It is nearly impossible to fathom all the strange marvels found in our society today. The invasion of information is as dense as the fog in springtime. Everywhere you hear about hybrids and genetic mutants, along with cloned birds, sheep, horses and even attempts with people. The magazines everywhere invite you to a multicolored diversity of recipes such as how to become skinny in just a few days, how to gain perfect symmetry of your face, how to take this or that vitamin to keep your body in good shape and, if you have sufficient courage, you can even enroll “online” to be part of a free experiment for a “scientific institute” that works on a top secret project to create the “great universal soldiers.” On the streets of our world can be heard the expression: “What’s new?” This has since been updated to “What’s up?”

So the topic “A Healthy People” will not make much sensation in a world where the hands, the feet, vital organs, and - finally some may imagine - even the brain can be replaced. It seems to me that as long as this little elephant called “Science” grows more and more without ethics or moral standards, our world may become so robotic that one day we will get the language of an “iron tongue” speaking about beautiful cemeteries, good hospitals, necessary divorces, and in the end, natural selection, as so-called “father” Charles Darwin tried to teach us. That is why this wonderful ideal initially designed by God - “a healthy people” - soon will become our worldwide utopia.

“Many are suffering from maladies of the soul far more than from diseases of the body, and they will find no relief until they shall come to Christ, the wellspring of life. Complaints of weariness, loneliness, and dissatisfaction will then cease. Satisfying joys will give vigor to the mind, and health and vital energy to the body.”2

Detrimental to the fact that there is widespread public interest in health and happiness, the physical and mental values of mankind are depreciating daily. There is a missing link. Something is wrong with the expectation about health and happiness - a lot of money is spent in vain just as it was in the case of the woman in the Bible who spent all that she had in search of a cure for her issue of blood. We read in Mark 5:25-29 that “a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

The Spirit of Prophecy likewise records this event:

“In the throng there was a woman who had long been troubled with a painful malady. For twelve years she had suffered with this disease. She had spent all she had on physicians, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. She was told of Christ’s power, but she did not think herself worthy of His notice. ‘If I may but touch His garment,’ she thought, ‘I shall be whole.’ She watched her opportunity, and Christ in His infinite love knowing her heart’s desire, moved in her direction. By faith she put forth her hand, and, touching the hem of His garment, was instantly made whole. Her faith was not in the garment, but in the virtue which the garment covered.”3

This poor sufferer found her last and only hope in Jesus. It has always been like this. Jesus is so often the last in our affairs. We come to Him only when we have no other solution. We cannot talk about health, thinking of a perfect diet and a wrong spirit, or vice versa. We know that perfect health has more to do with our state of mind than with a yogi’s concept of eating some special diet to become a spiritual guru elevated above the rest of society and to be worshiped like a little god. In our Christian life everything should start with Jesus. Maybe it is not in vogue anymore or maybe we have tended to build our own way of thinking, or our own way to heaven outside of what is written, but in order to be a healthy people we need Christ in our entire life. The fatal mistake that the Christians might fall into is to contrast spiritual health against physical health. It is necessary to maintain a balance between these two pillars in our life. In most of the healings that Jesus performed the prevailing question was: “Do you believe?” In the life of Jesus, spiritual health was first and the physical came as a natural result. Health is important in order to maintain the harmony of our character that has been built on our knees in earnest prayer. I do not believe that there was ever a person healthier than Jesus. He was an example for all. So let us learn from the life of “The Man” who divided history.

The object that we are looking for can be found usually in the last place where our mind will search.

In the life of Jesus, it is very hard to see whether He had a rigorous program of eating, sleeping, and working. The biblical record does not allocate a lot of space to the subject as far as what He ate, when He slept and how much, and so forth, but there is plenty of information for us to understand that His weary life was full of events, sorrow, and a lot of rejection. In spite of these, the power that He received came from two sources that marked His life and confounded the science of the world: “Fasting and prayer.” It is amazing to see a Man like Jesus living according to the highest standard of health reform in a very austere condition in the Palestine of two thousands years ago. He was involved in the work of healing much more that in the work of preaching. Yes, He was the Master of the world, but His hand was always in the right time at the right place to touch the weak and helpless, to feed the hungry, and to resurrect the dead, without making even a single mistake.

Today’s medicine has begun to consider more carefully the issue of fasting and it’s impact upon health. This topic has been explored for centuries, and medical science has reached a stage of understanding the connection between fasting and improving health. Let us read some of the inspired records which could revolutionize the world of medical science if seriously considered:

“Our Saviour fasted nearly six weeks that He might gain for man the victory upon the point of appetite. How can professed Christians with enlightened consciences, and with Christ before them as their pattern, yield to the indulgence of those appetites which have an enervating influence upon the mind and body? It is a painful fact that habits of self-gratification at the expense of health and moral power are at the present time holding a large share of the Christian world in the bonds of slavery.

“Many who profess godliness do not inquire into the reason of Christ’s long period of fasting and suffering in the wilderness. His anguish was not so much from the pangs of hunger as from His sense of the fearful result of the indulgence of appetite and passion upon the race. He knew that appetite would be man’s idol and would lead him to forget God and would stand directly in the way of his salvation.”4

Fasting is one of the very first treatments that can be given easily to all those who have abused their life in the indulgence of appetite. The performance of such treatment results in a strengthening of the will power, sharpening the mind, cleansing the body, and humbling the heart to create a predisposition for prayer.

“Not a sigh is breathed, not a pain felt, not a grief pierces the soul, but the throb vibrates to the Father’s heart. . . .

“God is bending from His throne to hear the cry of the oppressed. To every sincere prayer He answers, ‘Here am I.’ He uplifts the distressed and downtrodden. In all our afflictions He is afflicted. In every temptation and every trial the angel of His presence is near to deliver.”5

We can only wonder how it was possible for Jesus to spend the entire night in prayer and supplication, and in the morning be so amicable and well disposed as to start a new day - only to be again confronted by unbelief and questioning from the professedly religious leaders. Even the disappointing behavior of His own disciples often added to the complexities and trials of His life. Prayer was the source of His success; it is one of the conditions for maintaining a good state of mind. It was the source of power, hope, and happiness in the life of Jesus. To communicate with God the Father, to uplift continually the mind toward heaven is one of the most important channels of health. It is a human law that by contemplating we become changed. According to today’s scientific sources we need ten seconds to undergo a transformation of personality and three weeks to create a new habit. Prayer might help in these two aspects of our mental health as well. Prayer is a good medication against stress, insecurity, fear, anxiety, depression and many other spiritual problems.

Fresh air will purify the blood, refresh the body, and help to make it strong and healthy. “The invigoration produced will be reflected upon the mind, imparting to it tone and clearness, as well as a degree of composure and serenity. It gives a healthful stimulus to the appetite, renders the digestion of food more perfect, and induces sound, sweet sleep. Living in close, ill-ventilated rooms, weakens the system, makes the mind gloomy, the skin sallow, and the circulation feeble; the blood moves sluggishly, digestion is retarded, and the system is rendered peculiarly sensitive to cold. One should so accustom himself to fresh, cool air that he will not be affected by slight changes of temperature. Of course he should be careful not to sit in a draft or in a cold room when weary, or when in a perspiration.”6

Ellen White relates an interesting experience:

“One autumn evening I was traveling in a crowded car. The exhalations from so many lungs and bodies rendered the atmosphere very impure, and caused a sickening sensation to come over me. I raised my window, and was enjoying the fresh air, when a lady in earnest, imploring tones, cried out, ‘Do put down that window! You will take cold and be sick; the night air is so unhealthful!’ I replied, ‘Madam, we have no other air than night air, in this car or out of it. If you refuse to breathe the night air, you must stop breathing.’ In the cool of the evening it may be necessary to guard against chilliness by extra clothing; but there should be a free circulation of pure air through the room during sleeping hours. The free air of heaven, by day or night, is one of the richest blessings we can enjoy.”7

We need not wonder why people having a stagnant, sedentary type of labor cannot easily be healthy. The lack of fresh air will always be a sure path towards premature death. Air for the lungs is what prayer is for the spirit. A lack of air and well oxygenated rooms will, in the long run, enfeeble the immune system to such a degree that cancer will be at home in such an environment. Many dangerous germs are carried to and fro by an infected, polluted air. That is why instead of luxurious furniture in the house we should have plenty of trees in reasonably close proximity, and instead of flowers pictured on the walls we need a real garden. Instead of having lights in the houses at midnight we would be better off to have the light of the moon and the shining rays of the sun during the daytime. Artificial life will never replace the Creator’s authentic and original design, just as the truth cannot be replaced with some smart explanation in defense of sin.

“It is not God who has brought upon us the many woes which mortals now inherit. Our own folly has led us to deprive ourselves of things that are precious, of the blessings which, if properly used, are of inestimable value in the maintenance of health. If you would have your home sweet and inviting, make it bright with air and sunshine. Remove your heavy curtains, open the windows, throw back the blinds, and enjoy the rich sunlight, even if it be at the expense of the colors of your carpets. . . .

“Upon rising in the morning, most persons would be benefited by taking a sponge or hand bath. This will remove all impurities from the skin, and keep it moist and supple, thereby aiding the circulation. Persons in health should on no account neglect frequent bathing. Whether a person is sick or well, respiration is rendered more free and full by bathing. The mind and body are alike invigorated. The muscles become more flexible, every faculty of the intellect is made brighter. The bath is a soother of the nerves. Instead of increasing the liability of taking cold, it fortifies against cold, because it improves the circulation; the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and regular flow of the vital fluid is obtained.”8

“The children of Israel were in no case to allow any impurities to remain upon their clothing or upon themselves. Those who had any personal uncleanness were to be shut out of the camp until the evening, and then were required to cleanse themselves and their clothing before they could return. They were also commanded to carry all their refuse to a great distance from the camp. And this was a sanitary measure, as well as a religious regulation. The Lord requires no less of His people now than He did anciently. A neglect of cleanliness will induce disease. Sickness does not come without a cause. Violent epidemics of fevers have occurred in villages and cities that were considered perfectly healthful, and these have resulted in death or broken constitutions. In many instances the premises of the very ones who fell victims to these epidemics, contained the agents of destruction which sent forth deadly poison into the atmosphere, to be inhaled by the family and the neighborhood. It is astonishing to witness the prevailing ignorance relative to the effects which slackness and recklessness produce upon health.

“When Lord Palmerston, premier of England, was petitioned by the Scottish clergy to appoint a day of fasting and prayer to avert the cholera, he replied, ‘Cleanse and disinfect your streets and houses, promote cleanliness and health among the poor, and see that they are plentifully supplied with good food and raiment, and employ right sanitary measures generally, and you will have no occasion to fast and pray. Nor will the Lord hear your prayers while these, His preventives, remain unheeded.’”9

There is a persistent seeking for comfort and relaxation in the worst sense of the word. Physical labor was conceived by God for humanity’s sake. But who really believes in this provision? A good amount of scientific effort is directed to serve this purpose: How can I live without making physical effort? What can I invent to make my life easier than it is? And what do you think? Instead of making life more comfortable, instead of saving time, the slavery of our civilization affects the morality, the education and cultures of the nations, up to the final destruction.

A hundred years ago the fastest speed that human beings could dream about was not higher than the speed of a horse. And the people of that generation still managed to arrive everywhere on time. Moreover, in front of the houses they had a bench where in the afternoon they could relax a little bit, sitting and socializing with the neighbors, and so forth. The social relation of that generation was healthier than ours. They had a more natural environment and all the assets necessary to make life enjoyable.

Today we have supersonics, cell phones, and e-mail, but we do not know our neighbors well enough to share the gospel with them. It is the end of the world!

“The physical constitution of Jesus, as well as His spiritual development, is brought before us in these words, ‘the child grew,’ and ‘increased in stature.’ In childhood and youth attention should be given to physical development. Parents should so train their children in good habits of eating and drinking, dressing, and exercise, that a good foundation will be laid for sound health in afterlife. The physical organism should have special care, that the powers of the body may not be dwarfed, but developed to their full extent. This places the children and youth in a favorable position, so that, with proper religious training, they may, like Christ, wax strong in spirit.”10

“Men who have good physical powers should educate themselves to think as well as to act, and not depend upon others to be brains for them. It is a popular error with a large class to regard work as degrading. Therefore young men are very anxious to educate themselves to become teachers, clerks, merchants, lawyers, and to occupy almost any position that does not require physical labor. Young women regard housework as demeaning. And although the physical exercise required to perform household labor, if not too severe, is calculated to promote health, they will seek for education that will fit them to become teachers or clerks, or will learn some trade which will confine them indoors to sedentary employment. The bloom of health fades from their cheeks, and disease fastens upon them, because they are robbed of physical exercise and their habits are perverted generally. All things because it is fashionable! They enjoy delicate life, which is feebleness and decay.”11

There are many conditions for accomplishing the desire to have a healthy lifestyle and the list can be long, but what is important is to know Christ. If we know Him, then He will lead us into all truth, including the question of how to live a healthy lifestyle. I am fully confident that the new world will come very soon, with the tree of life, whose leaves will be used for the healing of the nations. In the Garden of Eden from which our first parents were banished, the roses of Sharon and Carmel will blossom and the Lamb of God will reign with the saints in a healthy world, a healthy environment, in a place where appetite and passion will be servants and not masters.

“A healthy people” is an aim that comes from above. All who think about heaven and salvation should understand that, without having Christ in control of their lives, there will be no real victory over appetite, self-indulgence, hatred, pride and many other deformities of human nature. Without Christ there can only be a sick, hypocritical mind that deceives itself. Forgiveness is the solution for many problems in the personal life, family life, church life and even world affairs. Forgiveness is the last remedy that Jesus uttered on the cross of Calvary for humanity. Forgiveness is a state of mind, it is a constant behavior, it is a mental choice, a proof of conversion. Forgiveness is a gate towards deliverance and the ultimate solution for mental relief.

A healthy people “shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:11, 12).

May we be willing to learn of our Lord Jesus His humble lifestyle. Amen.