Health and Happiness

     3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/3JN.1.KJV While this is God's wish for each of us, it is important to note that all actions have consequences, God's promises are almost always conditional, and that God works in accordance with His own laws of nature. 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.3.KJV 1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.6.KJV Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV In the beginning God created humankind in His own image and He states that we are His temple.  Anything that we do, think, or eat or drink has an influence on God's temple for good or for evil; and each person will reap whatever they sow. Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GAL.6.KJV Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV 

    Notice the -if/then statements in this and the other promises that I will be listing here.  A lot of people want the blessings without the obedience, but that is not usually how God operates.  Some will make bargains with God like, "if you heal me from this, then I will do that." God holds each accountable for the promises that they make. It is better to not make a promise to God than to make one and not keep it. Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.5.KJV  So let's look at a few health related promises of God: James 5:13 "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.5.KJV Notice the conditions of each promise. Exodus 15:26 "and said, 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." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.15.KJV Proverbs 3:1 "My son, forget not my law; But let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, And peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own 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." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.3.KJV Proverbs 4:20 "My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.4.KJV Proverbs 14:30 "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: But envy the rottenness of the bones." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.14.KJV Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
But a broken spirit drieth the bones." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.17.KJV 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?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.8.KJV Jeremiah 33:6 "Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.33.KJV Jeremiah 30:17 "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.30.KJV  Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.58.KJV Psalm 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: For I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.43.KJV Psalm 38:3 "There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.38.KJV Psalm 41:1 "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: And thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: Heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.41.KJV Psalm 67:1 "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; And cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.67.KJV Psalm 30:2 "O LORD my God,
I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.30.KJV Psalm 91:14 "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.91.KJV 

     What these verses say to me is that sickness pain and death are due to sin and Satan. Job makes this even more plain in Job 2:3 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, Satan became the temporary ruler of this earth.  Adam had been the ruler of this earth as is noted in Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV   In Job when Satan comes to present himself before the Lord, he is in effect saying that he is the representative of this world. Job 2:1 "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV Notice how Satan had to get permission to touch Job.  Everything that happens to us has to first passed through God's hands, and for whatever reason He has allowed it. The reasons may never be apparent to us in this life.(I am preparing another study on the "Why's" of life) Romans 8 gives us this promise in verses 26-28: 26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.8.KJV 

     Another factor in healing seems to be faith. Acts 3:12 "And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 16 And his(Jesus) name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.3.KJV Mark 5:34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MRK.5.KJV Matthew 9:2 "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.9.KJV

     In the healing process we need to cooperate with God.  We need to stop any harmful habits, and stop putting into our bodies harmful substances. God has given the body an amazing ability to heal itself given the right conditions. We need a "New Start"-- N= nutrition, E= exercise, W=water, S=sunshine, T=temperance, A=air, R=rest, T= trust in God. These 8 laws of health can be used to eliminate most disease.  If we would eat only the good, wholesome foods, get moderate exercise outside in the fresh air and sunshine, get adequate rest and water and trust solely on the God of heaven most of the diseases that we face today would vanish.

See also another of my blogs for health related issues: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/03/unclean-vs-clean.html

    And I know that there are people who wonder why God allows some to die even though they have a great faith, while others live. The only example that I can give someone comes from the life of a king in the Bible, king Hezekiah. The story is told in Isaiah 38:1 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3 and said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, 5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.38.KJV King Hezekiah was listed as being a good, God-fearing king, who was told that he was going to die. He prayed and God healed him. The story continues that the Babylonians came and 2 Chronicles records in verse 25 "But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CH.32.KJV  Isaiah 39 continues the story 3 "Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.39.KJV None of that would have happened had Hezekiah set his house in order as he had been instructed to do in the first place. God knows the end from the beginning and He knows what is for our BEST interest. He is trying to save as many people as possible and His instructions in His Word, and His providence are working toward that goal.

 
    Don't forget to be grateful when you do get a healing from the Lord. Luke 17:12 "And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.17.KJV Psalm 103:2 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.103.KJV