The Spiritual Roots of Health- Part 2
by Mary Louise;Town Jaqua
Last month I began addressing personal wellbeing from
the hidden, often overlooked, perspective of spirituality.
I submitted that viewing health problems from this vantage
point is worth investigating in order to effectively resolve
issues of illness, be they physical, emotional or spiritual.
In Part 1 I diagnosed the root cause(s) of most health
problems as being a combination of spiritual deficiencies,
namely lack of knowledge, faith, obedience, and personal
responsibility. Review in depth 'The Spiritual Roots of
Health- Part 1' here. In an effort to further explore the nature
and origin(s) of ill health, I now proceed with Part 2 of this
series to present spiritual excesses that hinder our
wellbeing and keep us from attaining ultimate health.
It has been my distinct observation and experience of many
years that life is not only more than meets the eye, but it is
also what we make it to be, depending upon our perspective.
Without a doubt, there is a dimension to life that is beyond
the natural eye. What we cannot see is often more real than
what we can see. Whether we believe it or not, life is a
spiritual experience. He Who made us and is SPIRIT, the
Spirit of LIFE, desires to give us abundant life, but we must
open our spiritual eyes and receive it in our hearts in order
to realize who we are and what we are called to do. In other
words, we must be awakened spiritually in order to know
how to LIVE.We know from scripture that in the beginning YHVH formed
man in His image. Therefore, at his inception, man was whole,
entire, and wanting nothing. He was perfectly healthy, because
he was made in the image of YHVH the Ever Living. However,
when man disobeyed YHVH and violated His spiritual laws, he
became subject to the physical world and its inherent limitations
and curses: sickness and death being foremost. So it was
that when man's spirit fell, so did his physical body fall into
decay and ruin.Allowing for the fact that YHVH promised to redeem His errant
people, we now face the process of personally reclaiming our
lives, including our health, from the affects of the fall. To do so,
we must learn how to be whole once again, to experience abundant, ultimate health as was given man in the beginning. Achieving this
quality of life, this 'first estate,' which man enjoyed in the beginning
is often hindered by many unseen adversaries, the chiefest of
them being1. Pride
2. Lust
3. Stubbornness
4. Compromise
5. Procrastination
6. Excuses
These unseen forces represent strongholds in our lives that
must be confronted and overcome, if we expect to gain a
quality of life that is free of sickness, pain, disease, and even
death. These forces constitute what the apostle Paul called
'principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual
wickness in high places,' Ephesians 6:12. Paul noted that
these forces are not flesh and blood in nature, i.e. that they
are spiritual in origin. So it is that these unseen adversaries
are in fact those that often operate in our own darkened souls
and minds (the 'high place') to ultimately hinder and stop us
from attaining perfect wellness. For the sake of our better
health, let us examine these enemies more closely.1.) Pride can make or break our health. Many people are
too proud to a.) admit that they have a health problem,
b.) admit that they have been eating wrong and need to
change their diets in accordance to YHVH's Genesis 1:29
menu plan, and c.) break away from their traditional family
lifestyle. Scripture tells us,'Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty
spirit before a fall.'- Proverbs 16:18The health message is often too much of a humbling
experience for those who value their unhealthy way of life
above their own wellbeing. Often these same people are
too proud of their doctors, pharmaceutical drugs, and
medical treatments to adopt a natural, wholesome lifestyle.
Pride separated man from YHVH in the beginning, and it
continues to do so today, cutting man off from the blessing
of a long, prosperous life. Pride is a sin and a curse that
has become a modern day plague, claiming many lives.2.) Lust draws us in an unhealthy direction. According to
Noah Webster in the 1828 edition of his American Dictionary
of the English Language, lust is defined as
- 1. Longing desire; eagerness to possess or enjoy;
as the lust of gain.
My lust shall be satisfied upon them. Ex. 15.- 2. Concupiscence; carnal appetite; unlawful desire
of carnal pleasure. Romans 1. 2Peter 2.- 3. Evil propensity; depraved affections and desires.
James 1. Ps. 81.Scripture tells us that there are two kinds of lust: the lust of
the flesh and the lust of the eyes (1 John 2:16). When we
are drawn into what we know are unhealthy habits and
lifestyle choices, we can expect to suffer the consequences.
We see with our eyes those foods which appeal to our
fleshly lusts and gladly partake of them, not able to
resist temptation. Many people have succumb to the spirit
of lust. Adam, Eve, and Esau were some of them. We know
from recorded scripture that Esau forfeited his birthright
because of his lustful appetite. There are those today who
forfeit their rightful inheritance of excellent health because
their lust gets in the way. They lust for meat, seafood, sugar,
fast food, etc., etc. Their lifestyles prove that they serve the
god of the belly and not Yahshua Messiah, otherwise they
would not be drawn to eat food that is knowingly harmful for
their bodies. So it is that if we allow lust in any form to draw
us away from eating YHVH's beautiful living foods, our
ability to attain a healthy, prosperous life is greatly hindered,
if not disannulled.'For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.'
1 John 2:16'But every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away of his own lust, and enticed.'
James 1:14'Knowing this first, that there shall come
in the last days scoffers, walking after
their own lusts,' 2 Peter 3:3'For they that are such serve not our Redeemer
Yahshua Messiah, but their own belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple.' Romans 16:18'Whose end [is] destruction, whose god
[is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their
shame, who mind earthly things.'
Philippians 3:193. Stubbornness is a major stumblingblock on
the pathway to ultimate health. It is defined by
Noah Webster in the 1828 edition of his American
Dictionary of the English Language as a 'perverse and
unreasonable obstinacy or inflexibility.' Suffice to say,
these character traits do not welcome or support
change of any kind, especially when it comes to
adopting a healthier, more wholesome lifestyle.
This unwillingness to change one's self for the better,
elicits strong comment from YHVH Almighty:'...For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
and stubbornness is as idolatry...'
1 Samuel 15:23These are sobering words that deserve consideration,
and ones that should cause us to examine our lifestyles.
Little do we realize that being 'set in our ways' can
encourage ill will, ill health, and eventually destroy us.
Being stubborn denies us the blessings of life that
YHVH has promised us. He cannot prosper us with
a long, healthy life unless we are willing to accept it
on His terms. Scripture gives evidence that YHVH
has consumed whole cities, families, individuals, and
nations because they were obstinate. They would
not change their sinful, evil ways to do His will. While
YHVH's people have historically been stubborn and
rebellious, let us learn from their mistakes and not
add ourselves to the casualty count.
4. Compromise cancels the power of YHVH to make
us whole. The original, plant-based diet that YHVH
gave man for his ultimate wellness will do us no good
unless we follows it completely. We cannot expect to
add or subtract to YHVH's diet in order to suit our
tastebuds, bellies, budgets, family or friends. To do
so is to nullify the power of YHVH to heal our bodies.When Yahshua walked in the earth, He did not compromise
His Father's word. On several occasions He declared'No man can serve two masters; for either
he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve YHVH and mammon.'
Matthew 6:24Allowing for Yahshua's words, we cannot and should not
expect that we can eat the world's diet alongside of
YHVH's diet. The two are diametrically opposed. The
Standard American Diet of cooked, processed, animal-
based foods is a dead diet and cannot feed the body;
whereas YHVH's raw vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts,
and whole grains are living foods that nourish the body.
There is no contest, no inbetween, no common ground
for these diets. To think otherwise is to be SADly
mistaken, if not deceived into believing that harmful foods
are good for the body. Ironically, YHVH predicted that
there would come a time when His people would call
evil good and good evil- (Isaiah 5:20). So it is that we
live in that day when harmful, toxic foods and wreckless
lifestyle choices are called good ('wicked good') and
promoted as such.In his day the prophet Eliyah confronted YHVH's people
concerning the issue of compromise, when he proclaimed
before the assemblies of Ishrayah and the prophets of
baal'...How long halt ye between two opinions?
if YHVH [be] Almighty, follow him: but if Baal,
[then] follow him. And the people answered
him not a word.- 1 Kings 18:21In other words, how long would they try to serve two
masters? How long would they say one thing and do
another? The apostle James called this practice double
mindedness:'A double minded man [is] unstable in all his
ways.'- James 1:8Furthermore, the prophet Jeremiah expressed to the
congregation of Ishrayah YHVH's solemn words
concerning the issue of compromise:'For my people have committed two evils: they
have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters,
and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns,
that can hold no water.' Jeremiah 2:13Suffice to say, the Almighty is not pleased when His
people forsake Him to 'do their own thing.' Sadly, most
people build their own kingdoms, i.e. lifestyles, contrary
to the plan and purposes of YHVH. In doing so, they
pattern themselves after the ways of the world, and
thus end up suffering the world's ills of cancer, heart
disease, diabetes, and more. So it is that compromise
with the world destroys the spirit, soul, and body.5. Procrastination is a diversion from the pathway
toward ultimate health. To delay or 'put off until tomorrow
what you can do today' is a dangerous practice, especially
when it comes to improving one's health. Pursuing wellness
should be a personal priority. Putting off a diet change,
delaying the purchase of health needs, and/or dragging
one's heels when it comes to daily exercise will not bring
about ultimate health. By definition, procrastination
accomplishes nothing and those who procrastinate never
achieve anything, especially superior health. Though
procrastinators argue away the element of time, YHVH
Almighty Who knows no time, tells us'...behold, now [is] the accepted time;
behold, now [is] the day of salvation.'
2 Corinthians 6:2The more we procrastinate in reclaiming our health
YHVH's 'Hallelujah' way, the more we will jeopardize our
wellbeing. Those who procrastinate are deceived in
thinking that they are on the highway to ultimate health
when in fact they are not. Their actions belie their
words, and in the end, they never realize the quality of
life that YHVH had for them.6. Excuses are the greatest hinderance and
deterent to achieving ultimate health. The list of
reasons people use to explain why they cannot adopt
YHVH's raw, living, 'Hallelujah' Diet is both varied
and long. Nevertheless, some of the major reasons
includea.) Too busy
b.) Too afraid of family or friends would think
c.) Too afraid to eat raw food
d.) Too expensive
e.) Too time consuming
f. ) Too inconvenient
f. ) Too confining
g.) Too boring
h.) Tastes too bad
For many people, the Hallelujah Diet represents such a
radical, restrictive lifestyle that they would rather hold on
to their assorted health problems. Hence, we find a
plethora of skeptics and cynics in the world who are both
quick and happy to criticise, condemn, and explain away
YHVH's Genesis 1:29 diet. While His plant-based diet
is consistent with the narrow way that leads to life, it
should not elicit negative reviews, especially from those
who profess to follow Messiah. On the contrary, this
narrow pathway should be embraced upon gladly
without excuse, being thankful that YHVH made a
way for us to enjoy the blessing of health and prosperity.'Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow
[is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.'- Matthew 7:14'For the bed is shorter than that a man can|
stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower
than that he can wrap himself in it.'- Isaiah 28:20'For the invisible things of him since the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being perceived
through the things that are made, [even] his
everlasting power and divinity; that they may
be without excuse:'- Romans 1:20
To be continued next month...
Part 3- Where do we go from here?-
Comments, ponderings, and spiritual strategies
for the journey into ultimate health