Graduation

I recently graduated valedictorian of my class. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to have our very close friends and family present to celebrate to occasion. I used the opportunity to share a story to help illustrate how we are tempted daily into rationalizing our health away. This is a great excerpt from a recent sermon I heard from Northland Church out of Longwood, FL by pastor Vernon Rainwater.

How Satan Temps Us
Pastor Vernon Rainwater

The temptations of satan are not always obvious to our conscious mind. Satan would be easy to avoid if every time he tried to tempt us he appeared in his little red suit with a three-pronged pitch fork. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. Satan doesn’t care how he gets us, he just wants to get us.
Remember the story of Adam and Eve where satan is tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve says she was instructed by God not to eat from the tree or she would die. Genesis 3 states “ Surely Eve, you will not die if you eat this fruit, but in fact you will become like God.” Satan does just enough to get Eve to cross the boundary stating that there is nothing wrong with eating fruit, surely this particular fruit can be no different. It was at this very moment that Jesus began his journey to the cross.
Satan will use things that don’t even seem THAT bad to get us. Was there anything wrong with the fruit? No, but it was commanded by God not to eat it. And we do the same things in our lives everyday.

Here’s a twist on the age old Bible story of Genesis 1:1 to help illustrate the point:
In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and he populated the Earth with broccoli, spinach, green and yellow vegetables and fruits of all kinds so that man and woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then, using God’s great gifts satan created Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Krispy Kreme Donuts…and satan said “You want chocolate with that?” And man said yes and woman said as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.
AND THEY GAINED 10 lbs….and satan smiled.
Then God said “Try my fresh garden salad.” And satan presented thousand-island dressing, buttery croutons, and bacon-bits with Garlic toast on the side. And man and woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
Then God said “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them. And satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken fried steak so big that it needed its own platter. And man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
Then God created a white fluffy food named Angel Cake and said “It is good.” And then satan created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Cake.”
So then God brought forth running shoes so his children might lose those extra pounds. But Satan gave them cable TV with remote controls so man would not have to toil with getting up and changing the channels. Man and woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light, and yes….continued to gain pounds.
Then God put forth the potato naturally low-in-fat and brimming with nutrition. Satan cut off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them.
And then God gave them lean beef and Satan said “You do want fries with that?” And man replied “Yes, super-sized!” And satan said “It is good!”
And then Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. And then Satan created HMO’s.

The nature of your Enemy is that he doesn’t care HOW he gets you. He just wants to get you. And usually he will get you by adding to the things that God has already said are good.

Commentary:
Pastor Hal Haller from my church has a friend named Orly that has two kids and a wife and was just recently diagnosed with primary brain cancer with a prognosis of 7 months to live. Unfortunately, Orly has had this brain cancer developing for at least 7-9 YEARS before it was even able to be diagnosed. Two weeks before being diagnosed he was at Disney with his family enjoying a vacation. The week after they got back to "normal" life he started having blurred vision, weakness in his right arm, and headaches. After going to the doctor, he was diagnosed with the brain cancer.
HOW MUCH DID THIS CHANGE THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY???
I'm sure it's hard for any of us to imagine the circumstances, but the reality is that this could happen to any one of us at any moment.
How much would Orly's family pay to get this removed if they could? ANYTHING!!!
Would they take out a 2nd mortgage on their house to cover expenses? OF COURSE!!!
Would they fly/drive across the country to get this treated? ABSOLUTELY!!!
Literally, they would do WHATEVER it took and so would you if you were put in the same situation.
So, WHY DON'T WE DO THE SAME TO PREVENT THESE THINGS IN THE FIRST PLACE??
Like I said earlier, cancer is constantly developing in our bodies and takes at least 7-9 years before it is "detectable." Most of us have strong enough immune systems to fight it off and keep the cancer cells from reproducing, therefore making the cancer "undectable" and not able to be diagnosed. However, if we are not living our lives the way God intended and not treating our bodies like the temple of God, we make ourselves more susceptible to degenerative disease such as cancer and heart disease.
Make the committment to yourself and your family to make a positive change for your health this holiday season. God will honor your decision.
With Love,
Dr. Matt

Aligning your Health with God's Intentions.

THE POWER THAT MADE THE BODY, HEALS THE BODY!!!

IT HAPPENS NO OTHER WAY!!!