Maintaining good health is a clear responsibility to God and an integral part of Christian living. It falls within the principle of dressing and keeping, reflecting faithfulness in small matters as well as large. Good health is a stewardship responsibility, and each individual must study their own body's unique requirements through experimentation and observation to determine specific dietary needs. This process demands patience, self-control, and a commitment to embellish and preserve what God has given. Despite abundant information available, consistent effort is often lacking, yet the pursuit of health remains significant. In these end times, with increased exposure to diseases due to travel and other modern challenges, extraordinary care is more critical than ever. Precautions such as thorough handwashing, careful handling of meat, and avoiding rare-cooked foods are necessary to protect health. The current era demands heightened vigilance compared to past decades, as new health threats continue to emerge. Maintaining health often requires sacrifices, such as forgoing enjoyable but harmful foods or habits, especially in addressing issues like overweight, which is a significant health concern. These sacrifices, made in submission to Christ, bring benefits to the individual, mirroring the mutual benefits of sacrificial love. The care of the physical body must not be neglected, as it reflects faithfulness to Christ, who owns us and to whom we owe this responsibility.

In the pursuit of maintaining good physical health, the principles align closely with spiritual stewardship, reflecting our responsibility to care for the gifts God has given us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and how we manage our physical well-being demonstrates our appreciation for His blessings. Each individual must study their own body's needs, seeking out available information to meet those needs with minimal harm, recognizing that everyone is unique and requires a tailored approach. The task of finding reliable health information can be daunting due to the abundance of misleading claims in the public sphere, yet the effort is worthwhile. Perseverance in adhering to a health regimen is often more challenging than acquiring the knowledge, as human appetites constantly tempt us to stray from what is beneficial. Disease does not arise without cause; it results from neglect, ignorance, or rebellion against natural laws, which always produce consequences, whether for good or ill. Conversely, blessings and good health are also caused by adherence to these laws, and we hold significant control over choosing the right path. We are integral to God's creation, not standing apart but woven into the whole, with responsibilities to manage both ourselves and our environment. Neglect or mismanagement of this environment, including our own bodies, introduces disorder and disease, reflecting a failure in our stewardship. God takes a holistic approach, indicating that without proper care, degeneration occurs, and we must actively subdue and maintain order to preserve health. Our relationship with God is the cornerstone of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. He is the source of every good gift, empowering us to meet our responsibilities, delivering us from trials, and fostering peace through a positive attitude, which is crucial for well-being. Negative attitudes such as depression or anxiety can precursor disease by stressing the immune system, whereas God's guidance helps us maintain the right mindset. God provides a Helper to assist, comfort, and guide us, promising to supply whatever is needed for health if we exercise faith, patience, and commitment. Building good health is a gradual process, often requiring time to adjust and purge harmful elements from the body, aligning our habits with His will to internalize lasting change. We are of the earth, made from its water and minerals, and our food, designed by God, comes from the same source, transformed into various forms. Relying on isolated vitamins and minerals, stripped of their natural support systems, is less effective than consuming whole foods, which provide the necessary balance for assimilation. The depletion of soil quality has diminished the nutritional value of food, increasing malnourishment and susceptibility to disease, underscoring the need to seek the best possible nourishment, often through organic options. Living within a system that distances us from natural food production forces difficult choices, yet we must always select the highest quality food available in any circumstance, prioritizing health over taste or convenience. Avoiding harmful substances like hydrogenated oils, which contribute to serious health issues, and choosing natural alternatives created by God, is essential. Water, mirroring the earth's composition and our own, is vital for health, preventing dehydration and supporting bodily functions, just as God's Spirit sustains us spiritually. Most individuals are chronically dehydrated, leading to fatigue and pain, and substituting water with harmful beverages exacerbates health issues. Minerals, equally critical, must be obtained from whole food sources for proper assimilation, supporting the body's natural processes. Oils, such as olive and safflower, are essential for internal health, symbolizing God's Spirit alongside water, and should be chosen carefully over inferior options. Milk, often maligned due to human processing, rem

Maintaining health is a profound responsibility, as our bodies are the dwelling place of God. Just as a faithful Levite would care for the temple in Jerusalem with deep reverence, knowing it as God's earthly abode, we must tend to our physical bodies with the same diligent respect. This stewardship is not merely spiritual but encompasses both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. Our bodies belong to God, and their care has been entrusted to us to glorify Him in both body and spirit. Offering our healthy bodies to God is a spiritual service, akin to the unblemished sacrifices required in ancient times. Maintaining good health promotes the strengthening of our relationship with Jesus Christ, as being faithful in the lesser things, such as caring for the body, prepares us to be faithful in greater matters. This care is part of the sanctification process, tied directly to growing, overcoming, and living an abundant life that serves as a witness for God. Neglecting physical health, whether through ignorance or disregard, undermines this responsibility. Good health is not an inherent right but a blessing to be wished for and pursued with diligence. We must recognize that illness may not always stem from personal or ancestral sin but can serve a purpose in glorifying God, as seen in various examples where faith and trust in Him transform challenges into opportunities for spiritual strength. The principle of stewardship extends to cultivating and preserving our health, akin to dressing and keeping a garden. This requires diligent study, meditation, goal-setting, and consistent application. Despite the pervasive influence of a culture opposed to God's way, which can shape our perspectives on health negatively, we are called to overcome these influences with His help. Faithfulness in maintaining health, even in small matters, aligns with God's purpose and brings His blessing, ensuring that no one who is faithful in their responsibilities to Him is a loser. Ultimately, our approach to health should mirror a positive outlook, seeking how to glorify God within our circumstances rather than assigning blame. Trusting in His awareness of our needs, we can find contentment and strength, knowing that He supplies what is necessary to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

Maintaining good health is a stewardship responsibility that parallels spiritual growth. Just as faith must be active and put into practice to produce good results, so too must knowledge about health be applied with discipline and self-control. Without action, knowledge of health is as dead as faith without works. Our bodies are not made for destructive habits, much like they are not made for sin. Indulging in harmful practices, akin to consuming junk food, may bring temporary pleasure but will eventually lead to negative consequences, whether in physical discomfort or spiritual decline. God has given mankind dominion over creation, with a specific responsibility to rule over our own lives and bodies. We are called to dress and keep, meaning to enhance and maintain what has been entrusted to us, preventing degeneration. This includes mastering the desires that lead us astray, as sin lies at the door, and we must control it. Each individual must study and understand their unique bodily needs to maximize and maintain good health, recognizing that while we share a common design, our specific differences require personalized application of general health principles. True change in health begins within, from how and what we think, which then manifests outwardly in our condition and actions. Just as righteousness or sin proceeds from within, so does the state of our physical health reflect our internal mindset. Overcoming destructive habits requires a change in thinking, driven by a love for truth and a willingness to discipline ourselves to follow beneficial practices. Poor health habits, like sin, often wear a cloak of deception, making harmful choices seem pleasurable in the moment, yet leading to long-term detriment. The process of achieving good health mirrors the journey of salvation; it is not a single event but a continuous effort. Just as salvation involves ongoing deliverance through accepting and applying truth, maintaining health requires consistent learning and adaptation to avoid practices that produce bad effects. Honesty with ourselves plays a crucial role in embracing truth and making it part of our lives, resisting the rationalizations and justifications that our appetites might urge upon us. Ultimately, the foundation of good physical health, like spiritual and mental health, lies in transforming our thinking and aligning our actions with truth, stepping out in faith to discipline ourselves for lasting, positive results.

If a person believes that it does not matter what he eats, how much he eats, or whatever he eats, whether he ever gets any exercise, or that his sleep patterns matter not at all, will not that person be subject to the consequences of that lifestyle? Conversely, if a person studies his reaction to certain foods, monitors how much he eats, considers his exercise and sleep patterns, and carefully adheres to what he discovers works for him, will he not produce beneficial results for himself? When we reflect on our youth, most of us will admit that we largely ignored the practices that tend to produce good health. Though we may not have known many specifics, we were aware of general principles regarding well-being, yet often disregarded them. The constant appearance of poor health in many older individuals serves as evidence that is frequently ignored by the young, who fail to preserve their strength and end up facing similar outcomes. Laws of nature, including those affecting health, work consistently for good or bad, depending on how they are followed. Whether one is young or old, these laws operate impersonally and produce results based on one's actions. Ignoring these laws renders any yearning for a better life vain if the principles that produce good are not applied. Good mental and physical health are achieved through the same basic processes as spiritual well-being. It begins with prioritizing truth and putting the right things into both mind and body. What goes in determines what comes out in actions and overall health. Stress and anxiety, often resulting from a lack of trust or control, are major causes of debilitating disease, while peace, derived from faith and proper focus, supports health in every area of life. The quality of what is ingested, whether into the stomach or the mind, shapes the quality of life produced. Only by believing and practicing truth with patient endurance will good results be achieved. Seeking after good health—spiritual, mental, and physical—is a lifelong process that requires continuous effort to ask, seek, and apply what is found. Truth, when sought and used, sets one apart for better health in all dimensions of life.

God requires us to make the best of whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, building and beautifying as He does, in direct contrast to the adversary who promotes decay and destruction. We have a stewardship responsibility to maintain good health, understanding that each of us is a unique biological individual, with reactions to medications, herbs, or diet varying from person to person. While professionals like dietitians and doctors diagnose based on general averages, their guidance remains an educated guess due to our individual differences, and only God holds the absolute answers. Sanitation plays a critical role in health, as paralleled in biblical principles between physical and spiritual cleanliness. Numerous scriptures emphasize laws of sanitation, quarantine, and containment of disease, using terms like clean, unclean, and wash to highlight the importance of avoiding filth and potential contagion in personal, material, and environmental contexts. Physical cleanliness promotes spiritual cleanliness, and vice versa, as filth—whether physical or spiritual—defiles and endangers health. The principle of cleanliness extends beyond personal hygiene to industries like meat packing and food processing, where poor sanitation can lead to infections such as E. Coli, a result of inadequate handling or inspection. Modern food systems, driven by industrialization, often involve long shipping times and chemical preservatives that render food unclean compared to God's original intent for our health. The ideal is to eat foods as uncontaminated as possible, recognizing that while our bodies can defend against many harmful elements, they are not impervious to long-term damage from daily exposure to such pathogens. We must strive to be sanitary both physically and spiritually, as those who do not take these steps contribute to corruption and decay. In all efforts to maintain health, we should seek God's guidance and blessing, trusting Him to provide what we lack while doing what we can within our circumstances.

Human nature often deceives us into ignoring truths about health, convincing us to gamble with our well-being by rationalizing harmful choices. Many know the dangers of habits like smoking, yet persist, suffering severe consequences such as early death or debilitating diseases. Even common knowledge about harmful substances, like the high sugar content in soda or the risks of artificial sweeteners, is often disregarded because of appetites and the allure of instant gratification. God's laws, as they pertain to health, operate consistently, bringing either blessings or curses based on our choices. Disobedience can lead to physical and mental diseases, while adherence to truth offers life and freedom from such afflictions. Although some individuals seem to defy health laws and live long lives due to inherent strengths, the risk remains unnecessary. Why gamble when the consistent operation of these laws urges us to choose life? Maintaining health is a stewardship responsibility, an adornment to the doctrine of Christ. It requires self-control, a fruit of the Spirit, to overcome appetites and apply known truths. This is not merely about avoiding ignorance, but about making sacrifices to discipline ourselves, resisting the deceitful urges of human nature. The challenge lies in using the truth we have, seeking more with patience and perseverance, despite the confusion of conflicting information. Balance is essential in this pursuit. Just as doctrine and practice must align to walk worthily, our efforts in health must match the truths we hold, avoiding extremes influenced by deceptive forces. Improving and maintaining health is part of a broader responsibility to overcome victimization in physical, mental, and spiritual areas, showing that our redemption is not in vain.

Good health, whether physical or spiritual, is not a given in life. It cannot be taken for granted that it will always be there. Like everything else in life, it must be worked for and maintained, or it will regress toward a state of randomness. A poor spiritual diet results in one being spiritually weak, just as surely as a poor physical diet works to destroy a person's physical vitality. Many know what is good to eat and what is not, but they lazily pursue foods of poor quality, disregarding the fact that sooner or later this carelessness will catch up with them in the form of poor health. Growth requires a good health program, both physically and spiritually. A person can be in good spiritual health and then lose it through laziness, paralleling what often happens in physical life.

Maintaining good health, whether physical or spiritual, requires a steadfast commitment to a program. Just as in spiritual endeavors, physical health goals like losing weight, exercising, or following a balanced diet demand faith and trust that the chosen path will yield desired results. A lack of commitment often leads to inconsistency, causing individuals to start and stop their efforts, failing to stick to a routine. Without a firm belief in the possibility of achievement, the value placed on the health goal diminishes, weakening resolve. This results in succumbing to distractions, overeating, avoiding exercise, or making poor dietary choices based on momentary desires. Success in maintaining health hinges on recognizing the reality of the goal, valuing its importance, and taking consistent action to achieve it, mirroring the perseverance needed in spiritual growth. Others have succeeded in similar pursuits, proving it is possible through enduring faith and a refusal to accept setbacks, instead overcoming them with determination.

Good health is a vital concern that deserves priority in our lives. It is important to recognize that maintaining good health involves disciplining oneself to achieve the best possible physical condition. Life encompasses both physical and spiritual aspects, and while the spiritual may hold greater significance, the physical remains essential. When one aspect suffers, the other is affected; when one improves, the other benefits as well. Good health enables us to be better prepared to express godly love, as it frees us from self-focused thoughts that arise when we feel unwell. To maintain good health, several steps are necessary. First, rethink your attitude toward health, rejecting the notion that you are a victim of poor ancestry or unable to effect change. God's purpose is to bring us into harmony with His laws for a full and abundant life. Second, educate yourself on the principles of good health, focusing on general approaches rather than cure-all solutions. Study yourself to understand personal tolerances and avoid foods or substances that cause harm, even if enjoyable. Third, be patient, as recovery from poor health may take years, though diligent application can hasten the body's repair. The American diet often includes too much sugar, salt, refined grains, meat, fat, and alcohol, and too little fresh produce, whole grains, exercise, pure water, and self-control. This imbalance contributes to widespread obesity and related health issues. The preservation of health is a duty, tied to physical morality, which aligns with the call to glorify God in our bodies and spirits. Let us commit to working on this seriously to present ourselves in a more honoring way to Him.