Science & The Spirit

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

WHICH HIGHWAY?

Health Helps Part 11

By Dane and Vicki Griffin

 Wherever you go—to school, to the shopping mall, even to church—have you noticed the empty expression on many faces? Even though we have more comforts and conveniences than our ancestors dreamed possible, people have more tension, fatigue, sadness, and discouragement than ever before. Even children and youth are stressed and discontented­—in spite of strobe-light athletic shoes, realtime video games, closets bulging with designer clothes, and fast food on every corner. As one person put it, “Most people live quiet lives of despair.”

We’re proving in a hurry that no amount of things can ever fill the emptiness in our lives. Just like the wise man said so many years ago: “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. . . . All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled” (Ecclesiastes 5:10; 6:7).

Desperate void

What percentage of Americans would you guess are lonely? How many are constantly “stressed out?” A Gallup poll taken in 1990 showed that more than 36% of Americans are plagued with feelings of loneliness. It’s probably worse today. A recent Princeton University survey showed that more than twothirds of Americans feel “stressed out” at least once a week. An incredible 15 million Americans suffer from clinical depression each year.

Loneliness, stress, and depression are no fun. But that’s not all. They also cause serious health problems—things like higher rates of heart attack, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, cancer, dental disease, and lowered resistance to infectious diseases! And if a woman is depressed when she has a baby, it suffers, too—with brain activity abnormalities that later show up as problems in school, in their social lives, and even in their ability to concentrate. There’s a desperate void in our lives, and few seem to know how to fill it.

Filler of voids

What can be done to fill this emptiness in our lives? Not through our “many inventions”! (Ecclesiastes 7:29.) No matter how many things we gather about us, our hearts will still come up empty­—until we turn to the only one who can fill the void. When we surrender our lives to God, we can have peace, contentment, and even joy in this unstable, inconsistent world. As Paul put it, “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

You can have it all

Those who have totally surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ are the happiest people in the world. Even science proves this fact! Read the findings of one recent medical study: “We conclude that faith in God . . . is strongly associated with life satisfaction.”

Think of it as two highways. One might look like fun, but it leads into a miserable, foggy valley of loneliness, stress, depression, and despair. You can drive down this highway all by yourself. The other highway demands a guide. You must put all your trust in this divine Guide, but in return you will find yourself on the road to health of the body, mind, and soul. It’s just that simple. “Whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20).

Step onto the highway!

Are you tired of your own, selfish ways? Jesus says, “Come. Give Me your burden of sin. I will give you My righteousness in return.” Why not step onto the highway to health today?

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

Copyright © LifeStyle Matters, Inc.