Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
This question is not being asked of those who do not know God, but rather of them who are supposed to have a much clearer knowledge of the Most High than the average person. Because of the tremendous light and knowledge given in the scriptures, Christians should be at the forefront of health, wellness, and prosperity, because the instructions and principles given in God's word are designed to make all those who read and adopt them, the head and not the tail. It is of critical importance in our views of Christianity that we do not erroneously conclude that being a follower of Christ makes a person a second class citizen when it comes to the issue of health. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground" ... 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. 13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.
These blessings here mentioned also overflow into the area of health, and thus the question is often asked, why are we as Christians lagging behind in many of these areas here mentioned, especially in the area of health and wellness? The answer in most cases has to do with the relationship of faith and health as it occurs in our personal experiences, for if the promises here given are to have any fulfillment in our lives, there must of necessity be a close integration of faith and works. This principle is not often understood as it ought to be, and as a result we have many in the secular world now questioning if being a Christian is of any benefit to those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The gospel of salvation involves the restoration of the entire man, and is not restricted to the forgiveness of sins and Bible studies as many of people erroneously believe. There is the "Rubber meets the road" aspect where the instructions of God are to be implemented in practical ways, so that the health of mind and body can be preserved in optimum condition, for as long as possible. The problem is that many of us believe, but do not act on our belief in the real world, and as a result we are left in doubt as to the validity of the scriptural claims of the superiority of the religion of Christ. This is what took place with many of the ancient Hebrews, and the attitudes thus displayed are being reproduced and multiplied today in many of us as Christians at an alarming rate. Let's read:
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us" .... "any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
The preservation of health is directly affected by compliance with the instructions and laws of God, for they are given in infinite wisdom to all who will believe. Take for instance the issue of consuming blood, which the Lord strictly forbids in us, whether Christian or non-Christian. This practice has been carried on for centuries and milleniums, without many of us realizing it's devastating effects on our health and overall well-being. In Trinidad there is a blood-laced product known as pudding, which is made with the blood of pigs mixed together with bread crumbs, which is then boiled and highly seasoned with peppers, cucumbers and other spices. Products such as these and rare steak with the blood of the animals still present are on the blacklist provided by God, and should never ever enter our systems for any reason.
However, it is worthy of note that in giving the instructions and prohibitions on such articles of food, the Lord does not say exactly what will be the result, all He says is that it will not go well with those who indulge in these practices, leaving us to figure out what "Not well" really means. Walking by faith in relation to our health will therefore mean believing what God says, even though a detailed list of the diseases and ailments which will certainly follow are not given, for it's not so much the details that matter, but rather the believing of what God says that counts. If for every instruction God gives us, He were to give a long detailed explanation of the whys and why nots, then faith in Him will not be necessary, and we could never come to the point of trusting implicitly in His word, without detailed clarification. Let's read:
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood" .... 12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. 13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Many people have taken this passage to mean that God is hereby stating that He will cut their life short if they were to consume any type of animal blood, but nothing can be further from the truth, for what is meant is that the natural laws of cause and effect will be engaged if a person eats blood, and therefore The Lord cannot be reasonably expected to reverse or interfere with the natural results that will follow a violation of His commands. This goes for those who know of this law, and also for those who do not know, because a live electric cable will electrocute the innocent as well as the guilty, if it is handled for any reason.
When God gives us any instruction on any issue, including health, we should take it and run, whether there be any explanation or not, for our only safety is in implicit trust and obedience to His every word. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that reiterates this very point. and it is the will of God that there be a close synthesis between faith and health, so that we can enjoy an excellent quality of life, and length of days according to His good and perfect will. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own "Mis"understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!