Reasons for Reform
17
service. We are God’s workmanship. The psalmist, meditating upon
the marvelous work of God in the human frame, exclaimed,“I am
fearfully and wonderfully made.” There are many who are educated
in the sciences and are familiar with the theory of the truth, who do
not understand the laws that govern their own being. God has given
[21]
us faculties and talents; and it is our duty, as His sons and daughters,
to make the best use of them. If we weaken these powers of mind or
body by wrong habits or indulgence of perverted appetite, it will be
impossible for us to honor God as we should.—
Christian Temperance
and Bible Hygiene, 15, 1890
18. God requires the body to be rendered a living sacrifice to Him,
not a dead or a dying sacrifice. The offerings of the ancient Hebrews
were to be without blemish, and will it be pleasing to God to accept
a human offering that is filled with disease and corruption? He tells
us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; and He requires
us to take care of this temple, that it may be a fit habitation for His
Spirit. The apostle Paul gives us this admonition: “Ye are not your
own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” All should be very careful
to preserve the body in the best condition of health, that they may
render to God perfect service, and do their duty in the family and in
society.—[
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 52, 53
]
Counsels
on Health, 121, 1890
A Pitiful Offering
19. Knowledge must be gained in regard to how to eat, and drink,
and dress so as to preserve health. Sickness is caused by violating
the laws of health; it is the result of violating nature’s law. Our first
duty, one which we owe to God, to ourselves, and to our fellow men,
is to obey the laws of God, which include the laws of health. If we
are sick, we impose a weary tax upon our friends, and unfit ourselves
for discharging our duties to our families and to our neighbors. And
when premature death is the result of our violation of nature’s law,
we bring sorrow and suffering to others; we deprive our neighbors of
the help we ought to render them in living; we rob our families of the
comfort and help we might render them, and rob God of the service