"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
THE HUMAN SANCTUARY AND TEMPLE OF GOD, part 18 quotes
1) The Area and Law of REST
When we sleep, the activity of our body changes gears. Certain areas of our brain switch off, while other areas turn on reorganizing the recent information gathered. Instead of providing energy for work, the body systems repair any damage done during the day, replenishing the energy used and rejuvenating the system. And our body is built to restore our vigor and strength while we sleep if its laws are not violated. This means that we cannot cheat on sleep for very long without sacrificing our health.
Every hour of sleep you obtain before midnight is actually worth two hours of sleep after midnight. So generally, it would be best to go to bed between 9-10 pm, especially if you know your going to have a very busy day on the morrow.
But this law of rest is not just all focused upon getting a good night’s sleep.
“And he [Jesus] said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.” Mark 6:31-32.
These verses reveal to us that Jesus and the disciples were very busy throughout the day attending to the needs of the people, to the point that they did not even have time to eat anything. This means that they obviously had expended a huge amount of energy, beyond what they normally would do in any given day. So then where did this extra energy come from that enabled both Jesus and the disciples to do so much work for the people?
God has created each one of us with what is called vital force. This vital force is extra energy stored within our body to be used for any given emergency. Those who, like the disciples, make great exertions to accomplish just so much work in a given time, are able to do so by borrowing from their supply of vital force.
After working hard all day, Jesus did not tell His followers that it was ok for them to continue on working hard – even though it was helping others. But Jesus instead commanded them to stop, so that they could go somewhere private and “rest a while”. This rest was absolutely necessary for their health in order to allow them to eat in peace and thus replenish the calories which they had already used up, and also to replenish their supply of vital force which they had already borrowed from in order to perform so much work in such a short time. And so must we dear ones.
Those who have worked hard during the day, but then continue to labor on when their judgment tells them they need to stop and rest, are never better for their overworking. This is because they are having to dip into their vital force. Now vital force can be replenished through resting, but it is takes a lot longer to put back into your vital force what energy was borrowed, than it does to use it. But if you continuously dip into your vital force too often without corresponding rest to recoup it, then you are recklessly using it up, and once your supply of extra energy is gone, it can never be fully restored. If this occurs, then when an unforseen emergency arises, such as a death in the family, or some catastrophe, personal injury, sickness, etc., and you are forced to rely on your abused vital force, then there is no extra energy left to help you cope and handle the emergency, and then your nerves and body will break down, or you will succumb to some sickness and have no extra strength to fight it off, and you will die.
How many have heard of people dying after playing internet games for many hours? In 2005, a 28 year old man died presumably from “heart failure stemming from exhaustion” after “playing an online computer game for 50 hours with few breaks” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4137782.stm). And more recently, in 2011, a 30 year old “man has died after a three-day online gaming session in which he did not sleep and barely ate” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12541769). So both of these men were not old, but still in the prime of their life. As this is true, then why did they die? Because they had chosen to needlessly and severely overwork themselves in the area of internet gaming. This then meant that they had to continuously borrow extra energy from their vital force until there was no more energy left, and then they died.
So let us all be sure that we not only get a good and proper sleep at night, but that we also avoid needlessly overworking ourselves, and thus recklessly using up our vital force that we need to be able to handle any emergency, and thus risk ending our life prematurely.
2) Why did God create our body with the need for rest, and what important spiritual lessons can we find in this reason? Just as physical rest and recuperation is necessary to be healthy, and without it we would soon die, so spiritual rest is just as essential for our well-being, and without it we will just as surely die – but this would be an eternal death. And it is only God that can provide you and me with this spiritual rest.
True spiritual rest is a rest from the guilt pressed upon us because of our sins. And it is only through Jesus Christ that any of us can be set free from our pressing guilt, and thus escape the bondage of sin.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?...For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:16, 23.
Our Saviour mercifully declares that if we will just obey His call to “Come unto Me”, then He promises that “I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This promise is a prescription that we can follow for the healing of all our physical, mental, and spiritual wounds and ills. Though we have indeed brought suffering upon ourselves by our own wrongdoing, yet Christ still regards us with pitying tenderness and kindness. In Jesus we may find true and lasting help, because He will do great things for all who choose to come to Him for rest. And as Jesus is the “Lord also of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5), then a good portion of this spiritual rest is found in keeping God’s Sabbath day holy.
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:2-3.
As God rested the seventh day after creating this world, so the same seventh day Sabbath is a weekly reminder for us today that Jesus is our Creator, as well as our Redeemer and Saviour from sin. On the holy Sabbath hours of each Saturday of every week, Jesus personally invites you to separate yourself from all earthly activities and cares so that you might enter into this special rest together with Him and be refreshed.
“For he (God) spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works....There remaineth therefore a rest (Sabbath) to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:4, 9-11.
Just as someone who chooses to disregard this area and law of rest by overworking themselves will gradually lose all their physical energy and then forfeit their life, so those who choose to disregard the law of rest on the Sabbath by continuing to work over these sacred hours, will gradually lose their spiritual energy and then forfeit their eternal life.
“Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 31:13-15.
If we instead choose to follow God’s commandment and rest upon His holy Sabbath day, then He will bless, preserve and sanctify our spiritual life, and we will indeed obtain eternal life.
“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:16-17.
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14.
And God will also see to it that our physical life is also blessed and preserved when we keep His commandments.
“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26.
3) The Area and Law of EXERCISE
After God created mankind, He commanded that they were to have daily exercise, and this was both before and after sin!
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:19.
Daily exercise has been shown to be an excellent way to slow down the effects of aging on the body, as well as to enhance the quality of life. The best form of exercise is walking, because all the limbs and organs of the body are brought into proper use, and there is no exercise that can take the place of walking – not even running. Running can adversely affect the feet, ankles, knees and hips, as well as jar our inside organs, but walking is much more gentle and kind to all these areas.
Walking one or more miles each day greatly improves the circulation of the blood. The action of the heart becomes more perfect, and with regular exercise of 10-15 minutes each day for six days of every week the heart will be strengthened to pump more volume of blood per beat, thus allowing it to rest longer between beats – which increases life. This activity also lessens the time it takes for the poisons and toxins to be eliminated from our system. This is because nearly 1/3 of all impurities in our system are eliminated through the skin, and long enough exercise allows the pores to open and discharge these impurities in the sweat.
Exercise is also important to digestion, as well as our lungs. The lungs expand and thus strengthen, which allows them to take in more oxygen and throw off more poisonous gasses. The effect of the increased volume of oxygen and the expelling of more CO2, is that the whole body system gains new vitality and becomes invigorated to overcome bad health. Also our immune system is strengthened and enhanced by daily exercise. This is why exercise has been shown to help in preventing disease, such as cancer, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. And in addition, the lymphatic system is aided in the circulation of the lymph fluid from 5 to 15 times during vigorous exercise.
Exercise is free, and as we partake of it, let us remember to give glory and praise to our Creator for the gift and ability to “live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Those who do not take time to exercise will definitely have to take time for illness! So let us, by all means, establish a regular time for walking or other forms of exercising, and thus aid our body in regaining or maintaining health. That way we can not only live longer, but we can also be free from sickness and pain which will increase our happiness, and thus allow us to better glorify God.
4) Why did God create our body’s need for exercise, and what important spiritual lessons can we find?
As we must exercise in order to maintain good health, so we must exercise our faith in order to maintain good spiritual health. Physical exercise aids in the body’s efforts to expel poison, as well as to heal weakness, sickness and disease in our life. Exercising our faith aids the Holy Spirit’s efforts to expel sin and selfishness, as well as to heal weakness, sickness and disease in our spiritual life. And as exercise increases our physical strength and endurance, so exercising our faith will increase our spiritual strength and endurance, thus making us more able to endure unto the end so that we can be saved (Matthew 10:22).
As we exercise our body, let us not neglect to also exercise our faith in God. That way we may be healthy both physically and spiritually, and thus enabled to live stronger, longer and better lives on this earth, as well as on the new earth throughout eternity. And between these two areas, spiritual exercise is by far the best to focus your attention upon.
“For bodily exercise profiteth little [for salvation]: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8.
5) The Area and Law of DIET and NUTRITION
Our bodies are built up from the food we eat. There is a need for constant energy to be supplied to every cell and part in our bodies, and this energy is derived from the food we eat. There is also a constant breaking down of the tissues of the body from every movement we make, and this tissue breakdown is repaired from the nutrition found in the food we eat. Thus it is in our best interest to choose to eat only those foods that best supply the elements needed for energy as well as repairing and building up our body.
In deciding exactly what foods we need to eat, appetite is not a safe guide to follow. This is because our appetite often demands food that is not best for our health. So if we follow our appetites, it will lead us to eating food that will impair our health and thus cause us weakness instead of strength.
In order to know what are the best foods for our body, we must study God's original plan for man's diet. He who created us and who thus clearly understands our needs, appointed us with the proper type of food that we all should eat, both before and after sin.
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29.
“...thou shalt eat the herb of the field”. Genesis 3:18.
Every tree producing edible fruit, which includes nuts, as well as all edible herbs or plants producing seeds upon the face of all the earth, was the diet God appointed for all mankind to eat. This means that grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables is the diet God has chosen for each human being to eat. And these foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing to our body system. The nutrition you will receive from these simple foods will impart to you a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect that you will not be able to obtain by eating a more complex, refined and stimulating diet.
Those who choose to go beyond this simple diet, and who add flesh meats into meals, are but eating grains and vegetables second-hand. The animal itself has received firsthand the greatest nutrition from these live foods, which means that the nutritional benefit that was originally in these grains and vegetables has already been used up in the animal, and then you would only receive what’s left over by eating their flesh. So it would be so much better and to your advantage to get the life-giving nutritional benefits directly from the natural live foods that God provided, and not second-hand left overs from the animal!
You do not need meat in order to be strong and healthy. Elephants are the biggest and strongest land animals on this earth, and they are total vegetarians. Giraffes are the tallest animals, and they also are total vegetarians. So the belief that mankind needs to have some form of flesh food in their diet in order to grow up healthy and strong is just not true.
When Daniel and his companions were given a diet that consisted of “a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank” (Daniel 1:5), they realized that this was not the best diet for those who wanted to follow God. So Daniel went to the man in charge of providing their food and requested that for the next “ten days; and let them give us pulse [vegetables] to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants” (Daniel 1:12-13). And the results were that “at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat” (Daniel 1:15). And after 3 years on this simple meatless and liquorless nutritional diet, Daniel and his companions were found to be “ten times better” “in all matters of wisdom and understanding” than anyone else “that were in all his realm” who had chosen to eat a different diet (Daniel 1:19-20). And if you also choose your diet to be meatless and liquorless, and eat only meals prepared from simple natural things, then you will also experience the same as did Daniel and his companions.
Flesh has never been the best food – even in Noah’s time; but its use now is 10,000 fold more objectionable since disease is so prevalent and is continuing to rapidly increase throughout all the animal, bird and fish kingdom. Those who eat flesh foods really know little what they are eating, unless they catch, kill, butcher and examine the flesh before they package and eat it. Often if they could see the animals, fowls, fish, etc., when living and know the quality of the meat they buy, prepare and then eat, they would turn from it with loathing. People are continually eating flesh that is filled with disease and cancerous germs. Thus cancer and other fatal diseases are brought into their bodies and can take hold. This is one reason why many in the meat processing industry are total vegetarians!
Now besides flesh foods being harmful to our health, far too much sugar is ordinarily used in our diet. Cakes, sweet puddings, pastries, jellies, jams, are too high in sugar content and thus produce indigestion. Especially harmful are the custards and puddings in which milk, eggs, and sugar are the chief ingredients. The free use of milk and sugar combined together should be avoided, because it readily ferments in the stomach and thus produces alcohol. There have been cases where individuals have died from cirrhosis of the liver, which is a diseased condition wholly attributable to alcohol poisoning, yet they had never drunk liquor in their entire life. It was found that their diet consisted of ice-cream and other milk-and-sugar combined deserts, which produced alcohol.
It is also vital to our health that we have regularity in eating. There should be a specified time for each meal, generally no more than two or three meals a day. At each meal eat just what your body system requires, and then eat nothing more until the next meal. There are many who eat at irregular intervals, or snack in-between meals, not because their bodies need food, but because they do not have sufficient strength of will to resist inclination. If we would eat at regular times, and only of food that is simple and nutritious, we would not feel so great weariness after eating, or suffer so much from sickness.
In all cases, whether in our own lives or in our family, let us educate the conscience, enlist the will, supply good, wholesome food to eat, and the change from a bad diet to a good one will be much easier, and thus the demand for harmful articles of food will soon die out and cease.
6) Why did God create us with the need to eat, and what spiritual lessons can we derive from this area and law of health?
Just as we are to eat good food in order to have life, so we must eat good spiritual food in order to have everlasting life. And where do we find this good spiritual food?
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life....I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world....As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me....It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:47, 51, 57, 63.
Jesus, the word of God, is the bread of life, and by choosing only to eat Him or allow only His word to enter into our hearts, then our spiritual life will indeed be nourished and enlivened and able to grow healthy and strong.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good”. Psalms 34:8.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16.
Let us all choose carefully what foods we will eat and subsist on, not only for our physical life, but also for our spiritual life.
7) The Area and Law of WATER
Pure, soft water is indeed a gift of God! Water acts as a solvent, a medium of transportation, a temperature regulator, and is also a lubricant. More than 60% of our body is made up of water. Our blood, lungs, heart and kidneys are comprised of about 80% water. Our brain, heart, nerves, liver, and skin about 70%. So you can see that water plays a most important and vital part in our health.
Not only this, but throughout each day we lose up to 80 oz of water, or the equivalent of ten - 8 oz glasses through urination (accounting for 44 oz); perspiration and respiration (16 oz each); and defecation (4 oz). But we only gain back about 24 oz from the food we eat. So the amount of water we need to drink each day just to replenish the deficit is about 56 oz. Thus we each need to drink at least seven - 8 oz glasses of water each day, and if we should not do so, then we will become dehydrated and suffer from all kinds of problems, ranging from fatigue to poor digestion. And if we go beyond 10% body dehydration, then this can lead to death.
In health and in sickness, pure water is one of heaven's choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench the thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system and assists nature to resist disease.
The external application of water is one of the easiest and most satisfactory ways of regulating the circulation of the blood, and there is nothing more restful than to relax in a hot bath! Since impurities are constantly being thrown off through the skin, then its millions of pores are quickly clogged. That is why it is best to bath at least twice a week in order to remove these surface impurities, and thus allow our pores to freely function.
8) Why did God purposely create our body with its need for water, and what spiritual lessons can we discover?
When God gave water to satisfy our thirst, He also used this precious gift to symbolize the importance of a spiritual life and relationship with Him. Jesus Christ is indeed the “living water”, and He promises to every spiritually thirsty soul: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). So just as we need daily water in order to sustain our physical life, so each day we need Christ in our lives to quench our spiritual thirst by re-creating within us His own likeness and character, and thus lead us to everlasting life.
9) The Area and Law of TRUST
In such a hectic world we live and work in, with all its pressures and deadlines, it can be very difficult to keep from getting tired, run-down, and stressed out. Stress is any situation or action that puts extra pressure or intensity upon us – whether physical or mental in nature. Some of the symptoms of stress upon the body are an increase in blood pressure, breathing, perspiration, and heart beat. But by far, worry is the most widely indulged of all the unnecessary stressful situations. And worry, in the great majority of all cases, is absolutely unnecessary! This is because worry cannot change the future, but it does indeed take away from our present!
The direct opposite of worry is trust. Trust means having full confidence in something or in someone. And it is interesting that the Bible has quite a lot to say regarding trust. It states that we are not to place our trust in either weapons or in wealth (Psalms 49:6-7); we are also cautioned not to place our trust in leaders (Psalms 146:3), or in men (Jeremiah 17:5), and especially not in ourselves (Ezekiel 33:13). But yet these are the very things and areas where the majority of people today place their trust in!
But if we are not to place our trust in weapons, or wealth, or in any human being, then exactly where should our trust be placed in?
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
While it is quite natural for people to place their trust somewhere, how sad it is that so many choose to place their trust in any other area except in the loving and trustworthy Saviour Jesus Christ.
“...seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:29-32.
“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Psalms 62:8.
If we will place our full trust in God, and are content with whatever He allows to come our way, or with whatever the outcome of any given situation or circumstance we find ourselves dealing with, then there will be no cause for us to be sad, but instead to be happy because we are trusting in the mighty miracle-working God!
Trust brings contentment; contentment brings peace; and peace brings happiness. And it is only through placing our implicit trust in God, and then having and experiencing the internal peace this brings us, that we can indeed be happy.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13.
This happiness derived from the internal peace brought to us by trusting in the Lord, will remain with us – even during the most severest trials and testing of our faith!
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers...And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts”. 1 Peter 3:12-15.
“I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” Corinthians 7:4.
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”. James 1:2.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
This trusting in God and the resulting contentment, peace and happiness it brings is the only way we can joy in tribulation, and in everything give thanks to God. Why? Because it is in the Lord Himself that we find the strength to be and to remain happy!
“...neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10.
What will this happiness do for our physical health?
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22.
So being happy because we trust in God, works like a good medicine or remedy that brings healing to our body, and the best part of all is that this simple remedy and medicine for health is free!
Happiness not only works in us to make us more physically healthy and strong, but it also works in us to make us more spiritually healthy and strong.
Having trust in God, especially when we find ourselves afflicted by disease, can make all the difference – including in the amount of time it takes to recover. And our Saviour is indeed concerned with our health!
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.
It is our loving heavenly Physician and compassionate Saviour who “forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:3-4). So please do not let another day go by without accepting Jesus as your constant Friend and Saviour, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). In this way you yourself will have the internal peace necessary to be happy and joyful in any and all tribulations you experience, because you know that your Saviour and God will never leave your side!
“...whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” Proverbs 16:20.
“...he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6.