The Best is Still Ahead
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As defined by the World Health Organization, health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
While this definition of health is quite thorough and relatively inclusive of the various dimensions of health, it fails to fully reflect the Biblical concept of health.
But what is the Biblical concept of health?
I. Health Defined
I. Health Defined
A. Health vs. Shalom
Well, suprisingly, if you run a Bible search on the word "health", you will collect very few results. In fact, the Revised Standard Version uses it only 6 times.
This is not due to the fact the the Biblical authors didn't think it wasn't important, but due to the fact that the Ancient view of health is quite different from our modern understanding, which led to the use of different words.
In general, our contemporary society thinks of health and its care as the domain of science, concentrated in the physical, described and and treated as a function of nature. Even when mental health is included, it is often thought of in terms of biochemical processes and solutions are primarily physical in nature, including with the use of drugs.
The Biblical approach, on the other hand, not only acknowledges the divine involvement beyond nature, but makes that involvement central.
Let me illustrate it for you.
For example, did you know that biblical Hebrew has names for more than 80 body parts, but it does not have a clear term for body?
Nearest to the modern sense is the word "gufah", which occurs 13 times in the Hebrew Bible, almost always with extended meanings. It refers to dead bodies (eight times) or figures in dreams (three times).
This is because the Hebrew mind did not think of the human being as a purely physical object, nor could health be characterized primarily as a physical condition.
The material from which the body is made is expressed in the word "bāsār", commonly translated as “flesh”, but the word refers to the substance of the body, not the total body itself.
Because the Bible treats life is a matter of the whole person, undivided by categories such as physical vs. mental vs. spiritual, the Biblical word in Hebrew that communicates the idea of well-being is the term Shalom, which appears more than 350 times in the Bible.
While most people today translate that word to simply mean "peace", its use in the Bible is much broader. Actually, only 38 times it is used in the Bible for peace as contrasted to war.
The concept of Shalom includes the ideas of completeness, soundness, good welfare, prosperity, well-being, harmony between or among parties and harmony within oneself.
Through Shalom, the biblical idea of health, while including the physical state, extends through every aspect of human experience, including the physical, mental, spiritual, and social, whether individually, collectively, or nationally.
Let me illustrate that with a few examples. In Genesis 29, there's the first occurance of the word shalom in the Bible, and the context is Jacob, the son of Isaac, inquiring about the well-being of his relative. Let's take a look
Genesis 29:5–6 (NASB95)
He [Jacob] said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” And they said, “We know him.”
And he said to them, “Is it well [shalom] with him?” And they said, “It is well [shalom], and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”
Another example of this can be found in the following passage, about Jesus' development as a kid. While in our culture it would suffice to say "And he grew up as a healthy boy", this is how the Biblical authors described it:
Luke 2:52 (NASB95)
And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom [mental] and stature [physical], and in favor with God [spiritual] and men [social].
In Leviticus 26:6, we see an example of Shalom being used in the sense of mental health, to express an untroubled state of mind that originates from acceptance with God, as we can read together in the screen:
Leviticus 26:6 (NASB95)
‘I shall also grant peace [shalom] in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.
Not surprisingly, the ultimate shalom that represents a complete state of satisfaction and wellbeing can only be given by God. To those who serve Him, He offers a covenant of shalom:
Numbers 25:12 (NASB95)
“Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give him My covenant of peace [shalom];
In the New Testament, shalom is expressed through the concept of Eirene, which often gets translated as peace, and it can be seen in multiple passages. For example, in John 14:27 we read:
John 14:27 (NASB95)
“Peace [eirene / the gr. equiv. to shalom] I leave with you; My peace [shalom] I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
and Romans 5:1
Romans 5:1 (NASB95)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace [shalom] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
In addition to the Shalom, the New Testament often speaks about healing in terms of "wholeness" through the word "Sozo", which is the same word that is translated as Salvation. So when Jesus healed a woman that was sick with a bleeding disorder for 12 years, he said:
Mark 5:34 (NASB95)
And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well [sozo]; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
Which tells us that her faith in Jesus saved her in a spiritual sense, with her physical healing being a symbol of that.
But there are three things we need to further explain here.
First, that this peace that God offers freely is not achieved easily, for the human heart has a natural inclination to compromise with wrong. It is important, therefore, to fight - or be diligent - to maintain that peace, since our world will offer many distractions to prevent us from having it and even our own natural bent towards evil will fight against it. This concept can be seen in 2 Peter 3:14:
2 Peter 3:14 (NASB95)
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless
Secondly, that the complete shalom that is offered by those who serve God cannot be had by the wicked, or the person that is at odds with God:
“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.
Thirdly, that while the shalom that God has to offer includes physical well-being, it is primarily experienced by a righr relationship with God. Jesus makes it clear that We live in a world of sin, and often that sin will take away from the shalom of certain areas, including our health. Let's read it in John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
So while obedience to God will tend to produce health and well-being, there are still factors outside of our control that may still lead into disease and sickness.
Which leads me to my fourth observation: that the ultimate shalom of healing and peace will come as a cosmic fulfillment, the complete restoration of all things, at the second coming of Jesus.
II. The Necessity of Taking Care of One's Temple
II. The Necessity of Taking Care of One's Temple
So now that we're all on the same page regarding the Biblical concept of health, or wholeness. we move on to our next question. Why is it necessary for the disciple of Jesus to be diligent in taking care of his own health?
A. Because our Bodies are Sacred
The first reason is that our bodies are sacred and they belong to God. And because they belong to God, we ought to be faithful trustees of His property.
Let's have a look of what the Bible has to say about this.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
So, since our body belongs to God, we ought to treat it with the maximum respect. For the Christian, it is not "my body, my rules", but "God's body, God's rules"
Now, you might not know this, but it is not only the Holy Spirit that inhabits in us. Actually, the full Trinity wants to inhabit in us. Check this out:
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Now, how exactly do the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit abide in us - this is something that is beyond explanation. But I find it amazing that God wants to dwell in me, in my body - therefore I ought to take care of it according to God's instructions.
Then there's a second reason why we should do our best to maintain an optimal health:
Because that will allow us to have better spiritual discernment.
B. Spiritual Discernment
The old Latin proverb was correct when it said "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano", or: "A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body"
Let's look at what Ellen White, one of the founders of the Seventh-Day Adventist church wrote over 100 years ago on this matter:
“Anything that lessens physical strength enfeebles the mind and makes it less capable of discriminating between right and wrong. We become less capable of choosing the good and have less strength of will to do that which we know to be right.”
Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 346.
An illustration of that can be seen in the life of the Prophet Daniel. When Daniel was only a teenager, he had to make a difficult choice. Daniel had just been deported as a slave from Israel to Babylon and had been assigned to become a servant of the king. But before he could start his role or even be placed in his position at the courts, he needed to go through a 3-year training process.
In his first week at the royal training school, he was offered to eat from the delicacies of the King's table. However, Daniel understood that the food that was being offered to him would somehow defile his body - perhaps it consisted of food articles prohibited according to God's law, or perhaps the meats were first offerd as a sacrifice to false Gods - we don't know. What we do know, is that Daniel strived to align his diet with God's plan, even if that would cause him to get in trouble.
Fortunately, the Bible says that Daniel found favour in the eyes of the chief of the eunuchs, who accepted Daniel's request, which he made alongside three of his friends, Azariah, Mishael and Hananiah. Their request was to be given vegetables and water only, instead of the King's portion.
As a result of their choices - which included both natural and supernatural blessings, the Bible says that:
Daniel 1:20 (NASB95)
As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.
The Attitude of Daniel and His friends towards food, that is, to submit their health choices to God's commandments, yielded them not only superior strenght and intellect, but it gave them the Spiritual discernment necessary to face really important challenges in the future, including threats of being thrown in the Fiery Furnace and in the Lion's Den.
Slide with Illustrations of these episodes.
C. Better able to Serve the Lord.
A Third reason why we should strive to obey God in his health-related instructions is to be able to serve him better and longer.
In other words: If we're sick, how can we minister to others?
Let's see what the Bible has to say about that:
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Our spiritual service of worship is much more than just gaterhing once a week to praise God. It is a whole-of-life attitude of serving him wherever we go - before our family, friends and our community. This is why our bodies need to be presented as a living sacrifice.
Next Verse.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So gloryfing God is done in the small things, including what we eat and drink.
Let me give you a Biblical illustration about this.
When Jesus roamed through this Earth, at one stage Peter's mother in law became sick. She was laying in bed, burning in fever.
When Jesus saw her, he touched her and she was healed. Let's read what happened to her immediately after that:
Luke 4:39 (NASB95)
And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and served them.
When Jesus heals us or when we maintain the health that he has given us, the best way to use our God-given strenght is by serving Him and by serving others. And that's the third reason why Seventh-Day Adventist christians strive to look after their health.
III. How can I obtain that Physical well-being part of the Shalom?
III. How can I obtain that Physical well-being part of the Shalom?
A. God's Part
A. God's Part
First, let's start with God's part.
As I said in the beginning, the reason why it is not that simple to be healthy is because our minds are naturally bent towards evil. In this case, our mind and our body are naturally bent towards eating and drinking and doing other things that actually are not healthy for us, such as fatty foods, fried foods, sugar, not prioritising physical activity and undermining good sleep by going to bed late or accumulating too much stress without dealing with it appropriately.
But we're not left on our own devices. Let's see what the Bible teaches us about practicing these kinds of spiritual discipline:
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
So God gives us the will and the power to do His good pleasure. You don't feel like doing what you need to do? Pray first thing in the morning:
"God, help me to desire to take care of my health to the best of my ability, because at the moment I have no desire for it. I want to glorify your name with what I eat, what I drink, what I watch and with how I move. I want to receive the spiritual discernment and strenght that comes for that. I won't stop praying and asking until you can help me by giving me this desire, according to your promise. "
God also gives us the knowledge and the discernment to know what's best for our health.
For instance, the original diet for humans, as we see in the early chapters of Genesis, is a plant-based one. That still holds true to this day.
If a balanced plant-based meal is not possible in our circumstance then God allows us to make use of animal-based products, but only those who are considered to be clean, as per the instructions given us in the book of Leviticus, particularly in chapter 11. These include animals such as beef, lamb and chicken, and fishes that have scales but excludes foods such as pork, seafood in general and fishes that don't have scales. Also, God forbids the eating of fat and blood of even these clean animals.
As far as exercise goes, we were made originally to work in a garden, outdoors. Our body is built for movement. So daily moderate intensity exercise is essential to maintain optimal health, helping to bring oxygen to all of our body's tissues, including our brain, and being paramount to our mental well-being as well. Science says that 30-50 minutes a day is enough to maintain a good physical condition.
The Bible also has a word to say about things that cause us addiction, be it alcohol, smoke, caffeine, or other stimulants, including sexual addictions.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (NASB95)
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered [controlled, addicted to] by anything.
Excess sugar is also condemned by the Creator of our bodies.
It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.
Current research suggests the maximum intake of added sugar per day should be of no more than 9 teaspoons for a male and 6 teaspoons for a female. (This is sugar added to our food, it does not include sugars found in fruits, if they are eaten whole with their fibre).
Alcohol intake also is not appropriate for the believer. While not only any alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of developing cancers, domestic violence, car accidents and the like, but the Bible also tells us that:
Ephesians 5:18 (NASB95)
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.
The Bible has a number of instructions that are designed to boost our mental health as well. For instance, unforgiveness and guilt, when not dealt accordingly by forgiveness and repentance, will have a harmful effect on our bodies. This mind-body connection that is relatively new to science was not new at all for Bible students of all times.
When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
Right there we already see a lot of principles that would already increase our physical and mental health. But the Bible was written over 2,000 years ago and by no means it exhausts the subject. On the contrary, God has given us instructions to contine to learn and research and to obey the newly discovered laws of health, so new scientific discoveries are a constant new source of information about how to obtain optimal health - in that they do not contradict God's revelation. See for example Psalm 111:2
Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
Now, this is true of both God's works in history, as well as His works in creation. God wants us to study ALL of his works - including the natural laws that affect our health and wellbeing.
In addition to evidence-based science, Seventh-day Adventists have an additional source of God-given instructions regarding health through the writings of Ellen G. White, whom we believe had the Biblical gift of prophecy.
Here's an example of her writings, in line with what we just said
“The relation of the physical organism to the spiritual life is one of the most important branches of education.”
Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 348
B. Human's Response
B. Human's Response
So what can we do from now? What is OUR part in all of this, provided that God is doing so much?
Our part is to be diligent about our health.
God provides us the desire, the power, the knowledge, the inspiration - all we have to do is to trust him and put it those things practice.
Also, we need to beware of so called false science or magical solutions for our problems.
If a scientifc discovery seems to go against God's health laws, as Christians we follow Bible first, and then science second - and only if it does not directly contradict the Bible.
A few years ago I remember when it was advertised from the proverbial rooftops that it was actually good for you to drink a glass of alcoholic wine per day. The informed Christian would read this information and think: "Hmmmm. I don't think this is accurate". Maybe he or she would be scorned or labled as ignorant.
However, just over the past couple of years health authorities all over the world have been updating these advices and, today, the British Health Authority already changed their guideline and said: there are not safe levels of alcohol consumptions. Any consumption of alcohol, however small, already contributes to higher probability of developing certain kinds of cancer.
So time and time again, time seems to confirm that the health instructions given by God through the Bible and through Ellen White remain current and relevant.
Another item to be aware of are "false" system of treatment. These methods of treatment are often based on false premises such as "positive and negative" energy flows or letting go of the control of your mind to others, processes that are not scientifically measurable nor find their validation in Scriptures. These methods of treatment are everywhere - I don't think I need to name them for you.
This is what the Bible say about these therapies, that pretend to be scientific while are modern day practice of divination and witchcraft:
2 Kings 21:6 (NASB95)
He [Ahab, King of Israel] made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord provoking Him to anger.
Aside from being diligent, continuing to learn and avoiding false treatments. There's something else you can do.
If you already have experience in God-given health practices, I want to encourage you to share your knowledge and your skills with those who don't possess this knowledge yet.
Teach them how to cook healthy foods, invite them to do exercise with you, teach them about scientific and inspired insights on optimal health. Freely you received, freely give back to others.
If, on the other hand, you're new to all this, I ask you to please find someone that will be willing to disciple you with all of those things. Aside from that, you can enroll yourself in programs such as Live More or CHIP, or any other health program that our church is offering.
And lastly, if you're twisting your nose whenever someone comes to talk about health, I have an appeal for you as well. By the mercies of God, please present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God. For the love of God, of your family, of God's mission: stop delaying your starting a healthier life. Today is the day to start.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We take care of our bodies because this is who we are in Christ.
I will conclude this message by sharing with you a story about Moses.
God called him to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt into the promised land when he was of the age of 80.
For 40 years he led them through battles, wanders around the desert, major health and political crises.
When Moses was about to die, this is the testimony we have about him:
Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.
My friend, the best of God's plan is still ahead of you. Will you do your part so that God can use you to build up his kingdom for as long as possible? This question needs to be answered and put in practice starting from today.
Let's pray .
400 Prayers for Preachers A Prayer to Be Cleansed and Healed
O Saviour of the world, God of Gods, light of light, you who are the brightness of your Father’s glory, the express image of his person; you who have destroyed the power of the devil, who have overcome death, “who sits at the right hand of the Father”; you will speedily come down in your Father’s glory to judge all men according to their works. Be my light and my peace; destroy the power of the devil in me, and make me a new creature. You who cast seven devils out of Mary Magdalene, cast out of my heart all corrupt affections. You who raised Lazarus from the dead, raise me from the death of sin. You who cleansed the lepers, healed the sick, and gave sight to the blind, heal the diseases of my soul; open my eyes, and fix them singly on the prize of my high calling, and cleanse my heart from every desire but that of advancing your glory.