God’s Ideals Not Yet Reached

“Many, even of those who profess to believe the special truths for this time, are lamentably ignorant with regard to health and temperance. They need to be educated, line upon line, precept upon precept. The subject must be kept fresh before them. This matter must not be passed over as nonessential, for nearly every family needs to be stirred up on the question. The conscience must be aroused to the duty of practicing the principles of true reform.”—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 117, 1890. (Quoted in Counsels on Health, 449.)SHM 433.3

Of Israel of old it is said, “There was not one feeble person among their tribes.” Psalm 105:37. Can it be the purpose of Him whose desire is that His people may prosper and be in health even as their souls prosper (3 John 1:2) that less than this should be said of the experience of the remnant who are preparing for translation with Jesus Christ when He shall return? Perhaps it may be expected that such an experience may be brought about by His healing power, in the days of special blessing before the church. But would it not be presumptuous to ask for such healing in behalf of those who, in the face of light, refuse to abstain from the “fleshly lusts that war against the soul” and also against the body?SHM 433.4

There is food for serious reflection in the fact that a large percentage of well-qualified young people, who respond to calls for mission service overseas, must be rejected solely because of physical unfitness. Granted that in some cases these youth have not received the light on health reform in their childhood, and they are not blameworthy, yet the situation, in many instances, must indicate a background of habits that undermine the health of our youth. Never was there a time when there were so many appeals to the indulgence of appetite as today, and without going to an extreme of asceticism, many may do well to consider seriously their response to the light that has come from heaven in harmony with the principle so clearly enunciated by the Apostle Paul in the words: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.SHM 434.1