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The Health Principle of WATER

     Water is indeed a gift of God!  Water acts as a solvent, a medium of transportation, a temperature regulator, and a lubricant.  More than 60% of our body is made up of water.  Our blood, lungs, heart and kidneys are comprised of about 80% water.  Our brain, nerves, liver, and skin about 70%.  So you can see that water plays a most important part in our health.
     Not only this, but throughout each day, we lose up to 80 oz of water, or the equivalent of 10 - 8 oz glasses (Urination – 44 oz; perspiration and respiration – 16 oz each; defecation – 4 oz.)  But we only gain back 24 oz from the food we eat.  So the amount of water we need to drink each day just to replenish the deficit of water, between what we gain from the food we eat and what we use up each day, is 56 oz, or 7 - 8 oz glasses.  If we should not replenish this deficit of water, then we will become dehydrated and suffer from all kinds of problems ranging from fatigue to poor digestion, and beyond 10% body dehydration can lead to death.
     In health and in sickness, pure water is one of heaven's choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench the thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system and assists nature to resist disease. The external application of water is one of the easiest and most satisfactory ways of regulating the circulation of the blood.
     Cleanliness is essential to both physical and mental health. Impurities are constantly being thrown off from the body through the skin. Its millions of pores are quickly clogged unless kept clean by frequent bathing, and the impurities which should pass off through the skin become an additional burden to the other eliminating organs. Warm baths open the pores and thus aid in the elimination of impurities.

     Persons in health should on no account neglect bathing. They should by all means bathe at least twice a week. Those who are not in health have impurities of the blood, and the skin is not in a healthy condition, should by all means bathe and keep their skin thoroughly cleansed, that the pores may do their work in freeing the body from impurities; therefore feeble persons who are diseased surely need the advantages and blessings of bathing. Whether a person is sick or well, respiration is more free and easy if bathing is practiced.
     By a warm bath the muscles become more flexible, the mind and body are alike invigorated, the intellect is made brighter, and every faculty becomes livelier. The bath is a soother of the nerves. It promotes general perspiration, quickens the circulation, overcomes obstructions in the system, and acts beneficially on the kidneys and urinary organs. Bathing helps the bowels, stomach, and liver, giving energy and new life to each. It also promotes digestion, and instead of the system's being weakened it is strengthened. Instead of increasing the liability to cold, a bath, properly taken, fortifies against cold because the circulation is improved, for the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and regular flow of the blood through all the blood vessels is obtained.
     But bathing is only one way to keep ourselves clean.  We also need to be careful to keep our clothing pure. If the clothing worn is not often washed, and frequently aired, it becomes filthy with impurities which are thrown off from the body by perspiration. And if the garments worn are not frequently cleansed from these impurities, the pores of the skin absorb again the waste matter thrown off. The impurities of the body, if not allowed to escape, are taken back into the blood, and forced upon the internal organs. Nature, to relieve herself of poisonous impurities, makes an effort to free the system, which effort produces fevers, and what is termed disease. But even then, if those who are afflicted would assist nature in her efforts, by the use of pure, soft water, much suffering would be prevented. But many, instead of doing this, and seeking to remove the poisonous matter from the system, take medicine, and thus the body is forced to deal with this extra load on top of trying to rid itself of the poisons already there.
     But when God gave water to satisfy our thirst, He also used this precious gift to symbolize the importance of a spiritual life and relationship with Him.  Jesus Christ is indeed the “living water”, and His promise is to everyone that is thirsty “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” John 7:37.
     As we need water to sustain our physical life, so each day we need Christ in our lives to re-create within us His likeness and character, and thus lead us to everlasting life.


     All these simple principles of health which we have examined are given us by God to help us either maintain or regain our health.  We are indeed beloved by God.  He is indeed interested in each one of us, and desires each one to be as healthy as they can be.  His desire for every human being is expressed in these words,
     "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2.

     It is God who
     "forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies." Psalm 103:3-4.

     And you know, we can indeed be in health – both physically and spiritually!  If we will only become intelligent in regards to these health principles, repent to God of our sins and our breaking any of these principles, and then resolve to work in harmony with God in applying these principles in our daily lives, we will then be able to eat of the Bread of life, find rest in His love, be warmed by the bright beams of His righteousness, leave all our cares and worries at His feet, and drink freely of the water of Life.