lives more beautiful and meaningful here on earth.
Why not try this instruction of sacred rest and see the blessings this special time brings? On the Sabbath, why not allow our Creator God to be who He is: the King of the universe; our Lawmaker; the Provider of our needs; the Sustainer of life and health; the Recreator of body, mind, and spirit; the Restorer of our battered selves, broken relationships, and divided families. Invite God to be with you as you delight in His Sabbath (Isaiah 58:13,14) and claim His promise: "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14).
WHAT CAN I DO TO FILL
MY NEED FOR PROPER REST?
If it takes a conscious effort to acquire proper rest, then make goals toward that end:
● Calculate how early you should be in bed to achieve the 8-9 hours of needed sleep per night. Set an alarm 1 hour before bedtime.
● Start pre-bedtime preparations 1-2 hours before. Preparations include switching off the TV, audio devices, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets before sleep to discontinue their stimulating effects.
● As much as possible, switch off phones and Wi-Fi service to eliminate unnecessary interruptions during sleep. This also minimizes radiation exposure.
● Study your work schedule for the week and make appropriate adjustments to allow for one day a week for physical, mental, and spiritual rejuvenation. The seventh-day Sabbath would be the best time to accomplish this.
● On the Creator's seventh-day Sabbath, put worldly production aside and pursue peace. Spend time alone with God in His word and prayer. Set aside entertainment. Take a walk in nature with your family and contemplate God's love through His creation. Read the Psalms or meditate on Scripture together. Sing songs with your family that praise God and lift your spirits. Fellowship with friends in church. Write in a journal the blessings you received during the week and the experiences that showed God's presence in your life.
● Every night at bedtime, kneel by your bed in prayer with praise and thanksgiving for His promise: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Claim God's word and experience the beautiful peace that our Creator's rest offers!
1 Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine 2007, Sleep and disease risk, accessed 10 August 2020, <http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences/sleep-and-disease-risk>.
2 Valley Sleep Center 2011, Losing sleep that's not all, Top 5 ways lack of sleep affects you, accessed 10 August 2020, < valleysleepcenter.com/losing-sleep-thats-not-all-top-5-ways-lack-of-sleep-affects-you/>.
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
C - CLEANLINESS
DIRTINESS LEADS TO DISEASE
"Filth [dirt] is a breeder of disease."1 But many people are ignorant of or do not care that keeping clean is a factor in enjoying health. Our Creator had our good in mind when He gave instructions on cleanliness. He said, "Teach My people the difference…and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23).
CLEAN UP!
Humanity’s Instruction Manual says, "He who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger" (Job 17:9). Our Creator is a God of cleanliness and purity (Deuteronomy 23:14). Before meeting the Israelites on Mt Sinai to remind them of the laws of His government, God required them to clean up and wash their clothes (Exodus 19:10,11,14). Two related points for consideration are: 1) God requires an appropriate quality and distinction in clothing (Genesis 3:7,21; Deuteronomy 22:5), and 2) God requires clean clothes. These are part of the basics of taking care of ourselves.
CLEAN THEN PRAY
Keeping clean should be a regular habit in the family. An author writes, "Every form of uncleanliness tends to disease."2 For sure, none of us want to get sick. If so, keeping clean is a must. Teaching cleanliness at home is important because this is a habit brought into the public and impacts others.
Henry John Temple, known as Lord Palmerston, once a Prime Minister of England, had the Creator's law of cleanliness in mind during the cholera outbreak. The Scottish religious leaders asked him to appoint a day for prayer and fasting to stop the pandemic. 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 [clothes], 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."3
CLEANLINESS REFLECTS OUR CREATOR'S CHARACTER
"Cleanliness is next to godliness." The Creator gave particular attention to cleanliness, even giving specific instructions on how to dispose of personal waste in the Israelite camp (Deuteronomy 23:13,14) of more than 1 million people. God was also concerned with dirt in the tabernacle. The ministering priests were required to "wash their hands and feet, lest they die" (Exodus 30:21).
As God’s children, we are told to "Be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44,45), which means that, because our Creator is pure and holy, He wants us to be like Him because we were created in His image. And because dirt and holiness cannot exist together, keeping clean, therefore, is essential. God's nature is love and this tells us that His command for cleanliness is for our good - for our protection from disease and sickness because He loves us.
At age 25, Hezekiah became King of Judah. He was a young man who knew God's instructions and wanted to obey them. His first command was to do a general clean-up of God's temple. The priests took 16 days to clean the neglected temple, but they had to complete the project before they could use it again for worship (2 Chronicles 29).
God's principle of cleanliness remains the same for us, for our health, well-being, and happiness. In our homes, our simple goal is to have clean and sweet surroundings. We are told, “Perfect cleanliness, plenty of sunlight, careful attention to sanitation in every detail of the home life, are essential to freedom from disease and to the cheerfulness and vigor of the inmates of the home."4
WHAT CAN I DO TO PROMOTE CLEANLINESS FOR MY HEALTH AND
MY HOME?
● Our Creator gave us our senses to help us judge between what is clean and dirty. When we see clutter, smell something offensive, or touch something gross or dirty, get rid of the offending agent immediately.
● For most people, bathing after rising in the morning soothes the nerves, improves circulation, and cleanses the skin. After bathing, properly hang used towels to dry so they do not stay damp and invite mold.
● Dirt collects under untrimmed fingernails. Keep nails clipped and clean.
● Unpleasant body odor is usually because of poorly digested food remaining inside the body. Flush the body of toxic waste by having fruits and vegetables at mealtimes and drinking sufficient water in between meals.
● Oral care is valuable. Brush, floss, and gargle regularly.
● Toxins expelled via sweat through our skin are reabsorbed back into the body by the continual use of soiled clothing. Regularly change and wash fabric that comes in contact with skin — clothes, towels, blankets, sheets, etc.
● Put shoes out in the sun often for the sun to kill germs from sweaty feet and damp in-soles.
● Complete the dusting of furniture and its contents from top to bottom. Things that occupy space, lie horizontally, and don't move are dust accumulators. Regular house cleaning ensures that dirt does not appear or accumulate.
● Teach your children to be neat and clean by engaging them in cleaning tasks. Assign rooms to clean, cabinets to arrange, and other living areas to organize and keep neat for the whole week. Rotate assignments.
● Worms, flies, cockroaches, and rats enjoy dirty areas or decaying matter. Clean up and get rid of potential hosts (trash, rotting food, undisposed waste, damp areas, etc.)
● Neglected things in the bathroom that make the place dirty include hair strands, torn-off corners of shampoo sachets on the bathroom floor, empty shampoo sachets and bottles, old and unused soap cakes, soap crusts, disorganized shower caddies, and wet or overflowing trash bins. Take care of these details daily.
● Inhaling mold is unhealthful. Wash shower curtains and scrub bathroom tubs and tiles on schedule. Keep the bathroom floor clean every day. In the kitchen, check items for mold and dispose of the affected item accordingly. Keep kitchen sink and utensils clean and dry.
● Keeping household items clean brings another blessing: they will continue to look brand new!
● Outside the house: dead leaves on the ground allow mold to grow underneath. Dispose of decomposing plants properly.
● Open doors and windows to let fresh air and sunlight do their housework of taking away and killing germs.
● Engage the whole family in a regular general clean-up of the house. Cleaning up together builds teamwork and encourages all the household members to contribute toward maintaining cleanliness.
● As a whole, Friday would be a good day for regular general cleaning. This will contribute to the beauty and freshness in welcoming and celebrating God's special seventh-day Sabbath when it comes in the evening.
● For a quick list, remember these Cs to Clean: Cabinets, Canals, Cloths, Clutter, Cobwebs, Corners, Creatures (pets), and Crusts (anything that leaves a mark). And be sure to be the last C while on the job: a Cheerful Cleaner!
Remember to allow the natural agents of the Creator to help you in your cleaning: sunlight, water, and air.
If you think there's room for improvement in how you keep yourself and your home clean, then start now. There's nothing like living in a clean, sweet space.
SPIRITUAL CLEANLINESS
While we do what we can to keep our bodies and homes clean, however, we cannot wash our hearts from the dirt stuck there: our resentments, bitterness, pride, jealousy, unkind words; our unhappiness, discontent, hopelessness, guilt, fear, shame, or whatever else that destroys us as a result of sin. God says it Himself, "For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquity is marked before Me" (Jeremiah 2:22). But the good news is that our Creator can erase all that! The solution: Himself! He, "who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelation 1:5). Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His intercession for us right now in heaven allows us freedom from being slaves to our guilt. We only need to confess our sins, repent (turn away from doing wrong), and believe in Jesus' power to cleanse and restore us.
Christ cleanses us from our sins through His blood. He also says this cleansing and our decision to live right is done 1) through His word (Ephesians 5:26) (humanity’s Instruction Manual); and 2) Jesus Himself: the Word made flesh.
Isn't God's forgiveness amazing? Thank Him for His gift of cleansing today and commit yourself to living a clean life through Jesus' power!
1 White, EG. Healthful Living, 66.4
2,4 White, EG. Child Guidance, 108.1
3 White, EG. Review and Herald, January 25, 1881, par 29
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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L - LIGHT
SUNLIGHT
Have you ever wondered about that bright coin in the day sky, the sun? During creation week, God made the sun as "the greater light to rule the day" (Genesis 1:16). For sure, it is easier and more efficient for us to do things in the light of the sun than in the dark. When a heavy storm cloud passes and we see brightness in the sky, we breathe better and say, "Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun" (Ecclesiastes 11:7).
SUNLIGHT FOR STRENGTH
Today, the sun's energy is used in various technologies. Some examples are solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar fuels, solar thermal electricity, and solar architecture.1 At home, you may have solar watches, calculators, and solar flashlights. You may even have those big solar panels that run your whole house.
Anything that is a light source, like a light bulb or campfire, has light energy that is convertible to heat energy. In nature, our Creator designed the sun to be the energy source for most living things. The sun's radiant energy allows the growth of plants. The plants, in turn, become an energy source for animals and humans.
One of the best-known benefits of sunlight to humans is its ability to boost Vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D, unlike other vitamins, is not obtained directly from food. It is made in the skin by reactions brought about by exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is valuable in bone formation and mineralization; and nerve, muscle, and immune system function. Rickets, tuberculosis, rheumatic disorders, diabetes, gout, chronic ulcers, and wounds benefit from solar intervention. High Vitamin D levels for cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and others were found to be helpful also. Through Vitamin D, sunlight effectively fights bacterial and viral infections and decreases the risk of lung, colon, and breast cancers.2
LIGHT FOR LIFE
Sunlight is important for body and mind health. In places where winter months bring long dark days, some people become more easily depressed. Appropriately called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder upsets the lives of 10-30 million Americans. This effect on mental health shows itself in many ways: through feelings of hopelessness and sadness, thoughts of suicide, changes in appetite, weight gain, fatigue, low energy levels, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and more.3 Exposure to sunlight, then, is not only therapeutic but is also a preventive medicine.
HOW CAN I ENJOY
THE BENEFITS OF FREE SUNLIGHT?
Bring yourself out in the sun! (Remember that exposure is the key!)
● As much as possible, do outside chores (raking the leaves, sweeping the yard, hanging out clothes to dry, etc.) and other activities in the morning. Take your time when you do.
● A morning walk in nature after breakfast is a good time to get a load of sunshine.
● Gardening is one of the best ways to get sunshine on you without thinking of intentionally getting under the sun. It also allows you to enjoy the other health-restoring agents of exercise and pure, fresh air.
● When driving out, park your car as far as possible from the establishment's entrance for more time walking under the sun.
● Some researchers suggest that 10 am until 4 pm is good sunshine for one to have and that exposure for 5-30 minutes, either daily or at least twice a week to the face, arms, hands, and legs without sunscreen usually leads to sufficient vitamin D synthesis.4
Bring the sun inside! (Remember that sunlight kills disease-causing elements.)
● At home, pull away curtains and throw open windows and doors to allow plenty of light and sunshine to enter the house.
● If sleeping items like bed foams, pillows, and bed clothing do not come in direct contact with sunlight, bring them out regularly to be laid out under the sun.
● Meditate on this line: "Let the sunshine of love, cheer, and happy content enter your own hearts, and let its sweet influence pervade the home."5
THE SUN FOR SIGNS AND SEASONS
Interestingly, the sun was given to us not just for light during the day (Jeremiah 31:35). The sun and other created lights were also to be signs and seasons for us (Genesis 1:14). A particular end-time prophecy about the sun and other heavenly bodies (Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24, Joel 2:31) was fulfilled in succession from May 19, 1780. History calls this date The Dark Day.
We pay attention to Bible prophecies because they are like a light shining for us in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19). Our Creator gave us prophecies not to scare us and make us afraid, but to give us hope and confidence in Him. When prophecies happen, we are to look up in faith and lift our heads because our Redeemer's return is near (Luke 21:25-28).
THE SON IS OUR LIGHT
Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of the eternal Father, is our light. He says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'' (John 8:12)
When we have spiritual light, we live in calm confidence and peace knowing that we are walking in the right way.
When we have spiritual light, we live confident that because our path is well-lit, we can see right and wrong and will not be in the darkness of deception; we will always have correct and truthful information because the path of light is truth. With spiritual light, we have confidence that we are walking in the path of life and health, not in death and destruction.
If the Son is our Light and our Life, what do we need to do? We need to plug into Him as our source of life. We do this through prayer and the study of His word. We plug in all the time because He is the only true source of life, love, and happiness, health and healing, truth and peace, hope, forgiveness, and salvation. If we lose connection, we separate ourselves from our Lifesource and suffer needlessly.
Just as the sun shines on every person on this earth regardless of age, sex, color, or social standing, so does our Creator shine His grace on each of us. He also promises: "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). Our gracious Creator is more than willing to give what is good for us. In fact, heaven was already poured out in that one gift of Jesus and His immeasurable sacrifice on the cross. If our Creator already willingly gave His life for us, then there is nothing else too big for Him to do or give that will be for our best and eternal good (Romans 8:32).
Whatever the darkness of your life may be: relationship struggles, home crises, work challenges, financial difficulties, school dilemmas, or health trials — we do not need to be depressed or anxious or lose hope. We have the assurance of the abiding rays of our Creator Himself. He says, "But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2).
Our Creator also wants to give us eternity. John, the Beloved, describes part of that eternal life this way: "There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 22:5).
Do you look forward to that day when humanity's restoration will be complete? Right now, however, you can enjoy the beginning of restoration by inviting the Son to be the Light of your life. Experience for yourself how beautiful His bright and glorious presence can be!
____________
1 International Energy Agency 2011, Solar energy perspectives: Executive Summary, accessed 10 August 2020, <https://web.archive.org/web/20120113032718/http://www.iea.org/Textbase/npsum/solar2011SUM.pdf>.
2 Mead MN (2008). Benefits of sunlight: A bright spot for human health. Environmental health perspectives, 116(4) A160-A167. https://doi.org/10/1289/ehp.116-a160
3 Psychology Today 2019, Seasonal Affective Disorder, accessed 10 August 2020, <www.psychologytoday.com/intl/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder>.
4 National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, accessed 01 February 2024, < https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/>
5 White, EG. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 115.1
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
E - EDIBLE NUTRIMENTS
EDIBLE + NUTRIMENTS
Edible means "fit to be eaten" or "…suitable or safe to eat."* Nutriment (yes, with an M) means "something that nourishes or promotes growth, provides energy, repairs body tissues, and maintains life."** Many do not want to admit that not all kinds of food are edible or fit to be eaten; not many realize that many types of food are not nutriments. Some foods heal, while other foods kill, though slowly. For example, junk food is called as such because they are - junk! They do not nourish or promote growth; neither do they repair body tissues nor maintain life, but many people keep on buying them!
GOOD FOOD = GOOD BLOOD = GOOD HEALTH
In pursuing health, keep this principle in mind: "The life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). The food we eat is converted to chemicals absorbed by the blood. What the blood cells absorb is also what they become. What they absorb is also what they deliver to each cell in all the different body systems. The blood cells then pick up waste products from each cell and deliver them to the proper waste managers. What the blood absorbs is how we see health in the blood! This is why doctors ask for blood tests when you are sick - because health or disease is seen in blood. So, “In order to have good health, we must have good blood; for the blood is the current of life."1
Anything you eat contributes to the health or dis-ease of your blood and, consequently, of your whole body even including the mind and spirit. This is the law of cause and effect. In eating bad food (e.g., a spoiled sandwich and diseased meat), the effect, sooner or later, is getting sick (stomach upset and cancer, respectively). If one eats healthful and healthy food (food free from harmful chemicals and disease), then one can expect to enjoy health.
It is important then to know what food makes good blood for us to have good health.
WHAT ARE THE EDIBLE NUTRIMENTS FOR HUMANITY?
Because we have a Creator God who is our Ultimate Life & Health Authority, we look for answers from His Instruction Manual for humanity. In the book of Genesis, we find that fruits, grains, nuts, and seeds (Genesis 1:29), are the original food God intended for us. Notice that all the items listed have one thing in common: they come from plants – living, biological matter from the earth. Plants are also what many animals eat (e.g., rhinos, horses, cows, giraffes, hippos, etc.). Plant food is the Creator's original design. The Instruction Manual says, "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that He may bring forth food from the earth" (Psalm 104:14).
The divinely prescribed nutritional program and maintenance method is simple and affordable. This whole-food, plant-based regimen has already been under scientific examination multiple times, and results clearly show that it is the optimal diet to sustain human life. Everything we need for our life and health He already provided for us! Amazingly, this dietary provision also applies when we get sick! The instruction is simple yet profound and definitely efficiently designed by an all-wise Creator!
Unfortunately, we choose the unhealthful many times - knowingly, unknowingly, or carelessly. Wrong preferences have resulted in different cancers and sicknesses like hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes – conditions that are called lifestyle diseases. Lifestyle is related to behavior, and these diseases, caused by popular habits and practices that violate health laws (e.g., eating between meals, intemperance, etc.), have sadly become the expected norm.
VEGETABLES FOR VIGOR, VITALITY, AND VICTORY
It is fascinating that some 2,600 years ago, a real-life scenario took place, revealing the superior ability of plants to nourish the human being. Some scholars label Daniel and his three friends' experience as the first-ever recorded clinical trial (experiment/research). The Bible record says that in the palace of Babylon, the students were generously served with rich food from the king's table. But four young Hebrew captives humbly gave their bold request: "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink" (Daniel 1:12). Ten days later, the wisdom in their food choice showed in their pleasing physical appearance in comparison to the majority. As a result, they were allowed to continue their plant-food meal plan throughout their schooling. When King Nebuchadnezzar tested them at the end of three years, he found them ten times wiser than all the magicians and astrologers in all his kingdom (Daniel 1:20)! Isn't that remarkable?!
Being the Creator, God made our original diet to help us have the best experience in the continued growth and development of our body, mind, and spirit. Through it, He gives the gift of restoration that He wants for us.
WHAT ARE PRACTICAL THINGS I CAN DO TO
BEST NOURISH MYSELF & MY FAMILY?
A simple guide to optimize edible nutriments to create good blood for our health is CHEW:
C – Chew well. Use your teeth. They are strong and are located in the mouth to be food grinders. Proper nutrition starts in the mouth. The efficient physical breakdown of food by the teeth is the first part of acquiring the necessary nutriments.
Chew slowly. Enzymes in the saliva initiate the chemical breakdown of the food they come in contact with. Enzymes also send signals to the stomach to prepare the specific chemicals for the proper absorption of the nutriments.
Correct posture. Sitting erectly while eating and standing correctly at all times aids in the proper digestion and transportation of nutriments.
H – Hours: 0, 3, 5-6
0 (Zero/No) Hours for snacking. Eating between meals destroys stomach function, makes the brain sluggish, and sets an unhealthy condition for the whole body.
3 Hours before bedtime. Supper, if taken, should be at least 3 hours before bedtime. The stomach enjoys its rest when the mind and body take their rest, too.
5-6 Hours between meals. A regular interval of 5-6 hours between meal times allows the stomach to do its work sufficiently. It is also able to take a rest before the next meal. Irregular meal times create an environment for disease in the stomach and the associated organs.
E – Eat balanced in quality. Eat food produced from the earth (plant-based), as whole as possible (not processed), and prepared simply in 2-3 dishes with variations in each meal. Eat fruits separately from a vegetable meal.
Eat balanced in quantity. Have a full breakfast, a moderate second meal, and a light supper (e.g., a piece of bread and some fruit) or none at all. During mealtimes, ask yourself, "Am I eating and drinking to the glory of God?" (1 Corinthians 10:31). A promise for those who eat and drink correctly and with the right motive is this: "Blessed are you, O land, when… your princes feast at the proper time – For strength and not for drunkenness!" (Ecclesiastes 10:17).
W – Wear an attitude of gratitude. Recognize that we are always at the receiving end of the Creator's graces and His provisions are always as He has promised.
Walk after meals. A short walk after meals enhances digestion and promotes efficient blood circulation and delivery of the nutriments to the different organ systems.
Water not with meals. When liquid is drunk with a meal, digestion becomes more difficult. Allow at least 30 minutes before mealtime and 1-2 hours after meals for drinking water. Processed, artificial beverages destroy the body system slowly. Eliminate these sugary, addicting drinks.
Some people may see dietary guidelines as restrictions. But our loving Creator encourages us to see His Instructions as protection from disease, suffering, and heartache. He always has our health and happiness in mind. His provisions are always for our good.
The leaves of the tree of life in heaven will be for the healing of God's people (Revelation 22:2b), but this promise is also for us today. The Creator has provided us with the leaves of plants and the leaves of His written Word (our Instruction Manual - the Bible) for our health.
Why not try Daniel's dietary lifestyle today? Experience the Creator's original design for your optimum health and well-being, and "taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8)!
____________
*edible. 2020. In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021, from <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edible>.
**nutriment. 2020. In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved July 13, 2021, from <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutriment>.
1White, EG. The Ministry of Healing, 271.2
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
O - ORDER
ORDER FOR HEALTH?
What does order and organization have to do with health? The answer: Everything. Without order, we would not have an efficiently functioning body system, much less health. The first chapter of our Instruction Manual shows order in the creation of our world. Forming happened before filling. The first four days were the forming days of the environments for the different creatures. On the 5th and 6th days, the various creatures filled those environments. Seas were formed first, and then the sea creatures filled them. Grass, fields, and trees were first formed for shelter and food, and then animals and human beings filled the place.
Order and organization are in every handiwork of the Creator. This law of order exists in the very nature of our physical being, even in the unseen movements of our cells. There is order in how blood cells travel from one part of the body to the other, as they supply nutriments and remove waste matter. When this order is changed, blocked, destroyed, or disrupted, for whatever reason, sickness and disease sets in.
"Order is the law of heaven."1 And since the King of heaven is also the Creator of Earth, this law also applies to us. Having order and organization means making goals and carrying out priorities according to principles, accomplishing what is needful for the day and important for life. For example, choosing to sleep early rather than watch movies means you have a health goal and prioritize it over entertainment. Spending time with your children rather than working overtime shows you value family relationships over extra pay or promotion.
ORDER IN THE LIFE: THE CREATOR & THE CREATED
Because we are created in God's image, we are expected to reflect His character of order. The Instruction for us is, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). Like other habits and practices, order needs to be learned. Order starts when we acknowledge the Creator as the head in our lives. Creatures can never rise higher than the mind which created them. Admitting that we are mere created beings accountable to our Creator helps us put our priorities in proper perspective. If the Creator’s governance is absent in our lives, continual chaos and confusion can lead to health and life issues.
Our Creator is a relational God who wants the best things for us and intervenes for our good when we allow Him. (Isaiah 43:1-3a, James 1:17, Romans 8:31,32). It will be more than safe to hand over to Him all the broken parts and pieces of our lives so He can fix us and help us put our lives in order. Whether in messed-up relationships, ruined finances, broken homes, or damaged health, the Almighty can recreate things anew and make life more meaningful and beautiful.
ORDER IN THE FAMILY
Where can we see the best reflection of the Creator's character of orderliness? It is through a well-disciplined and well-ordered family. In his terminal illness, King Hezekiah had to set his house in order as God commanded him (2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1). ''
"Order is Heaven's first law, and the Lord desires His people to give in their homes a representation of the order and harmony which pervade the heavenly courts.''2 The family enjoys order and harmony when the roles of the father (as priest, provider, and house-band (the band that holds the family together)), the mother (as nurturer and primary educator), and the children (as obedient junior partners in the home firm), are fulfilled, respected, and supported.
Because He made us, our Creator is entitled to be the King of our private life. Because He established marriage, He also has the right to be the Supreme Authority of the home. When each family member - starting with the father - places the Creator in His proper position as head of the individual life, the priorities of each family member become united under Him. Each family member is then empowered to accept and accomplish their respective roles and functions in the family circle. This results in peace, unity, joy, happiness, and harmony in the home - conditions that allow the individual mind, spirit, and body to thrive greatly.
Another beautiful thing in allowing God to be the head of the family is that He gives us His name! Adopted children find belongingness in taking the family name of their adoptive parents. The gift of belonging to the royal family of heaven and receiving the Father's name is given to us by no less than the King of the universe. He names the whole family in heaven and earth after Him! (Revelation 14:1, Ephesians 3:14,15).
ORDER IN THE CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY
Just as there needs to be loving compliance by the different family members to the specific roles in the family circle, the same is true in the church and the community. The Bible describes church members as distinct body parts working with their unique responsibilities, gifts, and roles, but all performing and cooperating as parts of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). This cooperative organization also applies to the community.
WHAT SIMPLE THINGS CAN I DO TO REFLECT
MY CREATOR'S GIFT OF ORDER?
● Plan. Prioritize. Prepare. Perform.
Plan what to do, prioritize what needs to be done first, prepare the tools to accomplish the task, and then do it. Write down a daily To-Do List to keep track of it all.
● For practical home order and organization, follow this saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Find and use a specific place for everything, and put everything where it belongs. For example, put kitchenware in the cupboard, pens in the pen holder, books on the shelf, shoes on the rack, clothes in the cabinet, food in the pantry, etc.
● For personal order: Ask the Creator for wisdom to prioritize what has value (devotions/prayer time, family, work, relationships, school, etc.). A good Instruction is Matthew 6:33, which tells us to seek God's kingdom first (i.e., take care of spiritual matters first; get to know God personally and what His will is).
● Write down the life goals and priorities the Creator has impressed on you through His Spirit and word. Put this in a visible place to remind you of the proportionate effort you should invest in these different areas.
● On family order: Now is the best time to "set your house in order." Husbands and wives should first come together and learn from the Creator Himself. Read through the Instruction Manual (Bible). Find examples of how family heads, like Abraham, Lot, David, and Jacob, governed their families. Learn from what they did, both right and wrong. Other good family-building books to read are The Adventist Home (White) and Child Guidance (White), available free online.
● Call for regular family meetings. Discuss the goals of each family member and the goals of the family as a whole. Good organization starts with good communication.
LET GOD BE GOD
Psalm 127:1a says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." In building up ourselves and our homes, our church, or our community, the active headship of our Creator should be sought and acknowledged. His direction should be supreme.
Now, because we have a head over us – God, who is the King of the universe, Commander of the armies of heaven – isn't it wonderful to know that we don't have to work out the solutions to life's problems by ourselves alone? He is ever ready to fulfill His role as Provider, Sustainer, Guide, and Deliverer.
Everything that our Creator God does is right, just, and perfect, and done out of love and for our eternal good. With this in mind, when we allow Him as Sovereign Lord to direct our lives, we have order and organization and experience peace and joy of heart, mind, and spirit.
Would you like to surrender yourself to God’s order today and experience the blessing His headship brings?
____________
1 White, EG. Christian Experience and Teachings, 195.3
2 Signs of the Times, July 8, 1908, par. 4
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
F - FAITH IN GOD
FAITH.
To some, the word may be too abstract. What is faith? What does it do? Is there a wrong faith and a right faith? Is faith related to my health? For answers, we go to our Instruction Manual to discover what the Creator says. To have a meaningful understanding, we will find answers to three questions: 1) Where is faith from? 2) Who receives faith, and for what purpose? And 3) To whom is faith directed?
WHERE IS FAITH FROM?
To find the reason for the existence of something, we first ask where its origin is. Our Instruction Manual tells us that God gives faith (Romans 12:3), that faith is inherent in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:14) and is a character of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Therefore, faith is divine in origin, coming from the Godhead. Human knowledge, opinion, or ideas do not produce it.
WHO RECEIVES FAITH, AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
Our Instruction Manual says God gives "to each one a measure of faith'' (Romans 12:3). So, all of us receive faith, whether religious or not, are Asian, Caucasian, or African, are rich or poor, etc.
Why does God think it is important to give faith to each one? What is faith for?
Our Instruction Manual teaches that faith is necessary for the following: our access to grace (Romans 5:2); our royal, divine adoption into the family of God (Galatians 3:26); our obedience (Acts 6:7); our victory (1 John 5:4); our unity (Ephesians 4:13); our forgiveness (Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:8,11); the cleansing of our hearts (Acts 15:9); doing God's will/right living (Acts 26:18, Philippians 3:9); having a new life (Galatians 2:20); the hope of our resurrection (1 Peter 1:21); and our salvation (1 Peter 1:5, Galatians 3:11).
Faith is necessary for our spiritual life, as well as our physical life and healing. When our Creator came down to Earth to show us what God was like, He healed many thousands. Among those was a woman with a bleeding problem for 12 years, a blind man, and a leper. Records of their healing say that Jesus told them, ''...Your faith has made you well" (Matthew 9:22, Mark 5:34, Mark 10:52, Luke 8:48, Luke 17:19, Luke 18:42).
So, who receives faith? We all do. For what purpose? For our spiritual and physical well-being, here and for eternity!
Our Instruction Manual says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Simply, it says faith is the material evidence of the unseen divine. How is it seen? In you! In the newness of your life, spiritually and physically!
TO WHOM IS FAITH DIRECTED?
Truth preserves us and gives us freedom (Psalm 40:11, John 8:32). But the enemy of truth wants to destroy and enslave us and has made a fake faith to deceive us. Sadly, the world has swallowed this popular faith idea expressed this way: "Believe in yourself." "Follow your heart."
This philosophy has seemingly propelled many to the platforms of fame, wealth, academic achievement, etc. However, our Creator's Instruction is plain: "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22).
"Faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5). Faith is from God and should also be directed toward God (1 Thessalonians 1:8). So, any faith we have, any trust we convey, any belief we carry, or any confidence we hold, should be directed toward God.
Here is a quick look at the two opposing faith systems:
Faith System 1. FAITH IN SELF: We trust in what we can do for ourselves (by working hard, studying diligently), working our own way to care for ourselves, supplying ourselves with what we think we need (rich food, fashionable clothes, relationships, a big house, etc.), and achieving what we think is essential (a satisfying career, a popular social life, security in money, etc).
Faith System 2. FAITH IN GOD: We trust God to take care of us while we do what is important to Him - which is prioritizing our relationship with Him (Matthew 6:33), following His Instructions (John 14:15), and working for Him (Matthew 28:19,20).
Only one faith system is true. God encourages us to trust His truthful way (Matthew 6:24-34, Luke 12:15-34). He wants to take care of us more than He takes care of the grass (Luke 12:28) and the birds of the air (Matthew 10:29-31).
Faith is an alive and active, daily process. We grow from faith to faith (Romans 1:17) as our faith increases (2 Corinthians 10:15); It is productive (1 Thessalonians 1:3); And shows itself through obedience (James 2:20). Faith in God means acting on what He says. When He says to seek first His eternal kingdom, we follow by prioritizing spiritual matters over the temporary aspects of life.
Faith is simply trusting alone in what God says He will do. Faith is trusting in God's word.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING FAITH?
For sure, all of us need more faith. The Instruction Manual gives some simple ways we can grow our faith:
● Ask for an increase in faith. Claim the promise in Matthew 7:7,8 while asking. Also, ask in faith. Believe without doubting (James 1:6) that your prayer will be answered because this is God’s will.
● Faith comes through hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Read God's word every morning upon waking and before bedtime. Spending time with God makes you get to know Him better, so you can trust Him more. Ask God to show you what He wants you to trust Him for.
● Read about Abraham, Daniel, Joseph, et al. Learn about the faith (or faithless) circumstances in their lives that give us lessons.
● The Creator is our example in all things. Learn about Jesus' faith, shown by His obedience to the Father. This obedience led to His death on the cross. Meditate on this aspect of Jesus' faith that He wants to give to us.
● Expect tests and trials in life. Genuine faith is tested by fire (1 Peter 1:7). Our faith becomes stronger in situations where we choose to trust in God's word alone - that means obeying God's instructions instead of following the dictates of people around us, the popular practices of the day, or the common ideas that are opposite to what God says.
WHAT ARE THE BASIC INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW TO SHOW MY FAITH IN GOD?
Humanity's Instruction Manual is full of instructions from cover to cover. But all instructions boil down to just two General Instructions:
● Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).
● And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:39-40).
These two General Instructions come from the one principle of God's kingdom, the Law of Love. However, being the dull, stubborn humans we are, God broke it down to ten for us to fully understand it. You can read it as the ten commands or commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. The first four commands are how we take love from God (the "first and great commandment"), and the last six commands are how we give that love to our neighbors (the second great commandment).
Go over these Ten Basic Instructions/Commandments and find what you don't know, have ignored, or forgotten, like the 4th commandment instructing about the 7th-day Sabbath rest, and resolve by faith to obey these for your own good.
FAITH IN THE CREATOR'S RESTORATION PLAN
What if one chooses not to trust or have faith in God? Freedom of choice is God's gift to each one, so we are free to choose to trust God or not. However, unbelief in God does not cancel out God's existence or faithfulness to us (Romans 3:3,4).
The book of Revelation reveals the Creator's plan for the complete restoration of humanity. It is a beautiful book filled with hope, flooded with grace, and full of the faithfulness of our Saviour. It is packed with appeals, instructions, and warnings because He longs for all to experience His love fully. Our instruction is: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)" (Hebrews 10:23, KJV).
A life of living faith experiences beautiful, personal, and surprising miracles from our Creator God because He is always faithful to His word. Will you trust God in what He says?
_________
Unless otherwise specified -
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
H - H2O
WATER
Pure water is important to health. Its acute and severe lack in the body causes more injury than the absence of food. It was thirst that almost took the lives of Ishmael and his mother in the desert (Genesis 21:15-16). It was thirst that made an angry mob confront Moses and Aaron (Numbers 20:2-5). But having water to drink is not enough. Water needs to be of a quality that can sustain life. Bitter water is harmful (Exodus 15:23); and bad water makes the ground barren, killing the soil (2 Kings 2:19-22), and resulting in famine and starvation for the people.
We get sick sooner or later when we don't drink enough water because it is one of the elements that our body cells need to survive and thrive. The law of cause and effect applies to our use of water. Imagine the sad picture of a wilting houseplant unwatered for days. Plants need water to live, and the same is true for humans. On average, our bodies are composed of ~65% water.1 That's why we need to drink up!
WATER AND THE BLOOD
Humanity’s Instruction Manual says, "The life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). Water is necessary for blood because water is around 90% of blood plasma.2 So, it is essential for the environment, nourishment, and proper function of the blood cells. After water molecules enter the bloodstream, they travel to all the cells in the body. In the cells, water is the most abundant molecule, accounting for 70% or more of the total cell mass.3
PERFECT CIRCULATION = PERFECT HEALTH
Circulation is the movement of blood through the blood vessels in the body, and "Perfect health depends upon perfect circulation."4 Anything that blocks or obstructs blood circulation affects one's overall health. Some common factors impairing blood flow are high cholesterol and high blood sugar, conditions mainly caused by wrong eating habits. If these abnormal situations are unresolved, they may lead to high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses.
Our Instruction Manual records water drinking as a health principle. Daniel and his three friends asked for modest meals consisting of vegetables and water (Daniel 1:12) instead of the rich food and wine from King Nebuchadnezzar. This simple food plan showed a marked positive difference in their physical appearance after only ten days compared to the other students. After three years on the meal plan, they had 10x more mental strength and ability than the wise men already working in the Babylonian king's court (Daniel 1:15-20). Their firmness in following the Creator's original food and fluid prescribed for humans resulted in those blessings. If we also follow the Creator's plan, He can faithfully keep His promise to us: "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you" (Exodus 23:25).
WATER BENEFITS
Water promotes and preserves health and helps to restore it in sickness. A simple internal use of water is through water fasting (abstaining from food and only drinking pure, soft water). Some external applications of water in times of sickness are steam baths, contrast baths, contrast applications, fomentations, sponge baths, etc. These are commonly called hydrotherapy or hydrothermal therapy. These practical procedures, which may be done safely at home, can bring healing and benefit one's health.
It is reassuring to know that our all-wise Creator anticipated and already provided what we need to promote, preserve, and restore our health. The intelligent use of water is one of His gifts. Our Instruction Manual records the story of a blind man washing in the pool of Siloam and receiving his sight after Jesus made clay and anointed his eyes (John 9:6). Also written is the healing account of Naaman, captain of the Syrian army. These stories give us a picture of the use of water in treating disease (2 Kings 5). Of course, it was not water that healed them. But the God who created water used His healing power through water to heal Naaman and the blind man, as they humbly followed God's simple treatment plan for them.
So it is with our present intelligent use of water. The recreative, healing power of the Creator is ours if we ask in faith. Because of His goodness, our God will lead us beside the still waters; He is the One that restores our souls (Psalm 23:2,3a). Another promise is: "The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail" (Isaiah 58:11).
HOW CAN I PROPERLY USE WATER FOR MY HEALTH AND HEALING?
H2O is a simple guide to the proper drinking of water:
H – Hours: Drink at any hour, except meal times (drink at least 30 minutes before or 2 hours after a meal).
● On getting up in the morning, drink a couple of glasses of warm water to hydrate your body from the night's fast, get your digestive tract moving, and improve your circulation.
● Remember to avoid drinking water with meals. Drinking interferes with proper digestion since water is absorbed in the intestines and not digested in the stomach. Of course, it would be proper to drink water to help relieve yourself when choking on food particles.
● To avoid interrupted sleep at night due to bathroom use, plan to drink more during the day and early afternoon than at night.
2 – At least 2 liters a day. Avoid the 2 temperature extremes (very hot and very cold).
● Train yourself to drink throughout the day. Carry a water bottle with you when leaving the house. Make sure you have pure, soft water as much as possible.
● The advised average of eight glasses of water is approximately equal to two liters. Keep tabs on how much you drink so you don't run short. A helpful way is to fill a one-liter bottle in the morning with water, making sure to drink it all before lunch; then refill the bottle after lunch, making sure to drink all or most of it before supper.
O – Only water. No artificial drinks, including power drinks, soft drinks/sodas, alcohol, coffee, tea, processed juices, and other sugary, colored, or synthetic beverages.
● Many think coffee, tea, artificial juices, sodas/soft drinks, or other processed, sugary drinks can replace water. This isn't so. Remember to avoid these beverages as they are unhealthful for the body and mind and weaken the immune and nervous systems.
● For the external use of water (fomentations, compresses, etc.) especially during sickness, read books like The Uses of Water in Health and Disease (Kellogg), The Water Therapy Manual (Ferrell), and Healing Wonders of Water (Ladion).
On the restoration of His children, our Creator says, "In that day sing to her, "A vineyard of red wine! I, the LORD, keep it, I water it every moment; Lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day" (Isaiah 27:3).
WHAT ARE THE BLESSINGS OF THE WATER OF LIFE?
As we nourish our bodies with water, we nurture our souls by drinking from the Water of Life. And just as our Creator supplies abundant water (Job 36:27,28) for our physical needs, He also satisfies our spiritual needs. The words of our Creator are the water of life for us (Ephesians 5:26). Our Creator says, “And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
The words of life of our Creator are abundant and free, given in love - not forced or coerced, and given for all, not only for a selected few. The Creator’s water of life - His Word - is for us to live healthy, happy, and holy lives. Won't you take the invitation to drink from the Fountain of Life Himself and be refreshed and restored?
____________
1 PE Watson, ID Watson, RD Batt, Total body water volumes for adult males and females estimated from simple anthropometric measurements, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 33, Issue 1, January 1980, Pages 27-39, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/33.1.27
2 The Franklin Institute Inc. n.d., "Blood – The Human Heart," accessed 10 August 2020, <https://web.archive.org/web/20090225064546/http://www.fi.edu.learn/heart/blood/plasma.html>.
3 Cooper GM, The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 2nd Edition. Accessed 28 February 2023, <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9879/>
4 White, EG. Healthful Living, 30.1
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
E - EXERCISE
THE LAW OF OBEDIENT ACTION
Have you noticed that most of nature around us is in constant motion? Clouds always move past; the air is endlessly somewhere else; the waters stream from high mountains only to be taken up when they reach the ocean; the waves repeatedly ebb and flow; and the planets perpetually spin. This constant motion shows the law of obedient action.1
"Action not only advances physical health but brings us into harmony with others and with the universe."2 The purpose then of physical exercise is simple: Movement. Movement allows us to be in synchrony with the rest of creation.
To have perfect health, one needs perfect circulation (movement of blood throughout the body). Perfect circulation allows efficient delivery of nutriments to and waste removal from each cell. This movement sustains the life of the cell, the tissue, the organ, the body system, and consequently, the whole person.
Some factors that affect circulation are temperature and movement. Movement equalizes the circulation of blood and, therefore, promotes health. In contrast, being sedentary causes disease. Not so long ago, most people were generally more physically active than people today. People then worked in the fields and tended gardens. They hand-washed clothes and hung them out to dry. Dishes were also hand-washed. Children climbed trees and ran about, and before the advent of the automobile, people walked, cycled, or rode on carts or animals. But times have changed, and the city lifestyle dictates most of humanity's routine: get up, ride to work, sit at work, go home, sit in front of the TV, sleep. Unfortunately, the idle cycle starts even in childhood when children just sit and stare for hours and hours in front of hypnotizing screens and gadgets. Machines also have taken over the manual work. There are washing and drying machines, dishwashers, riding lawnmowers, robot vacuums, etc. Because of these inventions, there is less opportunity for actual physical exertion to take place.
Many studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression, among others. Johns Hopkins mentions that the American Heart Association noted an increase of sedentary jobs by 83% since 1950 and calls the sedentary lifestyle: "Sitting Disease."3
MOVEMENT IS MANDATORY
Exercise, especially in the open air, allows body organs, like the liver, kidneys, and lungs, to be strengthened. "The time spent in physical exercise is not lost... A proportionate exercise of all the organs and faculties of the body is essential to the best work of each."4
The best exercise, however, is purposeful movement. "Nothing can increase the strength of the young like proper exercise of all the muscles in useful labor."5 House chores, farm work, and gardening - muscle work that particularly benefits other people - are examples of purposeful movement. This, of course, is a principle from our Instruction Manual.
At creation, we find that our first parents were given labor as a gift. Genesis 2:15 records that our Creator put man and woman in the garden to tend to it, cultivate it, and keep it. Gardening was, in fact, their day job. "It was designed that the Lord God should plant a garden for Adam and Eve in Eden and give them the task of caring for the fruit trees and cultivating and training the vegetation. Useful labor was to be their safeguard, and it was to be perpetuated through all generations to the close of earth's history."6 This was the original purposeful movement/exercise that still applies to us today.
Now, isn't that wonderful? We do not have to buy those stretch fabrics and running gear or wait to exercise in the gym. We can exercise right in our backyard in our plain houseclothes!
BENEFITS OF USEFUL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Useful physical exertion not only strengthens muscles and enlivens stagnant blood,7 but it also improves taste and judgment, refines the mind,8 teaches helpfulness, develops responsibility and accountability, encourages self-development, builds character, and brings happiness, among other advantages.
WHAT ARE WAYS I CAN INTEGRATE MOVEMENT INTO MY DAY?
We may have prescribed exercise to neighbors, family, and co-workers, but how about ourselves? Here are several suggestions you might want to try to incorporate physical action into your day:
● The key is constant movement and motion. Learn some simple stretching exercises so that while in a queue, instead of standing or sitting idly, you can help improve circulation. You will be blessed by what simple movements - like wrist or ankle rotations - can do for you, even for just a few minutes.
● A good time for movement is after a meal. Light house chores after meals can include clearing the table and kitchen, sweeping the floor, and taking out the trash. If blessed with extra time, having a "digestive walk" with your spouse or children will bring the added blessings of family bonding. When having breaks at work, walk around the office building before going to your post.
● Walk! "There is no exercise that can take the place of walking. By it the circulation of the blood is greatly improved... Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best remedy for diseased bodies, because in this exercise all of the organs of the body are brought into use."9
● When doing city transactions, park your car as far as possible from building entrances. Doing so will allow you a brisk walk to and from your place of business. When wearing the correct footwear, take the stairs rather than the elevator.
● Exercise as much as possible in the open air rather than in a closed space. Being surrounded by nature, absorbing sunshine, and breathing fresh air will do wonders for your mental health and overall well-being.
● Plan ways to engage with nature as a form of exercise for yourself and the whole family. The best approach would be to have a backyard garden, of course. However, if this isn't feasible, you can always work with potted ornamental and edible plants.
● If your work hours require a lot of sitting, getting up hourly to take a water break will allow you to stretch and have some movement to have proper circulation.
EXERCISE YOUR BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT
Our Instruction Manual says, "For in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Our being able to move is a gift from our Creator, and physical movement is important if we want to promote, preserve, and restore health. However, spiritual exercise is also something we need to take into consideration. The Apostle Paul says that he exercised himself "to have a conscience without offense toward God and men" (Acts 24:16). Most important is his conclusion regarding what kind of exercise has supreme value, as written in his letter to young Timothy. He says, "Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:7b,8).
The text is a beautiful reminder of the complete healing that our Creator has in store for us. But no matter how much we exercise physically to keep healthy, our bodies will inevitably succumb to death at some point in time. However, our assurance is that those who die in Jesus will receive complete restoration during the resurrection morning at His second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
If purposeful movement and walking give you a whole amount of good, how much more would it be for your total health if the Creator walked with you? Why not invite Him with you on your daily walk and see the blessings that come because of the Creator's presence? Try it and see! You'll be glad you did!
______________
1 White, EG. Manuscript Releases Vol 4, 189.3
2 White, EG. Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol 1, 115.1
3 Michos, ED. n.d. Sitting Disease: How a Sedentary Life Affects Heart Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Accessed 10 August 2020, <https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/sitting-disease-how-a-sedentary-lifestyle-affects-heart-health>.
4 White, EG. Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 295.2
5, 6 White, EG. Child Guidance, 340.1. / 345.2
7, 9 White, EG. Healthful Living 46.2 / 129.5
8 White, EG. Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol 2, 648.5
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
A - AIR
WHAT'S YOUR AIR BILL?
A patient will find a fee for oxygen in his medical bill if he uses compressed air during hospitalization. Have you ever thought how much you would be paying for air if it was for sale, like food and water? We can go for weeks without food or a few days without water, but only a few minutes without air. Its absence is not an option for us to survive. Pure, clean air is necessary for life and health. Even with the volume of man-made toxic particles in the air from cleaning agents, motor vehicle emissions, factory fumes, etc., the contaminated air we breathe is still important because it carries the life-sustaining properties our Creator designed it to have.
THE AIR ADVANTAGE
We pay attention to air only when it becomes densely polluted and makes us cough, or it moves as wind and creates disasters like typhoons, hurricanes, and tornadoes. "Air is the free blessing of Heaven,"1 even though we hardly think about the benefits we get from it just because we don't see it. Aside from allowing us to breathe and carry on with life, air has other advantages for our health that we may be unaware of. "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."2 In contrast, the effects of impure air are shown in this statement: "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."3
It is a fact that contaminants in the air cause many lung problems, including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences also reported that advanced research shows air pollution to be a factor in heart disease, diabetes, obesity, reproductive health, and neurologic and immune system disorders.4
The availability, then, of clean, fresh air for our health is a serious matter.
WHAT CAN I DO TO OPTIMIZE MY USE OF AIR FOR MY HEALTH?
Even if we can’t see air, let us remind ourselves that we can do something to enhance its health-contributing effects. Here are some simple things we can do for our benefit:
● Ensure proper natural ventilation in the home. As far as possible, open windows and doors. Also, pull back curtains and allow fresh air to circulate freely throughout the house, especially during nighttime. Doing this removes impurities in stale air that make us sick.
● Do proper breathing exercises, especially in the early morning hours. The air in the city at that time is less likely to be contaminated. Proper breathing ensures full expansion of the lungs and the throwing off of impurities through respiration.
● The presence of air is valuable, and how it is received and delivered to the organs is equally significant. The lungs, which receive clean air and exhale impurities, should be allowed the greatest freedom of action. Correct posture in standing or sitting — especially while working, helps to accomplish this. Habitually bending or stooping over at work decreases lung capacity and efficiency. This improper posture affects the delivery of oxygen to the cells and the proper elimination of cell waste material through the lungs.
● Avoid what can taint the air with health-destroying particles: cigar and cigarette smoke, smoke from burning plastic and other non-biodegradable material, toxic spray paints, etc.
● Plant low shrubs and bushes around the house and bring potted plants inside. Plants may be ornamental, but more importantly, they help clean the air by utilizing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen for us.
THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT
We all took our first breath when we came into this world. In our Instruction Manual, we turn to the book of beginnings to read how the first human got his first breath. Genesis tells us that the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." This physical form (body) + air (breath) then resulted in a living soul or living being (Genesis 2:7).
Body (Physical) + Breath of Life (Spiritual) = Being (Living Soul)
Isn't it precious that our Creator Himself initiated the first breath of Adam that brought him to life? But it is the same way with us, too! Job tells us, "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (Job 33:4). Note that spirit and breath are synonymous. And not only did God give us our first breath, but His keeping power and grace also sustains our every breath, including the very ones we are taking right this moment. And when God, in His wisdom, allows man to sleep the sleep of death, the process is reversed. The breath of life leaves the body and returns to God as its source, and the body returns to dust (Psalm 146:4).
Being - Breath of Life = Body
Note that the living soul is living and does not continue in another conscious state as a dead soul, but rather, the breath goes back to God, its owner. As mentioned, the breath does not exist before or after life in another conscious state.
WHAT'S COMING IN THE AIR?
The COVID-19 pandemic gave us a different perception of air. Sadly, many people today are even afraid to breathe with someone around. But we must have proper respiration to have good blood so that we can have good health. On the spiritual side, what happened on a global scale gave us a clear and deeper awareness of what is really taking place in this world — the great controversy between good and evil. Our Instruction Manual describes a prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). This evil prince seeks to influence humanity to a spirit of disobedience and rebellion against the moral and physical laws of which there is but only one Author, our Creator God.
Soon, however, all this confusion, sorrow, pain, and suffering will vanish like the wind. Soon, that one expected thing in the air will take place – the appearance of our Creator as King and Deliverer. He will come this way: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17a).
Note that it is during this resurrection at His return that the Creator will give back the breath for those who died in Him. This tells us that the dead were not floating somewhere, nor were they in any conscious form or figure after their death (Psalm 6:5, Psalm 115:17, Psalm 146:3,4, Ecclesiastes 9:4-6, Isaiah 26:19, Job 7:9,10, Job 21:32, John 5:28, 29). Also, note that it is in the air that the blessed reunion of the King of the universe and His resurrected and translated children will happen - Christ will not be setting foot on Earth. It is at this time that our Creator and Redeemer will joyously welcome His children to a new life of complete restoration, health, and healing.
Isn't it wonderful to know the Creator and His plan for our health and healing in this present life? Isn't it also exciting that He is coming back soon to complete His intended restoration for humanity? Would you like to commit yourself to Him as the rightful Owner of your breath and the patient Restorer of your soul?
______________
1 White, EG. Christian Temperance and Biblical Hygiene, 160.1
2,3 White, EG. Christian Temperance and Biblical Hygiene, 104.2
4 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2020. Air Pollution and Your Health. Accessed 10 August 2020, <www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm>.
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
L - LOVE FOR OTHERS + LIFE OF PURITY
LOVE IS A PRINCIPLE
Unrestricted media influence has made the 21st-century mind a confusing mass of philosophies and belief systems grounded on preference and the popular item of the day instead of absolute truth. Unfortunately, love has found itself in the middle of the mess.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary generally defines love along the lines of affection, emotion, and desire relating to a person or thing.* But is that what true love is? As created beings of the Creator God, we go to our Instruction Manual to find out what our Maker tells us about love.
We find that the first time the word 'love' is used in our Manual describes how Abraham loved his son, Isaac, but was commanded to offer him as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2).
That sounds ridiculous to many. But in fact, this act was only an object lesson to the real scenario of God, who loved His only begotten Son, Jesus, but gave Him up as a substitute to redeem fallen, feeble, frail humanity because He also loved us so much. The familiar verse says it perfectly: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This is the picture of true love and the life and death of Jesus Christ portray this love in detail.
Love is a principle demonstrated by selflessness, self-sacrifice, and self-denial without thought of reward or gain. Love is other-centered, seeks the best for others, and promotes their good. Love does not think of advantages, compensations, or honors for self (1 Corinthians 13).
"This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power.”1
Love is not an investment because the motive for investing is self-directed. However, true love seeks to do good to others, even without mutual affection and despite blatant rejection or violent oppression. As Paul put it, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved" (2 Corinthians 12:15). And reflecting Christ's experience, King David pointedly says, "…They have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love" (Psalm 109:5).
LOVE IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE CREATOR AND IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CREATOR'S GOVERNMENT
The Creator is love. Love is His very character, His very nature. Love is who He is (1 John 4:8). This love is the law of the Creator's government, and we were originally created to reflect this love naturally. The second great commandment tells us to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39), which includes the stranger (Leviticus 19:34), our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and everyone else (John 13:34).
The Creator's self-sacrificial gift of love means healing and restoration for us (1 Peter 2:24). We can have this genuine healing love only from God and cannot generate it ourselves. When we take from the true source of love, it is then that we can extend this self-denying, unselfish love to others. As it says in this verse: "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16).
LIFE OF PURITY
Pure means "free from dust, dirt, or taint: spotless, stainless, free from what ...weakens, or pollutes."** Our Instruction Manual tells us to keep ourselves pure (1 Timothy 5:22b) and to be an example of purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
The purity instructed us pertains especially to our spiritual life. Impurity applies to sin. Sin and the effects of sin pollute our spiritual and physical lives. Our Instruction Manual defines sin as "the transgression of the law," (1 John 3:4, KJV) or the violation of the law, or lawlessness. This law is the law of God, which is love. So sin is the violation of the Creator's love.
When we keep ourselves within the boundaries of the law of love, we are kept pure. When we go against the love of God, we invite impurity. Impurities are shown in our words (e.g., lies, negative words), in our thoughts (e.g., unkind and hurtful thoughts about others), and in what we do (e.g., backbiting, not taking proper care of our physical selves, being anxious, fearful, angry, etc.). These impurities hurt and destroy us and make us sick, as well as the people around us.
The opposite is true when we let our minds dwell on positive things. Thinking of truthful, pure, good, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) things allows our Creator to restore His beautiful, pure character in us.
LOVE FOR OTHERS + LIFE OF PURITY
Living a life of love means living a life of purity. Our Instruction is to "love one another fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22b).
WHAT ARE WAYS I CAN KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CREATOR'S LOVE?
Because genuine, unselfish love comes only from the Creator, we first need to acknowledge and understand this love from Him. Recognize that taking this love from Him is the only way we can express His true love to others.
● Memorize 1 Corinthians 13 and recite it throughout the day. Because God is love, try to substitute the word "Love/Charity" with "God" and envision the Creator's character as you recite the verses.
● Study and meditate on the life of the Creator as written in the gospels and the Psalms.
● The best way to experience God's love is to share it with others. Ask God to help you recognize opportunities throughout the day where you can show His patience, kindness, and goodness. Start at home because
"Practical homelife is the great test of character. By his tender thoughtful-
ness in the home, by the exercise of patience, kindness, and love, a man determines his character."2
● You may bless others (especially those who don't like you or those you don't like) as you lend a helping hand, give a listening ear, or speak an encouraging word. It may be through sharing a sincere hug, offering prayer, messaging a Bible promise, or something specific God impresses you to do. Be prepared to leave your comfort zone as God leads.
WHAT ARE PRACTICAL WAYS I CAN DO TO PROMOTE PURITY IN MY LIFE?
● Just as clean air gives us clean blood, prayer refreshes our spirit because "Prayer is the breath of the soul."3 Ask for the presence of God to be with you every moment so that His Spirit will transform your thoughts and words.
● Study the Word. Absorb, assimilate, and abide in it because the Word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5). Its purity will wash (Ephesians 5:26) and cleanse our dirty hearts.
● Surrender your Impurities. Psalm 32:5 says, "I acknowledged
my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Confessing our wrongs to God will give us peace of mind and joy as we experience His forgiveness and cleansing.
● Study the things that are pure, especially the pure life of Christ. Ask Him for an experience of His character that will allow you to desire His purity.
● Read about the beautiful, pure character and life of Jesus in the book The Desire of Ages (White), downloadable for free online. Learning more about Him will make us want to be more like Him.
LOVE AND PURITY
In your desire to be a blessing to others and live a pure life, why not invite the Creator to reveal more of His love and purity to you? His love changes us and allows us to live a pure life, resulting in blessings for ourselves and the people around us. He says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). Isn't that a most encouraging promise? Claim it today and experience God's pure love for you!
______________
*love. 2024. In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love>.
**pure. 2020. In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020, from <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pure>.
1 White, EG. Acts of the Apostles, 551.2
2 White, EG. Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol 1, 157.4
3 White, EG. Prayer, 12.4
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
T - TEMPERANCE
TEMPERANCE?
Temperance is a word rarely used these days but many have suffered injury or death because of it. To be temperate is to have self-restraint or self-control. Many link temperance with alcohol, tobacco, and food, but temperance does not only involve eating, drinking, and smoking.
Temperance is a health principle that should be applied in all aspects of life: work, sleep, study, dietary appetite, material desires, attitude and disposition, recreation and amusements, visual consumption, etc. It is a principle that should guide everything we do.
Even thousands of years ago, self-control wasn’t a popular topic. Apostle Paul's discussion with the Roman governor (Acts 24:25), Felix, attests to this fact. Paul told the governor it was man's duty to "live a life of sobriety and temperance, keeping the passions under the control of reason, in conformity to God's law, and preserving the physical and mental powers in a healthy condition."1 Sadly, the governor dismissed his convictions on this matter, and history goes on to record the disgrace and darkness of his life until his death.
A TEMPERATE LIFE
Olympic athletes are examples of those who live with temperance. An athlete aiming for the gold prize would direct every ounce of his energy toward accomplishing that goal. The marathon runner or triathlete sleeps sufficiently for strength and wakes up early to run. He trains regularly to tone his muscles for endurance, eats correctly to fuel his body, and drinks water promptly to hydrate himself properly. He does not smoke to avoid decreasing his lung capacity; he does not drink alcoholic beverages to avoid disrupting his mental clarity. In general, he does everything possibly right to keep his body fit for endurance. He calls this being disciplined and makes it a way of life.
We practice temperance/self-control when we intelligently use what is good and abstain from the unhealthful or hurtful. Being temperate assumes that one has the correct information (truth/true knowledge) about what is good and bad. Correct information allows one to make an intelligent choice for or against something. Humanity’s Instruction Manual says to add self-control to knowledge (2 Peter 1:6). Knowledge is useless if there is no application of temperance to that particular knowledge. For example, knowing about the damaging effects of smoking will not be useful if temperance is not practiced, in this case, abstaining from cigarette-smoking.
Following that, patience or perseverance is said to develop after self-control (2 Peter 1:6). The implication is that mental strength for patience/perseverance is an outcome of having self-control. A quote says, "An intemperate man cannot be a patient man."2
Interestingly, self-control can be passed down to the next generation, even passively. When a mother is pregnant with her child, her habits of self-control or self-indulgence, especially with food, will reflect in the child's character. The character formation of a baby in the womb is significant to our Creator. Before Samson's mother became pregnant, God sent an angel to instruct her about what she should not eat and drink (Judges 13:7,13,14).
WHAT ARE SIMPLE WAYS I CAN DO TO PRACTICE TEMPERANCE?
Because having self-control involves all aspects of life, an honest evaluation of every facet of our lives is necessary. Go over the other individual principles of CIRCLE OF HEALTH and see how you can practice self-control/temperance in those areas. The following are examples:
● Self-control in work and rest. Sleep early. Switch off lights by 9 pm. There is no value in habitually sleeping late, especially if it may decrease your life by years.
● Self-control in eating. Eat healthfully. Choose a whole-food, plant-based diet that contributes to your health, healing, and restoration. Eliminate junk/processed food that does not give the body the proper nutriments.
● Self-control in drinking. Choose the fluid that can cleanse your system, remove toxic wastes, and properly hydrate the body. Pure, soft water accomplishes all these. Avoid soda/soft drinks and other processed beverages.
● Avoid other health-destroying habits like cigarette smoking and alcoholic beverages, coffee, or tea. These are artificial stimulants that eventually do the body more harm than good.
● Self-control in consuming visual content. Be critical of what you feed your eyes (that directly influences your mind) through books, television, movies, games, music, the internet, etc.
● Be aware of how much time you spend on your phone. Cut down on screen time or have a day of phone fasting. The Sabbath would be a good day to do this.
● Choose truthful audiovisual content that will contribute to mental health. Avoid angry, loud, hurtful, or sensual music and movies that eventually damage your physical and mental health.
● Self-control in speech. Choose to say positive and helpful words rather than negative and hurtful ones. See how it can change your day!
● Learn more about how to live a temperate life by setting regular periods to study Humanity's Instruction Manual, the Bible. Allow the Creator God to communicate His will to you through His word. Reflect on lessons learned through these regular devotional and prayer times every day, and seek to apply them immediately.
● Also read more about temperance from books like Temperance (White) or Counsels on Temperance and Bible Hygiene (White) downloadable free from the internet.
SELF-CONTROL FOR THE CELESTIAL CROWN
When we exercise self-control, especially in eating food that makes us sick sooner or later, we practice the discipline of athletes. Our Instruction Manual tells us, "Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:25). The world athletes, however, compete for a prize that may rust, get torn, get lost, be stolen or forgotten. But Paul says that we are striving for a prize that is the everlasting, non-destructible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25): the crown of life eternal. Now, isn't that worth our total devotion and earnest effort?
When He was here on Earth, our Creator gave an example of how to live a temperate life. He invites us now to experience the abundant, restored life He wants us to have through living the principle of self-control. He has promised that His victory can be ours, too. This promise is for us: But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Would you like to ask Him to be your partner in living a life of temperance?
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1 White, EG. The Acts of the Apostles, 422.2- 427.2
2 White, EG. Counsels on Diet and Foods, 50.1
+ Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
