Health

Restoring the Temple – Hygiene

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In the teaching that God gave to Israel, the preservation of health received careful attention. The people who had come from slavery with the uncleanly and unhealthful habits which it engenders, were subjected to the strictest training in the wilderness before entering Canaan. Health principles were taught and sanitary laws enforced.

Prevention of Disease

Not only in their religious service, but in all the affairs of daily life was observed the distinction between clean and unclean. All who came in contact with contagious or contaminating diseases were isolated from the encampment, and they were not permitted to return without thorough cleansing of both the person and the clothing. In the case of one afflicted with a contaminating disease, the direction was given: “Every bed, whereon he lieth,…is unclean: and everything, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And he that sitteth on anything whereon he sat…shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And he that toucheth the flesh of him…shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.…And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whomsoever he toucheth…and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth,…shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.” Leviticus 15:4-12.

The law concerning leprosy is also an illustration of the thoroughness with which these regulations were to be enforced: “All the days wherein the plague shall be in him [the leper] he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be. The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woolen garment, or a linen garment; whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woolen; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin;…the priest shall look upon the plague:…if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean. He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woolen or in linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.” Leviticus 13:46–52.

So, too, if a house gave evidence of conditions that rendered it unsafe for habitation, it was destroyed. The priest was to “break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.” Leviticus 14:45–47.

Cleanliness

The necessity of personal cleanliness was taught in the most impressive manner. Before gathering at Mount Sinai to listen to the proclamation of the law by the voice of God, the people were required to wash both their persons and their clothing. This direction was enforced on pain of death. No impurity was to be tolerated in the presence of God.

During the sojourn in the wilderness the Israelites were almost continually in the open air, where impurities would have a less harmful effect than upon the dwellers in closed houses. But the strictest regard to cleanliness was required both within and without their tents. No refuse was allowed to remain within or about the encampment. The Lord said:

“The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy.” Deuteronomy 23:14.

Diet

The distinction between clean and unclean was made in all matters of diet: “I am the Lord thy God, which have separated you from other people. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing,…which I have separated from you as unclean.” Leviticus 20:24, 25.

Many articles of food eaten freely by the heathen about them were forbidden to the Israelites. It was no arbitrary distinction that was made. The things prohibited were unwholesome. And the fact that they were pronounced unclean taught the lesson that the use of injurious foods is defiling. That which corrupts the body tends to corrupt the soul. It unfits the user for communion with God, unfits him for high and holy service.

In the Promised Land the discipline begun in the wilderness was continued under circumstances favorable to the formation of right habits. The people were not crowded together in cities, but each family had its own landed possession, ensuring to all the health-giving blessings of a natural, unperverted life.

Concerning the cruel, licentious practices of the Canaanites, who were dispossessed by Israel, the Lord said: “Ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.” Verse 23. “Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it.” Deuteronomy 7:26.

In all the affairs of their daily life, the Israelites were taught the lesson set forth by the Holy Spirit: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corin-thians 3:16, 17.

Rejoicing

“A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22. Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God’s love and care—these are health’s greatest safeguards. To the Israelites they were to be the very keynote of life.

The journey made three times a year to the annual feasts at Jerusalem, the week’s sojourn in booths during the Feast of Tabernacles, were opportunities for outdoor recreation and social life. These feasts were occasions of rejoicing, made sweeter and more tender by the hospitable welcome given to the stranger, the Levite, and the poor.

“Rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.” Deuteronomy 26:11.

So, in later years, when the law of God was read in Jerusalem to the captives returned from Babylon, and the people wept because of their transgressions, the gracious words were spoken: “Mourn not.…Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:9, 10.

God gave to Israel instruction in all the principles essential to physical as well as to moral health, and it was concerning these principles no less than concerning those of the moral law that He commanded them: “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6–9.

“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son,…The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.” Verses 20–24.

Had the Israelites obeyed the instruction they received, and profited by their advantages, they would have been the world’s object lesson of health and prosperity. If as a people they had lived according to God’s plan, they would have been preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations. Above any other people they would have possessed physical strength and vigor of intellect. They would have been the mightiest nation on the earth. God said: “Thou shalt be blessed above all people.” Deuteronomy 7:14.

“The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments; and to make thee high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as He hath spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:18, 19.

“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” Deuteronomy 28:2–6.

To Aaron the high priest and his sons the direction was given: “On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, ‘Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee: Jehovah make His face to shine upon thee, And be gracious unto thee: Jehovah lift up His countenance upon thee, And give thee peace. So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel; And I will bless them.”

“…As thy days, so shall thy strength be. There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help, And in His excellency on the skies. The eternal God is thy dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms.…Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, “In a land of corn and wine; Yea, His heavens drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a people saved by the Lord,

The shield of thy help, And that is the sword of thy excellency!” Numbers 6:23; 6:24–27, A.R.V.; Deuteronomy 33:25–29, R.V.

The Israelites failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, and thus failed of receiving the blessings that might have been theirs. But in Joseph and Daniel, in Moses and Elisha, and many others, we have noble examples of the results of the true plan of living. Like faithfulness today will produce like results. To us it is written: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9.

—Ministry of Healing, 277–286

Restoring the Temple – Spring Fever

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Ah, Spring. The newly formed flowers, the trees bursting with buds, the smell of freshly mowed grass. The sneezing, the post-nasal drip, the itching and watery eyes. In the United States, where we have four seasons, allergy season starts in the spring and can extend through the fall. In those regions where the only seasons are Wet and Hot, allergies may know no season. Certainly, the unfortunate among us also can have year-round allergies. Respiratory allergies, also called allergic rhinitis, cause 10 million trips to the doctor every year in America and are big business for pharmaceutical companies. Allergic rhinitis is caused by either environmental pollutants, such as smoke or fumes, or by seasonal conditions, including increased dust, pollens, and spores. Allergies have worsened in recent years; a trend that experts attribute to the massive growth of the petrochemical industry since World War 11. Many of the more than 50,000 chemical products produced worldwide cannot be properly broken down by the body, causing toxin accumulation.

Respiratory allergies, also called allergic rhinitis, are a response by the immune system to agents it perceives as dangerous. In some people, the immune system misreads the signals and responds to substances that are benign but that are perceived as harmful. These immune reactions involve an interaction between an allergen (the substance that induces the allergy) and a specific antibody that the immune system made. The intensity of an allergic reaction varies: the more antibodies present, the stronger the reaction. People can develop an allergy they have never had before after repeated exposure to something. An example of this is the latex allergy which has caused severe reactions in medical workers.

Why can some people relax in a field of daisies while others succumb to a sneezing fit when their coworker has a single rose on their desk? A famous poet once wrote, “Any nose / May ravage with impunity a rose.” For some, any rose may ravage a nose! Although there is a hereditary factor, other causes may exacerbate the condition. These causes may include excess mucous, waste accumulation, adrenal exhaustion, hypoglycemia, free radical damage, and stress. Excess mucous works against us by providing an environment which traps and harbors allergens and irritants and also provides a home in which bacteria can grow, causing a sinus infection which can be a complication of allergic rhinitis. The other causes work by lowering our defenses, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the immune system.

Over-the-counter allergy medications can sometimes make a person feel better temporarily, but they have side effects which can include severe drying of the mucous membranes, drowsiness, hyperactivity or agitation and should not be used by people who have high blood pressure. These medications can have a rebound effect—the more you use, the more you need. The medications that come in the form of nasal sprays or drops are addictive and can lead to mucous membrane damage. Some people who have severe allergies, have to use steroid medications to get relief, but these medications should not be used for long periods, because they can worsen the situation by suppressing the immune system and impeding allergen elimination. “Medicine deranges nature’s fine machinery, and breaks down the constitution. It kills, but never cures.” Healthful Living, 244.

The most beneficial factors in treating environmental allergies are avoiding the source, changing to a therapeutic diet, and keeping the “internal environment” cleansed. When possible, start treatment before the allergy season hits. For those whose allergies know no seasons, treatment can be started at any time. Begin with a three to seven day cleanse. A cleanse will prepare the body by helping to remove excess mucous which will release allergens and allow the next portions of the treatment to have optimal effect.

Make sure to drink lots of pure water. Water thins secretions and helps move foreign substances and toxins out of the body easier and more quickly.

Lifestyle Changes

As always, following the laws of health is an essential part of any treatment. Make sure you are getting adequate exercise. Couple exercise with deep breathing to increase oxygen saturation in your red blood cells. Exercise indoors on dry, windy days when pollen counts are higher. Weeds pollinate at sunrise and sunset as air currents turn over, and grasses pollinate between 6 and 10 a.m., so you may find that outdoor activities are best done in the early afternoon. If you have access to the Internet, there are several sites that have pollen counts for many regions. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.aaaai.org) has a link to a national (U.S.) pollen count. Knowing the pollen count on a given day can help you decide on when and where to schedule outdoor activities.

Equally important to exercise is taking the time to rest and to get sufficient sleep. We know that stress can make us susceptible to illness, so it comes as no surprise that it is also a significant immune suppressor and can aggravate allergies. In The Place of Herbs in Rational Therapy, page four, Ellen White suggests the use of hops tea as a sleep aid. Relaxation is an activity that we all often wish for. Even David said; “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” Psalms 55:6. We concur!

If possible, invest in an air filtration unit. Turning on the air conditioning will also help filter out allergens indoors. You may want to drive with the windows up and the air conditioning on for the same reason. If you live in an area with high humidity, it will help to use a dehumidifier if you can. Wall to wall carpet makes a great home for dust mites, dust, and dander, so if you have trouble with allergies, you may want to consider using area rugs instead. It is, of course, essential not to smoke, but take care to also avoid second-hand smoke.

Supplements

There are several supplements that are useful for allergic rhinitis prevention and maintenance. Some of the herbs include bee pollen and royal jelly (best when from bees in your particular region, if you can get it); gingko biloba, which helps to inactivate allergens; evening primrose oil; nettles, and eyebright. Quercitin, bromelain, CoQ10, vitamin C (preferably ester C), and B complex are also useful for allergy sufferers.

We must do our best to help ourselves on this earth, even though we will be bombarded continually by microscopic invaders. “But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when He giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety . . . ye shall rejoice before the lord your God” Deuteronomy 12:10. I look forward to lying in those heavenly daisy fields, don’t you?

Restoring the Temple – Activating Principles of a Changed Life

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Christ Works From Within

Men will never be truly temperate until the grace of Christ is an abiding principle in the heart. . . . Circumstances cannot work reform. Christianity proposes a reformation in the heart. What Christ works within, will be worked out under the dictation of a converted intellect. The plan of beginning outside and trying to work inward has always failed, and always will fail.—Counsels on Diet and Foods, page 35.

Power of Self-Control Must be Regained

One of the most deplorable effects of the original apostasy was the loss of man’s power of self-control. Only as this power is regained, can there be real progress.

The body is the only medium through which the mind and the soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. Hence it is that the adversary of souls directs his temptations to the enfeebling and degrading of the physical powers. His success here means the surrender to evil of the whole being. The tendencies of our physical nature, unless under the dominion of a higher power, will surely work ruin and death.

The body is to be brought into subjection. The higher powers of the being are to rule. The passions are to be controlled by the will, which is itself to be under the control of God. The kingly power of reason, sanctified by divine grace, is to bear sway in our lives.—The Ministry of Healing, pages 129, 130.

Futility of Attempts to Stop by Degrees

Shall those who have had more opportunities and much precious light, who enjoy the advantages of education, make the plea that they cannot cut away from unhealthful practices? Why do not those who have excellent reasoning powers reason from cause to effect? Why do they not advocate reform by planting their feet firmly on principle, determined not to taste alcoholic drink or to use tobacco? These are poisons, and their use is a violation of God’s Law. Some say, when an effort is made to enlighten them on this point, I will leave off by degrees. But Satan laughs at all such decisions. He says, They are secure in my power. I have no fear of them on that ground.

But he knows that he has no power over the man who, when sinners entice him, has moral courage to say “No” squarely and positively. Such a one has dismissed the companionship of the devil, and as long as he holds to Jesus Christ, he is safe. He stands where heavenly angels can connect with him, giving him moral power to overcome.— Manuscript 86, 1897.

A Hard Battle, But God Will Help

Do you use tobacco or intoxicating liquor? Cast them from you; for they becloud your faculties. To give up the use of these things will mean a hard battle, but God will help you to fight this battle. Ask Him for grace to overcome, and then believe that He will give it to you, because He loves you. Do not allow worldly companions to draw you away from your allegiance to Christ. Rather let your mind be drawn from these companions to Christ. Tell them that you are seeking for heavenly treasure. You are not your own; you have been bought with a price, even the life of the Son of God, and you are to glorify God in your body and in your spirit, for they are His.— Letter 226, 1903. . . .

Conversion the Secret of Victory

The indulgence of unnatural appetite, whether for tea, coffee, tobacco, or liquor, is intemperance, and is at war with the laws of life and health. By using these forbidden articles a condition of things is created in the system which the Creator never designed. This indulgence in any of the members of the human family is sin. . . . Suffering, disease, and death are the sure penalty of indulgence.—Evangelism, page 266. . . .

Christ gave His life to purchase redemption for the sinner. The world’s Redeemer knew that indulgence of appetite was bringing physical debility and deadening the perceptive faculties so that sacred and eternal things could not be discerned. He knew that self-indulgence was perverting the moral powers, and that man’s great need was conversion,—in heart and mind and soul, from the life of self-indulgence to one of self-denial and self-sacrifice.—Medical Ministry, page 264. . . .

Victory Assured Through Christ’s Sinless Life

The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity, and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us “partakers of the divine nature,” and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.

The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the Word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. . . .—The Ministry of Healing, pages 179–182.

When men who have indulged in wrong habits and sinful practices yield to the power of divine truth, the application of that truth to the heart revives the moral powers, which had seemed to be paralyzed. The receiver possesses stronger, clearer understanding than before he riveted his soul to the eternal Rock. Even his physical health improves by the realization of his security in Christ. The special blessing of God resting upon the receiver is of itself health and strength.— Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, page 13.

Reprinted from Temperance, 102–108.

Restoring the Temple – Diet and Health

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Only one lease of life is granted us; and the inquiry with everyone should be, “How can I invest my powers so that they may yield the greatest profit? How can I do most for the glory of God and the benefit of my fellow men?” For life is valuable only as it is used for the attainment of these ends.

Self-Development a Duty

Our first duty toward God and our fellow beings is that of self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable. Hence that time is spent to good account which is used in the establishment and preservation of physical and mental health. We cannot afford to dwarf or cripple any function of body or mind. As surely as we do this we must suffer the consequences.

Every man has the opportunity, to a great extent, of making himself whatever he chooses to be. The blessings of this life, and also of the immortal state, are within his reach. He may build up a character of solid worth, gaining new strength at every step. He may advance daily in knowledge and wisdom, conscious of new delights as he progresses, adding virtue to virtue, grace to grace. His faculties will improve by use; the more wisdom he gains, the greater will be his capacity for acquiring. His intelligence, knowledge, and virtue will thus develop into greater strength and more perfect symmetry.

On the other hand, he may allow his powers to rust out for want of use, or to be perverted through evil habits, lack of self-control or moral and religious stamina. His course then tends downward; he is disobedient to the law of God and to the laws of health. Appetite conquers him; inclination carries him away. It is easier for him to allow the powers of evil, which are always active, to drag him backward, than to struggle against them, and go forward. Dissipation, disease, and death follow. This is the history of many lives that might have been useful in the cause of God and humanity.

Temptation Through Appetite

One of the strongest temptations that man has to meet is upon the point of appetite. In the beginning the Lord made man upright. He was created with a perfectly balanced mind, the size and strength of all his organs being fully and harmoniously developed. But through the seductions of the wily foe the prohibition of God was disregarded, and the laws of nature wrought out their full penalty. . . .

Thus we often find it, even in the religious world. God’s expressed commands are transgressed; and “because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11. In the face of the most positive commands of God, men and women will follow their own inclinations, and then dare to pray over the matter, to prevail upon God to allow them to go contrary to His expressed will. . . .

Intemperance and Crime

Crime and disease have increased with every succeeding generation. Intemperance in eating and drinking, and the indulgence of the baser passions, have benumbed the nobler faculties of man. Reason, instead of being the ruler, has come to be the slave of appetite to an alarming extent. An increasing desire for rich food has been indulged, until it has become the fashion to crowd all the delicacies possible into the stomach. Especially at parties of pleasure is the appetite indulged with but little restraint. Rich dinners and late suppers are served, consisting of highly seasoned meats, with rich sauces, cakes, pies, ices, tea, coffee, etc. No wonder that with such a diet people have sallow complexions and suffer untold agonies from dyspepsia [indigestion]. Against every transgression of the laws of life, nature will utter her protest. She bears abuse as long as she can; but finally the retribution comes, and it falls upon the mental as well as the physical powers. Nor does it end with the transgressor; the effects of his indulgence are seen in his offspring, and thus the evil is passed down from generation to generation. . . .

Wrong Eating Destroys Health

A wrong course of eating or drinking destroys health, and with it the sweetness of life. . . . Thousands, by indulging a perverted appetite, have brought on fever or some other acute disease, which has resulted in death. That was enjoyment purchased at an immense cost. . . .

Too Frequent Eating a Cause of Dyspepsia

Many indulge in the pernicious habit of eating just before retiring. They may have taken their regular meals, yet because they feel a sense of faintness they think they must have a lunch. By indulging this wrong practice it becomes a habit, and they feel as though they could not sleep without food. In many cases this faintness comes because the digestive organs have been too severely taxed through the day in disposing of the great quantity of food forced upon them. These organs need a period of entire rest from labor, to recover their exhausted energies. . . . When we lie down at night, the stomach should have its work all done, that it, as well as other portions of the body, may enjoy rest. But if more food is forced upon it, the digestive organs are put in motion again, to perform the same round of labor through the sleeping hours. The sleep of such is often disturbed with unpleasant dreams, and in the morning they awake unrefreshed. When this practice is followed, the digestive organs lose their natural vigor, and the person finds himself a miserable dyspeptic. And not only does the transgression of nature’s laws affect the individual unfavorably, but others suffer more or less with him. Let anyone take a course that irritates him in any way, and see how quickly he manifests impatience. He cannot, without special grace, speak or act calmly. He casts a shadow wherever he goes. How can anyone say, then, “It is nobody’s business what I eat or drink”? —Counsels on Health, 107–119.

Restoring the Temple – Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

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When a friend suggested I do a series on the systems of the body, I was delighted with the idea, since biology is one of my favorite subjects. The articles in this series will cover each of the 11 systems of the body. My goal is to present the information in a way that can be easily understood. Obviously, there is no way to thoroughly explore a system in the space of two pages; a room of books could be devoted to a system and not repeat itself. I will, however, do my best to outline the basic anatomy and physiology of each system, in a way that glorifies the Designer.

What are organ systems? Cells that are alike group together and form tissues; tissues unite to form organs; organs work together to form systems. (See Table 1.) The systems function interdependently. For example, the circulatory system cannot perform its job of moving blood, nutrients, and waste through the blood vessels, without the nervous system, which sends signals to the heart to pump. The reproductive system cannot produce a baby without the endocrine system’s hormones signaling when and where and how fast to grow that new life. How could the bones move without muscles? How could the muscles move without bones?

Need more help to understand what anatomy and physiology are? Think of two scientists, one an anatomist and the other a physiologist. They are asked to examine a truck. The anatomist starts measuring and photographing each part of the truck: the chassis, the catalytic converter, the screw holding the cup holder in place. The physiologist is somewhat interested in these parts as well, but only as they relate to the function of the truck. What the physiologist does, is measure the torque applied to the wheels, how energy is transformed to movement from the spark to the moving piston, and so forth.

How does all this fit in a column labeled “Restoring the Temple”? Ellen White, an enlightened individual in a relatively unenlightened era, understood the relationship between hygiene—or health—and God’s creature: “It is well that physiology is introduced into the common schools as a branch of education. All children should study it. It should be regarded as the basis of all educational effort. And then parents should see to it that practical hygiene be added. This will make their knowledge of physiology of practical benefit. Parents should teach their children by example that health is to be regarded as the chiefest earthly blessing. They cannot do this while the love of money and of display is made of greater consequence than the health of their children.” The Health Reformer, November 1, 1871.

“The study of anatomy, the form and structure of the body; of physiology, the use and functions of the various organs; and of hygiene, the laws that underlie their healthful activities, is pursued from a Biblical and scientific point of view.” Review and Herald, October 11, 1898.

When I took the Cell Biology class in college, I was saddened when my instructor said that although she personally believed in creation she was required by the school to teach evolution. I remember my dad telling me, before I entered college, to be careful because evolution would be taught. It is a credit to my Christian upbringing that my dad need not have worried! Not only did I not fall prey to the fallacy of Darwinism, but the more I studied science, the more I believed in creation. How could this wondrous, fabulously complex organism they called Homo sapien, be an accident of nature? It became clear to me that a Master Designer is directly involved with not only creating the life but second-by-second maintenance of each one of our bodies. Does not the Bible say that He sustains our every breath? (See Job 12:10; Matthew 10:30.)

Consider homeostasis. Homeostasis is the word scientists use to mean that the body maintains itself in equilibrium. What does that mean? God made your body to know how to keep warm but not too warm; to maintain a blood pH that is slightly alkaline, not slightly acidic; to make sure you have enough fluid to keep things running properly, but not so much that you could literally drown; to make sure your cells have enough energy in the form of glucose to keep you alive, but not so much to kill you; to make sure you have enough potassium to maintain nerve function and muscle control, but not so much that it stops your heart, and so on, ad infinitum. Isn’t it beautiful?

Consider the building block of the body: the cell. There are 50–75 trillion cells in the body, and each second 6 trillion functions take place in each of them. (See The New York Public Library Science Desk Reference, Macmillan, New York, NY, 1995, 151.) There are cells so tiny that a million can fit in the period at the end of this sentence. The largest are about the size of that period. Cells have various life spans. The cells of the colon and stomach live only 4–5 days; red blood cells live about 125 days; brains cells last your lifetime. (See Ibid.)

So are we merely a product of evolution? Do we share the same ancestor as the slug and the goat and the dandelion? I think not! So eloquently and simply, Mrs. White put it: “Akin to the theory concerning the evolution of the earth is that which attributes to an ascending line of germs, mollusks, and quadrupeds the evolution of man, the crowning glory of the creation. . . . Shall we, for the privilege of tracing our descent from germs and mollusks and apes, consent to cast away that statement of Holy Writ, so grand in its simplicity, ‘God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him’? Genesis 1:27. Shall we reject that genealogical record,—prouder than any treasured in the courts of kings,—‘which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God’? Luke 3:38.” Education, 130.

It is a mystery! We cannot understand how God spoke, and it was so. It is “so grand in its simplicity.” We truly are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and perhaps in understanding a miniscule portion of the created, it will provide us with a greater respect for the Creator.

Restoring the Temple – The Cell

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“[God] who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 11 Timothy 1:9.

Before the world began, God knew us. He not only knew every cell, every tissue, and every synapse but every thought, every action, and our very purpose. A worldly, myopic view asks “What is the meaning of life?” Jesus, our Savior and Creator, has given us the meaning: He is the meaning. As we continue our study of God’s creation, let us learn of His works and learn a little more about Him.

A proper tutorial of the human body systems cannot begin without a discussion of the cell. The level of organization is thus: cells, tissues, organs, systems. The cell—which in itself is of a marvelous and awe-inspiring design—was first described by Robert Hooke, an English Scientist, in 1665. Somewhat later, other scientists began to develop the cell theory, which states that cells are the fundamental units, or building blocks of all plant and animal tissues. As mentioned in the previous article, our bodies contain trillions of cells, and any given activity, such as typing text on a computer or reading, requires the combined and coordinated responses of millions, even billions of cells. A thorough study of the cell would take up a large text, but a brief overview should be enough to show the wonder of one of God’s smaller creations.

Just as the body has anatomy, so it is with the cell. The cell’s “skin” is called the cellular membrane. Inside the cell are tiny organs floating in a gelatinous fluid called cytoplasm. These microscopic organs are called organelles. Like our body systems, the organelles work both separately and exquisitely in tandem. Remember the term homeostasis? Part of the cell theory states that not only does the body maintain homeostasis (the balance of the internal environment) at the tissue, organ, system, and organism level, but also at the cellular level. In other words, not only does the cell work in beautiful balance with other cells but also maintains its own. Cells are not static but are in constant complex activity. Let’s do a brief overview of the cell’s parts.

The cellular membrane does much more than keep the organelles together. It performs many tasks critical to the function of the cell.
A couple of these functions include regulating everything that enters and exits the cell; in multicellular organisms it allows self-recognition, so the body can tell the difference between its own cells and a foreign invader. The membrane is made up of fats and proteins.

One of the largest organelles is the endoplasmic reticulum or ER. It is a series of transparent membranes that look like a ribbon and loop back and forth inside the cell. There are two kinds of ER: smooth ER and rough ER. The rough ER looks bumpy because it has ribosomes sticking to it, and they help make protein. The smooth ER does not have any ribosomes and acts like a pathway inside the cell. Its main task is to produce lipids (fats).

The Golgi body, a network of thread-like structures and small sacs (vesicles) in the cytoplasm of nerve cells, was named after the scientist who discovered it: Camillo Golgi (1844–1926). After being manufactured by the ER, tiny proteins go to the Golgi body where they are packaged. In the Golgi body, the proteins enter little sacks called cisternae and are then pinched off into neat little packages called lysosomes, which drift off into the cytoplasm. The proteins contained by the lysosomes are powerful digestive enzymes and in certain circumstances the lysosome will self-destruct, breaking open and destroying harmful bacteria and other foreign bodies. Not only do these released enzymes protect the cell by destroying bacteria but they also cause self-destruction of the entire cell, which is how the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Think of lysosomes as the clean-up crew of the cell.

Although it sounds like it might be haphazard, lysosomes work in a highly controlled manner, doing only that which benefits the cell or the body. Another example of their work is evident in your fingers. When the human hand first forms in the tiny embryo, the fingers are all joined together. It is the work of the lysosomes to break down the webbing, forming individual fingers.

Another type of organelles is called mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. Here is where cellular respiration takes place, which is the process by which the cell takes the oxygen you breathe in and glucose from the food you eat and converts it to energy. Mitochondria are also particularly interesting because they are the only organelle that contains its own DNA. You inherit your mitochondria from your mother only, so that is one way inheritance can be tested. You got your mitochondria from your mother, hers from her mother, and so on, all the way back to Eve. This is how the remains of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia were authenticated. Their mitochondrial DNA was matched with a known living maternal relative, Prince Phillip (the spouse of the current Queen of England, Elizabeth II). Mitochondria are very interesting, but we must move on.

The nucleus is the headquarters of the cell. Not all cells have a nucleus. Red blood cells, for example, lose their nucleus early in their life span before entering circulation. The nucleus contains the genetic material—DNA—and controls all the activities of the cell by coordinating protein synthesis. Inside the nucleus is thick, ropy material, which is called chromatin. This is simply strands of DNA packed tightly, but neatly, around histone proteins. There is a smaller round object called the nucleolus inside, and it is a ball of packed chromatin. It manufactures ribosomes. The newly made ribosomes then leave the nucleus. Ribosomes are present in great numbers in the cell and most of them are attached to rough ER. These little organelles contain RNA (another form of genetic material, copied from DNA) and help manufacture proteins when the cells need them.

What is DNA? Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the blueprint for life. Everything about you from your eye color to how your liver works is coded for and controlled by DNA. American biochemist James Watson and British biochemist Frances Crick discovered, in 1953, that DNA was made of base molecules linked together to form a twisted ladder, called the double helix. It takes two base molecules to make a base-pair, which is what makes up each rung of the ladder. Each human cell has approximately three feet of DNA inside, all coiled up. This astoundingly complex molecule is a very obvious example of supernatural design. When a new strand of DNA is made, or synthesized, it is done with perfection. It is so perfect that an average of only one error per billion base-pairs occurs during duplication. “In the visible creation, divine wisdom is manifested in an endless variety of processes.” This Day With God, 67. Evolution? I think not.

“The work of creation cannot be explained by science. What science can explain the mystery of life?” The Ministry of Healing, 414. God’s own hands made us. In His mind, at the moment of our creation, was the purpose of our being. “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.” Psalm 119:73.

Restoring the Temple – Bones

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“A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22.

Let’s start our tour of the body’s organ systems with the skeletal system. Maybe you did not think of your bones as organs, yet they are. When thinking of bones, perhaps you imagine a bleached and dried bone your dog chews, or perhaps a skeleton dangling from a hook at school. While these objects may depict a bone in size and shape, they do not accurately depict a living bone.

Yes, bone is very much alive and dynamic, teeming with active cells, a cement-like matrix holding them together, and the blood vessels that circulate blood through them. Just like any other cell, bone cells need blood to supply them with nutrients and to whisk away waste products. If bones were not alive, they would not heal when they broke. If you have ever fractured a bone, you know how they can hurt. That is because nerves cover their surface (called the periosteum) and make them sensitive to pain.

Our bones change throughout our lives as bone formation and bone destruction occur simultaneously. In our childhood and youth, bone formation occurs more rapidly than bone destruction. After about age 35, bone destruction occurs more rapidly than bone formation. In the elderly, and in some disease processes of the skeleton, bone destruction increases, making bones thin and brittle. Vertebrae may collapse, and height decreases, which is why we may become shorter over time.

Unlike dead bones, living bones are slightly flexible. Many of them are hollow, which makes them lighter and stronger, much like the steelwork in a skyscraper. We are born with over 300 soft bones, but as we get older, many of them fuse together and harden, leaving the adult with 206 bones. The largest bone is the femur in the thigh; the smallest are the auditory ossicles in the ear—you may know them as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.

Males and females have the same number of bones (including the same number of ribs—24). Otherwise, there are a few minor differences between the male and female skeletons. The bones of the male are generally larger and heavier than the bones of the female. Also, the female pelvic cavity is wider to accommodate childbirth.

What do bones do? One obvious function of bones is to work with muscles to provide movement. You may also realize that bones provide a protective function. Some of our most vital organs are surrounded by bone, such as the brain, the spinal cord, the heart, and the lungs.

One lesser-known function of the skeletal system is that it makes blood. As previously noted, certain bones are hollow. Inside hollow bones are yellow marrow and red marrow. Long bones contain yellow marrow in their hollow central cavities and red marrow in their joint ends. Red marrow can also be found in the cavities of the flat bones, the short bones, and the ribs. Red marrow is where white blood cells and red blood cells grow. The yellow marrow is a storehouse for lipids and minerals, which can quickly be made available for the needs of other parts of the body.

Ligaments connect bones to each other. Articulations, or joints, are where bones meet. Some joints are stationary, such as most of the joints in the skull. It is the use of our muscles, pulling on part of the bones, that causes the movement of a joint.

Calcium phosphate accounts for approximately two-thirds of bone weight. Calcium phosphate crystals are very hard but quite brittle. They can take heavy compression forces, but can shatter when subjected to twisting, bending, or sudden impact.

About one-third of the weight of bone is made up of collagen fibers, which are stronger than steel and flexible, easily tolerating bending and flexing. Collagen’s weak point is that it doesn’t stand up to compression. Collagen fibers make up a framework in which the calcium crystals are locked, forming a protein-crystal complex that blends the strong properties of both substances. Thus bone is as strong as steel-reinforced concrete, but far superior because it is self-repairing. Isn’t God’s design marvelous?

Of what are bones made? Bone cells and other kinds of cells account for two percent of the mass. There are four kinds of bone cells: osteoprogenitor cells, osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. Osteocytes, the most populous type, cannot divide. They help recycle calcium and help in the repair of damaged bone. Osteoprogenitor cells are a type of stem cell that basically grows up to be osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are responsible for producing new bone matrix; so they build up bone. Osteoclasts, huge cells with up to 50 nuclei, remove bone matrix; so they tear down bone. You are probably wondering why we would have cells that tear down bone. As previously stated, bone is a storage complex for minerals. When another part of the body needs a mineral—such as calcium, which also regulates the heart rate and is a part of the blood clotting process—osteoclasts break down the bone matrix to release the mineral, and it is transported via the circulatory system to the area in need. This breakdown happens continually, day by day. If this process were not balanced, our bones would soon fall apart. Here is where the osteoblasts come in, building the bone matrix back up—continually, day by day.

The systems of the body do not work completely independent of one another, but are exquisitely inter-linked (see Table on page 37). Ellen White advised: “The muscles are dependent on the brain and nerves for the power of action. The mind wills to move the limbs. To keep this machinery in working order, it is essential that brain, bone, and muscle be brought into action. The exercise of the muscles quickens the circulation of the blood. How important then that parents understand the philosophy of the healthful action of brain, bone, muscles, and nerves and how needful that they educate their children in this line.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 222.

There are several hormones that play a part in the regulation of bone growth. Calcitriol, made in the kidneys, promotes calcium absorption in the digestive tract. Growth hormone, made in the pituitary gland, and thyroxine, made in the thyroid gland, stimulate osteoblast activity. Estrogen, testosterone, and the parathyroid hormone, made in the ovaries, testes, and parathyroid glands, respectively, stimulate osteoclast activity. Calcitonin, made in the thyroid gland, inhibits osteoclast activity.

Diseases of the bone can be caused by impaired function of the glands. For instance, gigantism results from an overproduction of growth hormone before puberty. This is the disease that the late Robert Pershing Wadlow had, becoming the tallest living person until his death in 1940. His weight was 490 pounds; his height was 8 feet 11 inches (he was 6 feet 5 inches tall when he was ten years old). The opposite problem, pituitary dwarfism, is caused by inadequate amounts of growth hormone. Fortunately these diseases are now more easily treatable than they once were.

We have the opportunity to see giants again in the resurrection; their height not caused by disease. How tall will we grow in heaven? I’d like to find out, wouldn’t you?

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Proverbs 3:7, 8.

Health Reform

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“We are to present the principles of health reform before the people, doing all in our power to lead men and women to see the necessity of these principles, and to practice them.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 379.

“The question of health reform is not agitated as it must and will be.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 304.

“A responsibility to spread the knowledge of hygienic principles rests upon all who have enjoyed the benefits of health reform.” The Home Missionary, July 1, 1892.

“We are amid the closing scenes of this world’s history, and there should be harmonious action in the ranks of Sabbathkeepers. Those who stand aloof from the great work of instructing the people upon this question do not follow where the Great Physician leads the way. ‘If any man will come after Me,’ Christ said, ‘let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ Matthew 16:24.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 378.

Why is Health Reform so Important?

“As our first parents lost Eden through the indulgence of appetite, our only hope of regaining Eden is through the firm denial of appetite and passion.” Ibid., vol. 3, 491.

“His [Christ’s] example declares that our only hope of eternal life is through bringing the appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God.” The Desire of Ages, 122.

Greatest Hindrance to Spiritual Life

“God requires continual advancement from his people. They need to learn that indulged appetite is the greatest hindrance to mental improvement and soul sanctification. With all our profession of health reform, many of us eat improperly. Indulgence of appetite is the greatest cause of physical and mental debility, and lies largely at the foundation of feebleness and premature death. Let the individual who is seeking to possess purity of spirit bear in mind that in Christ there is power to control the appetite.” Review and Herald, February 24, 1910.

“The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 491, 492.

“One of the strongest temptations that man has to meet is upon the point of appetite.” Ibid., 485.

“Let him who is struggling against the power of appetite look to the Saviour in the wilderness of temptation. See Him in His agony upon the cross, as He exclaimed, ‘I thirst.’ [John 19:28.] He has endured all that it is possible for us to bear. His victory is ours.” The Desire of Ages, 123.

“Men and women cannot violate natural law by indulging depraved appetite and lustful passions, and not violate the law of God. Therefore He has permitted the light of health reform to shine upon us, that we may see our sin in violating the laws which He has established in our being.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 161.

“God has shown that health reform is as closely connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body. There is nowhere to be found so great a cause of physical and moral degeneracy as a neglect of this important subject. Those who indulge appetite and passion, and close their eyes to the light for fear they will see sinful indulgences which they are unwilling to forsake, are guilty before God. Whoever turns from the light in one instance hardens his heart to disregard the light upon other matters. Whoever violates moral obligations in the matter of eating and dressing prepares the way to violate the claims of God in regard to eternal interests.” Ibid., 62, 63.

“You need clear, energetic minds, in order to appreciate the exalted character of the truth, to value the atonement, and to place the right estimate upon eternal things. If you pursue a wrong course, and indulge in wrong habits of eating, and thereby weaken the intellectual powers, you will not place that high estimate upon salvation and eternal life which will inspire you to conform your life to the life of Christ; you will not make those earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for entire conformity to the will of God, which His word requires, and which are necessary to give you a moral fitness for the finishing touch of immortality.” Ibid., vol. 2, 66.

God’s Requirement

“God requires all men to render their bodies to Him a living sacrifice, not a dead or a dying sacrifice, a sacrifice which their own course of action is debilitating, filling with impurities and disease. God calls for a living sacrifice. The body, He tells us, is the temple of the Holy Ghost, the habitation of His Spirit, and He requires all who bear His image to take care of their bodies for the purpose of His service and His glory. ‘Ye are not your own,’ says the inspired apostle, ‘ye are bought with a price;’ wherefore ‘glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.’ [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] In order to do this, add to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience. [2 Peter 1:5, 6.] It is a duty to know how to preserve the body in the very best condition of health, and it is a sacred duty to live up to the light which God has graciously given. If we close our eyes to the light for fear we shall see our wrongs, which we are unwilling to forsake, our sins are not lessened but increased. If light is turned from in one case, it will be disregarded in another. It is just as much sin to violate the laws of our being as to break one of the Ten Commandments, for we cannot do either without breaking God’s law. We cannot love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength while we are loving our appetites, our tastes, a great deal better than we love the Lord.” Ibid., 70.

“God sets the sins of His erring people before them, that they may behold them in all their enormity under the light of divine truth. It is then their duty to renounce them forever.” Ibid., vol. 4, 15.

“Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth.” The Desire of Ages, 489.

“If God’s people would recognize His dealings with them and accept His teachings, they would find a straight path for their feet and a light to guide them through darkness and discouragement.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 14.

“At this time, there is a people whom God has made the depositaries of His law. To those who obey them, the commandments of God are as a pillar of fire, lighting and leading the way to eternal salvation. But unto those who disregard them, they are as the clouds of night.” Ibid., 27.

“With intense interest God and heavenly angels mark the self-denial, the self-sacrifice, and the agonizing efforts of those who engage to run the Christian race. The reward given to every man will be in accordance with the persevering energy and faithful earnestness with which he performs his part in the great contest.” Ibid., 34, 35.

“Come out from among them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and I will receive you, and ye shall be sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. [2 Corinthians 6:17, 18.] What a promise is this! It is a pledge to you that you shall become members of the royal family, heirs of the heavenly kingdom. If a person is honored by, or becomes connected with, any of the monarchs of earth, how it goes the rounds of the periodicals of the day and excites the envy of those who think themselves less fortunate. But here is One who is King over all, the monarch of the universe, the Originator of every good thing; and He says to us: I will make you My sons and daughters; I will unite you to Myself; you shall become members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King.” Ibid., vol. 2, 592.

“Says Paul: ‘Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.’ Why should we not do this, when we have such an inducement, the privilege of becoming children of the Most High, the privilege of calling the God of heaven our Father? Is not that enough? And do you call this depriving you of everything that is worth having? Is this giving up everything that is worth possessing? Let me be united to God and holy angels, for this is my highest ambition. You may have all the possessions of this world; but I must have Jesus; I must have a right to the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance.” Ibid. Compiled by W. L. Brisbin.

Restoring the Temple – Skeletal Muscles

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“But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty [God] of Jacob; (from thence [is] the shepherd, the stone of Israel:).” Genesis 49:24

Last month we learned about bones. We have bones in our arms and legs, but they cannot move and cannot make us move. Muscles supply movement. There are three types of muscles: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. The body has about 700 skeletal muscles, comprising approximately 40 percent of our body weight. Thirty of these muscles are in our face, allowing us to smile, frown, and have many other expressions. Our Creator made cardiac (heart) muscle very strong so that our hearts would work for three-quarters of a century or more, resting only between beats. Smooth muscles, like cardiac muscles, are not attached to the skeleton and are found in blood vessels and in the digestive tract. The largest muscles are the gluteus maximus, located in each buttock. The smallest are the tiny arrector pili muscles that raise the hairs on your skin when you are cold.

Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles. This means that we consciously will them to move. We wish to walk, or kick a ball, or turn the pages of this magazine and the muscles contract, making all of this and much, much more possible. Cardiac and smooth muscles are involuntary muscles. This is a really good idea, isn’t it? What if we had to consciously make our lungs expand and contract, even while sleeping? What if we had to will each beat of our heart, or control the movement of food through our digestive tracts? We could not do it! God is wondrous, maintaining every microscopic function of the body.

Could we live without muscles? One might think so. Do you have to have movement to live? That is the primary function of muscles, after all. Without them you would not be able to stand or walk or chew. But muscles do more than just move bones. Food makes its way through the body through the contraction of muscles. Otherwise you would chew your food and then be unable to swallow, and that would be the end of the food’s digestive journey! Think also of your blood. How does it flow to your head when you are standing? How does it flow to your feet when you are standing on your head? Why, muscles, of course. Breathing, speaking, and having the hairs rise on your arms when you are cold are all possible because of muscles.

Muscles work by pulling, never by pushing. Muscles contracting in pairs accomplish movement in multiple directions. Skeletal muscles are all attached to bones at each end of the muscles. For instance, the biceps muscle in your upper arm originates, or is attached, to the shoulder blade, and the other end is attached, or inserted, on the radius and ulna of the forearm, near the elbow. So imagine what happens when the muscle contracts, becoming shorter and fatter in appearance. If the biceps is attached to the shoulder and the forearm, what will happen? The elbow bends (the fulcrum of the lever) and the forearm is lifted.

Just like bones, muscles may be damaged. When someone says they have a “pulled” muscle, the muscle has been torn just like a bone may be broken. Our muscles are able to heal, although it takes longer than when our skin is damaged. Rest, fluids, and proper nutrition speed the healing process. Continuing to walk on a hurt leg, for instance, slows the healing process. Won’t it be wonderful in heaven when we don’t have to worry about injury anymore?

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28–31.

Restoring the Temple – The Nervous System

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The brain is a marvel that only God can ever fully understand. Our brain controls our emotions, sleep cycles, digestion, heart rate, breathing, and movement. Our brains are who we are and everything we will ever be. Only in being filled with the Holy Spirit would we ever transcend this. Our first parents’ brains were undoubtedly more complex and certainly more efficiently used than our own today. Someone once said: “The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.” I know that many of us can relate to that, including myself. A popular myth is that we use only ten percent of our brains. This myth may be due to a misquote of Albert Einstein, but there is no scientific evidence that backs up this myth.

Of the vast information on the brain, one thing we do understand is that it controls all of our body’s functions as well as being the seat of the mind. This was not always known, however. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, believed that the heart, not the brain, was the location of thought and intelligence. The ancient Egyptians also did not have much respect for this organ as seen when making a mummy. The brain was removed and discarded, whereas the heart and other organs were carefully preserved.

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves. The main cell that makes up nervous tissue is the neuron. It is estimated that there are 100 billion neurons in the brain. To better understand this number, let us think of it in other terms. Neurons come in different sizes, but for the sake of this illustration we will say that they are ten microns wide. If you placed 100 billion neurons in a line, the line would be invisible but it would stretch to 100 km (62.14 miles).

The brain and spinal cord are bathed in a circulating fluid called the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. CSF acts as a shock absorber as well as a diffusion medium for nutrients, special chemicals, and waste products. Blood vessels circulate blood through the brain, just as anywhere else in the body. Amazingly, however, chemicals dissolved in the blood do not have free access to the brain. Cells called endothelial cells line blood vessels in the brain and control the chemical exchange between the blood and the fluid surrounding brain cells. This is called a blood-brain barrier, isolating the central nervous system (CNS) from the general circulation. God knows how to protect the delicate but marvelously intricate processes of the CNS.

The function of the nervous system, in general, is to gather information, store data and control the body’s systems. The nervous system collects information about the conditions in relation to the body’s external state and analyzes this information. The information is then used to initiate appropriate responses. Simplistically, you put your hand on the burner of a stove, the brain determines “stove is hot—hot is bad!” Your hand is removed from the burner. All of this occurs much more quickly than you just read it. Information travels along nerves at speeds up to 120 meters/second or 268 mph.

The nervous system uses electrical impulses, which travel along the length of the neurons, as well as chemicals called neurotransmitters. The endocrine system has its own method of data transfer using hormones, but unlike the nervous system, it may take many hours to respond with hormones.

All intellectual functions are the major function of the cerebrum, which is the largest portion of the brain. Have you ever heard of a person who is brain dead? That means that they no longer have brain waves that translate into thought, but the physical control center, the brain stem, is still functioning enough to keep the body alive. Yet the higher functions of thought and emotion are closely interlinked with the physical functions. “The senses . . . are the avenues to the soul.” Healthful Living, 193

Like the rest of the body, the nervous system requires adherence to the laws of health to function optimally. Ellen White said, “The brain is the organ and instrument of the mind, and controls the whole body. In order for the other parts of the system to be healthy, the brain must be healthy. And in order for the brain to be healthy, the blood must be pure. If by correct habits of eating and drinking the blood is kept pure, the brain will be properly nourished.” Medical Ministry, 291. She also understood that there is a balance between physical exercise and mental exercise that must be maintained. We can all understand that we need to study to learn, but on the other side of the coin, “The exercise of the brain in study without corresponding physical exercise has a tendency to attract the blood to the brain, and the circulation of the blood through the system becomes unbalanced. The brain has too much blood and the extremities too little.” Healthful Living, 180.

Even when all of our nervous system’s hardware and software is working correctly, we do not always use it properly. In the nineteenth century, Ambrose Bierce said that the definition of a cabbage is “A familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man’s head.” This is too often true isn’t it? I would have to say that without the Lord’s guidance it is always true. David’s insight was that “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11. A current saying puts it this way: “Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth.” Indeed!