The Health Reform by S. S. B.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 14, 1867

The Health Reform.

By S. S. B.

WHILE noticing the indifference which is sometimes manifested on this important subject, I have been reminded of Naaman the Syrian, when he went to the prophet Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. The prophet commanded him to “wash in Jordan seven times and thy flesh shall come again to thee and thou shalt be clean.” Whereupon Naaman turned away in a rage. His servant came near and said, “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing wouldst thou not have done it?” And so it is with regard to the Health Reform. If by doing some great thing we would become fit for translation, how zealously would we go about the work; perhaps, sell all our possessions that we might obtain the blessing. But this daily self-denial, this constant struggle with our perverted appetites is so crossing, and therefore we wait and linger, and perhaps say in our hearts “Jesus is so merciful, why cannot he take me, bad habits and all?”

Dear friends, has Jesus borne any burden for us? Did he wander upon this sin-cursed earth “without where to lay his head,” “despised and rejected of man,” “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief?” Did he agonize in the garden for us when his sweat was as it were great drops of blood, falling down to the ground? Did he bear the heavy cross, endure the crown of thorns, the scourging, the bitter mockings, the cruel death? Has he gone to prepare mansions for us, and is he soon coming to take us home? And now what does he require of us? Simply to prepare for his coming; simply to give up that which makes us sick and miserable, unthankful and unholy, and to live in such a way that we may become pure and sound in body and mind; so that morning and evening we can look to our heavenly Father with grateful hearts and thank him for life. Oh let us humble ourselves in view of our criminal ingratitude; let us pray earnestly for more of the spirit of our cross-bearing, self-denying pattern.

Brethren and sisters, this glorious work is ours. Jesus is not going to prepare us for his coming; he’ll assist us, stand by us, open the way for us, wonderfully he’ll open the way for us if we put our trust in him, but yet, the work is ours, and the victory, too, is ours. Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan has come down in great power, knowing that his time is short. He is not only powerful, but artful and sly. Yet I believe that it is our privilege to get so near to the Lord that Satan can have no power over us. Even here, I believe, we may breathe the air of Heaven, and have daily communion with God and holy angels. We may, to a great extent, rise above bodily weakness and infirmity. ’Tis the Health Reform which will enable us to do this. It tends largely to spirituality, quickens our perceptions, helps us to discern between good and evil. This is all that can save God’s people now. Without it our prayers and watchfulness will avail but little. By its aid and the grace of God, we can and shall overcome. O may our daily prayer be, God speed the Health Reform. S. S. B.

Holly, Mich.