3rd John 1: 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
According to the above passage, the Christian’s life is supposed to be a balanced portfolio, in which the spiritual, and mental aspects of life are in sync with the physical, the social and financial. All are referred to in our opening passages as being essential to the health and wellbeing of the Christian.
Wheresoever there is an imbalance between one or more aspects you will end up with adverse results, some more, some less, and if the imbalance is not addressed and corrected, the entire person will be affected adversely, and your days on planet earth will be numbered.
While it is good and important for us to work, work is not all there is to life, for all work and no play can prevent you from enjoying what you worked for in the first place. Therefore, the wish that we prosper and be in health will call for us to do that which is needed to bring these aspects of our being into line.
Ever so gradually and almost imperceptibly we have moved from a lifestyle of activity, to one where we have to think seriously about physical exercise. The days when persons would get up in the morning and do manual labor, are, for all intents, and purposes in many cases, over.
For instance, back in former years during the time of the industrial revolution, some men would be seen going to work in factories and others could be seen working in the agricultural sector. Some would be found working on the assembly lines at Ford or GM while others had some type of trade.
In fact, in the 1800s there were about 80% of men working in the agricultural sector. Today it is only 2% and it is very unlikely that most men will now leave their well-paying office jobs, and sedentary lifestyle to return to working the soil, where their hands will get dirty and they will be sweaty all day. Basically, not happening.
Other persons had their share of physical activity as some would knead and bake bread, wash clothes by hand, they would do the dishes, hang clothes out to dry in the backyard, and then press out the clothes.
Others would go to the grocery, where they would have to walk up and down the aisles to find stuff, all the while pushing their grocery carts, activities that required some level of physical exertion, and much movement, to be accomplished.
But one by one, the cards fell, as washing machines were introduced, then came the dish washers, then came cars, computers, cell phones, work at home, shop at home, Door dash, Uber eats, drive through laundries, and online shopping.
In addition, we hardly have to walk to the television or stereo, because Alexa is right there beside us on demand. And you can forget about sweeping floors, because Rhumba and other gizmos have taken up the slack.
You can also forget about cleaning the pool because Beat-bot and other water robots have replaced the manual labor formerly needed to keep your pool clean.
So basically, almost everything we used to do that would have involved some sort of movement, and exercise has, or is being replaced by automation so that our physical activity has now dwindled, almost to the point of no return in some instances.
In years gone by, individuals could be seen going to market with a big basket of fruit or provisions being balanced on their heads as they walked for several miles, in order to get their produce sold. This action exercised, and strengthened their neck muscles, and greatly aided in blood circulation.
But those days have been replaced by the likes of Instacart and others, where you can sit in your chair, order online, and have items delivered to your front door. And even then, there are services available currently where they will actually open your front door to make the delivery.
Thus, for all intents and purposes, you do not have to remove from your chair to do most of the things which required some form of movement in former years.
As a direct result those essential duties which had in former years required some level of physical activity to be done, could now basically be done from your chair, your mouse, and your cell phone, in most cases.
This is not to say that persons are to go back in time, we are just observing the gradual diminishing of our physical activities, to the point where in some cases you have to think long and hard before you can get moving.
In other words, whereas in times past folks would move and exercise without even thinking about it, just by going about your everyday chores, now you have to be very intentional about physical exercise, or else it could very easily fall through the cracks.
As a direct result, the statistics are showing a steady increase of various diseases, ailments, and adverse conditions corresponding to that steady decline of physical activity and movement.
And if things were to continue the way they’re going we might be looking at a situation where most of us would be having some adverse health issue to deal with which will inevitably cause persons to be more and more dependent on big Pharma. Let us take a look:
Centers for Disease Control ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 21 — February 29, 2024 Gabriel A. Benavidez, PhD1; Whitney E. Zahnd, PhD2; Peiyin Hung, PhD3; Jan M. Eberth, PhD4.
An estimated 129 million people in the US have at least 1 major chronic disease (eg, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension) as defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Five of the top 10 leading causes of death in the US are, or are strongly associated with, preventable and treatable chronic diseases. Over the past two decades prevalence has increased steadily, and this trend is expected to continue.
An increasing proportion of people in America are dealing with multiple chronic conditions; 42% have 2 or more, and 12% have at least 5. Besides the personal impact, chronic disease has a substantial effect on the US health care system.
About 90% of the annual $4.1 trillion health care expenditure is attributed to managing and treating chronic diseases and mental health conditions.
This is not the way God originally intended it to be, and even though we might be stuck at the computer because of the job, we must make an effort, and we should take the time out to do something in shoring up our physical activities wherever possible, for the deleterious effects can stack up pretty quickly.
Hence the reason why the Bible study for today is titled “Beware of the Chair”, for in many cases, the chair has now become one of our worst enemies. This phenomenon was greatly accelerated during the Covid pandemic, as working from home became the norm, because of the virulent nature of Covid.
As was stated before, almost everything that needs to be done, can now be done from your chair, using a mouse and a cell phone. We refer to them as the three amigos, for it is an undisputed fact that they currently dominate almost everything that we do.
The purpose for incorporating physical exercise into your regimen is not merely to be fit and look cute. It is so that we can render to God the most amount of useful service, for the longest time possible. In fact, everything that the Christian does should have the gospel commission as the main objective.
This is what Moses did, as he would often climb the mountain to meet with God. The physical exercise needed to do mountain climbing, brought all of his physical powers into play, and the results are there before us, to encourage both the elderly and young in our efforts to get moving. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan.
7 And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
[P & P pp 463] Moses stood before the people to repeat his last warnings and admonitions. His hair was white with age; but his form was erect, his countenance expressed the unabated vigor of health, and his eye was clear and undimmed.
The idea that as we get older, we must inevitably succumb to conventional wisdom on aging, must now be investigated thoroughly. The God of heaven isn’t a conventional God, and therefore, it behooves us to check in with Him to find out His thoughts on the matter.
If we were to obey God by following the instructions given to us in His word and in the spirit of prophecy, men and women could have children well into their golden years, and vigor will not greatly wane as the years go by.
Yes, it is true that with the passage of time you will gradually diminish, for that is the way of the world, no one is questioning that fact, however the aging processes could be greatly slowed down.
Therefore, we will be focusing our attention on the issues of movement and exercise, as a way to help mitigate some of the perils that are incidental to modern living.
We are living at a critical juncture in earth’s history, where the guard rails are being either torn down or upended in various ways. In addition to this it is now becoming increasingly difficult to trust information because it is coming from increasingly questionable sources.
Thus, the remnant people of God should grab the bull by the horns, and start doing what we should have been doing for many years now. A host of the current diseases and afflictions can be mitigated or greatly reduced if we were to incorporate exercise and regular movement into our daily regimen.
On of the perils that afflict men, especially those of African descent, is that of prostate cancer. Diabetes and issues pertaining to your heart, together with high blood pressure are also taking a toll. Therefore, we must take the time to observe the scientific data on the impact of exercise, on persons suffering with these issues.
The information given will be coming from reliable sources such as the John Hopkins institute of health, Harvard school of Medicine, and our own prophet, through whom God has given much of the info that has now been adopted by persons in the fitness and wellness industries. Let’s read:
Urologist Michael Johnson, M.D:
Several studies suggest that men who take part in regular physical activity are less likely to develop prostate cancer or die from the disease. But why? “Most likely, it’s not just the exercise that counts — it’s the subsequent weight loss that also makes a difference,” explains Dr. Johnson.
“Studies have linked obesity with particularly aggressive forms of prostate cancer, and separate research has also connected weight gain with an increased risk of recurrence in men who have already been treated.”
To reap the benefits of exercise, you should start slow and make a commitment. “It’s much better to keep a consistent routine than to burn yourself out with a high-intensity schedule and quit,” says Dr. Johnson. For a good balance, “find an activity that you enjoy doing,” he suggests.
Harvard Health Medical School
For people who have diabetes—or almost any other disease, for that matter—the benefits of exercise cannot be overstated. Exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, lower harmful LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise healthy HDL cholesterol, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce anxiety, and improve your general well-being.
There are added benefits for people with diabetes: exercise lowers blood glucose levels and boosts your body's sensitivity to insulin, countering insulin resistance.
All forms of exercise—aerobic, resistance, or doing both (combined training)—were equally good at lowering HbA1c values in people with diabetes.
Resistance training and aerobic exercise both helped to lower insulin resistance in previously sedentary older adults with abdominal obesity at risk for diabetes. Combining the two types of exercise proved more beneficial than doing either one alone.
People with diabetes who walked at least two hours a week were less likely to die of heart disease than their sedentary counter- parts, and those who exercised three to four hours a week cut their risk even more.
Women with diabetes who spent at least four hours a week doing moderate exercise (including walking) or vigorous exercise had a 40% lower risk of developing heart disease than those who didn't exercise.
These benefits persisted even after researchers adjusted for confounding factors, including BMI, smoking, and other heart disease risk factors.
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Again, just because your parents and grand parents may have suffered with diabetes, cancers, and high blood pressure it does not necessarily mean that all the children who come after are inevitably bound to suffer from the same ailments.
Persons must be very careful of adopting philosophy that is strictly science based, without incorporating the God-factor, via information and instructions that are given by inspiration of God.
In many cases persons will find that children are not actually bound in an iron destiny, from which they cannot escape, as it pertains to many of the issues branded as being generational, or as running in the family.
In other words, just because something runs in your family does not mean that you will inevitably have no choice whatsoever in the matter. This truth is of critical importance as it would set the stage for us to make the meaningful reforms and changes where in times past, our progenitors may have erred. Let’s read:
Ezekiel 18:1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
2 What mean ye that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
In other words, The Lord is saying to the you and me in the here and now to consider your ways, for if it is the case that one’s family is plagued with particular health issues, God desires that you reason carefully from cause to effect, and by His grace, make all the necessary changes to encourage a different, and a better outcome wherever possible.
But to throw in the towel up front, and reason that you absolutely have no choice but to walk the same road that your progenitors trod, will be to surrender potential victory, even before the battle has begun. Thus, by thinking inevitability, you most likely will go on to become the servants of big Pharma.
For instance, if you observed that your parents led a sedentary lifestyle, and were addicted to the chair, the mouse, and the cell, the three Amigos we spoke about earlier, those who come after should make a U-turn, and determine never to submit to the three amigos.
When God created Adam and Eve, He put them to work in the garden of Eden, where their limbs, and bones, muscles and tendons, together with all their arteries and blood vessels could be exercised.
And even after man fell by transgression, the toils and labor required to work an increasingly stubborn soil would cause him to exert much more energy and effort, but the upside is that the manual labor thus required would go a long way in maintaining good health and longevity as well as mitigating the many perils incidental to our fallen human nature.
Hence the reason why, even after man sinned, you will find that individuals lived for hundreds of years, and it was only because of the constant and the deliberate violation of physical, and spiritual laws, that we gradually declined to three score and ten. Let’s read:
[Christian Education, pp 68] There is an intimate relation between the mind and the body; they react upon each other. In order, to reach a high standard of moral and intellectual attainment, and to secure a strong, well-balanced character, the laws that control our physical being must be heeded.
Both the mental, and the physical powers must be developed. Such a training will produce men of strength and solidity of character, of keen perception and sound judgment, men who will be an honor to God and a blessing to the world.
Therefore, in our efforts to get moving again there are a few pointers that would greatly help us on our journey. They are outlined below in simple format, and if adopted, would go a long way in reversing, or in slowing the advance of many physical issues folks suffer with.
[1] Be consistent.
One of the issues we face in adopting any exercise regimen is that of consistency. We start and stop too often, so that the benefits of exercise are not given the needed time in order to materialize. Therefore, rather than start something that you cannot finish, it will be best to think and pray about it carefully.
Then after careful planning, you can come up with a strategy that works best for you. However, the most important part will be doing it regularly without fail. Every little bit of movement counts, and combining strength training and aerobic activity produces the best results.
If you decide that twenty, or thirty minutes every day is all you could practically spare, then do it faithfully, because if you incorporate it as a lifestyle change, your body would respond in the positive in most cases.
Persons who succeed in their endeavors are always those who do what they do consistently, and if you were to do your exercise regimen long enough, and consistent enough, you will succeed in your goals.
[2] Never wait for the beginning of the new year.
Individuals who wait until the new year to start their exercise will most likely fail in their efforts, for if you keep putting off for another day, that which should be done today, procrastination would in most cases take a heavy toll on you.
It is stated that the devil needed a strategy that will work best in bringing down persons. Some demons suggested this, some suggested that, and finally one came up with the idea of causing persons to put off for tomorrow, that which could and should be done today.
Bingo! It then became one of the most successful temptations ever deployed. The physical benefits of movement, and exercise do not begin with the new year, so there is not a valid reason to wait until then to start.
[3] Consult with a doctor whose advice should not go contrary to “It is written” where applicable.
This is of critical importance, for there are times when advice given by well-meaning professionals is not in line with Scriptural instructions. Especially is this the case on the issue of diets and foods, thus the instructions given should align with a thus saith The Lord.
[4] Start light, and gradually increase.
There is no reason to start huffing, and puffing the moment you begin training. The proven principle of gradualism works both in the spiritual as well as the physical realm. The race is not for the swiftest, for the Tortoises often win, where the Cheeta fails.
If you decide to incorporate aerobic and strength training, as is highly advised where warranted, it is best to start with what you can do comfortably, and then gradually increase the physical challenges. This will give your body time to adapt and heal properly, so that you will avoid burn out and fatigue.
[5] Proper warm up and stretching is a must.
It is important not to rush into the peak of training, before sufficient warm up and pre stretching, as this will preempt damage to your bones, muscles, and tendons. Remember the principle of gradualism and try to incorporate it into everything you do, for it is a time proven strategy for success in everything.
In addition, try not to neglect your extremities, for some persons suffer with blood flow issues, and in the elderly especially, you want your blood flowing throughout the entire body, including your fingers, and toes.
[6] Get sufficient rest and time for recovery.
Here is where many persons fall short, because in many cases we may not get sufficient rest at night. The habit of staying up late to watch this or that show, can, and will reverse much of your efforts at leading a healthy lifestyle.
Successful weight loss in particular is closely tied to getting sufficient sleep, as is proper recovery after doing your exercises. Remember the three amigos will get to you if you let them, therefore a holistic approach to health will be needed if persons desire success.
In closing, there is a tendency to slow down your exercise, and movements as you get older, but the opposite should be done, for you need to exercise and get moving, the older you get. You will want to play with your grand kids, and yes, you will want to live life to the full.
Most of all, as Christians we should do everything to the glory of God, meaning that the issue of exercise should translate into long years of service to God, in the building up of His kingdom, for The Lord is well pleased if persons can avoid aborted service in His cause on account of health issues.
This isn’t always possible, but every Christian should work diligently towards that end, for it leads us to consider the last passage with which we will close.
Psalms 91: 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
God Bless!