The Husband’s Illness

In my heart I had decided never to be ill, because it was not fashionable in my parental home. From my forebears I had inherited strong health, and I thought it belonged to me by right and was for me a matter of course. But when the LORD, in His Mercy, opened to me the light of the health reform, I understood that health is a Gift of GOD, which must be cared for and carefully kept. Then it will gladden you all your life and accompany you in any trial. And if you lose your health, it is not sold anywhere so that you could just get it back like that.

My wife had a more modest opinion of herself and constantly worried that no external factors would become the cause of illness for anyone in our family, and she would periodically ask me to do this or not do that so as not to fall ill by accident. I understood that such requests were not always reasonable in the light of the health reform, and that many things have commonly accepted stereotypes as their basis; but our love for one another helped us find compromises and live peaceably under one roof.

One day a test came to our family called “I fell ill.” By its symptoms it resembled the flu and very quickly completely took me out of my normal state. My head began to split with pain, my body was thrown into chills, my strength left me, and I wanted to lie down somewhere and do nothing and think about nothing. It felt as if I were living my last day and would no longer be able to change anything. At that time I could not even pray as usual, but limited myself to short words of thanksgiving to GOD for the sudden trial and weak requests for healing.

My wife at once assessed the situation and took the initiative to care for me, while I asked her to keep her distance so as not to become infected. To this she replied that she had no time to be ill and needed to manage to ease my suffering. And I only wanted to lie down and think about nothing. They say men endure illness more heavily than women, and therefore it is better not to burden them during this period with excessive tasks.

The only activity for which I had enough strength was to take a contrast shower and collapse into bed after it. I did not want to eat anything, nor did I have the strength. And my wife kept offering some new dishes, trying to feed me with something. As a result she managed only to give me tea with honey, after which I fell asleep.

Sleep eased my suffering but did not solve the problem of the illness. I lay quietly in bed and humbled my soul and body. After another question from my wife about whether I wanted something to eat, I firmly said that I was taking a fast and would drink only water. She understood that arguing was useless and went to study what to do with such patients and how to help them get back on their feet. Consulting with specialists, she learned that with such an ailment one needs to wait a couple of turning days, and then the body will head toward recovery. She tried to close the window and draw the curtains in the sickroom, against which I voiced a protest, since I knew that light and fresh air are the best allies for recovery.

Although I was incapacitated, the light received from the health reform helped me keep my situation under control and take independent steps toward healing. I remembered that a merry heart does good like a medicine, and decided to be joyful in this hard trial, asking GOD for Joy in accordance with my choice, creating on my face a semblance of a smile. And Joy came.

Meanwhile my wife prepared a portion of some tablets for me, persuading me to take them. I assured her that I had not fallen ill from a lack of pills, but because in something I had violated the laws of health and was now reaping the consequences.

After a couple of days I understood that I would go on living, and this gave me moral strength to fight the ailment. Fresh fruit and pure water became my food, and fresh air—my constant companion in the sickroom. My wife in the meantime settled in the living room and did not disturb me unnecessarily, but was always on the alert to serve in any way. I knew that she was praying for my healing, and I was very grateful to GOD for such a wonderful Gift.

When my head began to work normally, I started to ponder the cause of my illness. I very much wanted to find it. I decided to check myself by the eight factors of health. This turned out to be not difficult at all. To my shame, I understood that, knowing how everything should be and teaching others to live by these principles, I myself grossly violated all these points, except for Trust in GOD.

The LORD clearly showed me how presumptuous I was in my decision not to be ill, for at the same time I was violating everything that contributes to the preservation and strengthening of health. I became like the foolish virgins of Matt. 25:1–12, who knew what needed to be done but did nothing for their salvation.

Take at least air, sun, water, and physical activity. It would seem that all this is present in my life, but I do not know how to breathe correctly and do not understand what that is. The greatest thing I achieve is sleep with an open window, thinking that this is sufficient.

I rejoice in the sun, but I do not allow its rays to touch my body, hiding at every opportunity in the shade or wrapping myself in dark garments. Yet it nourishes and restores my organism through direct contact with it.

I drink water—but what kind and how? The best water is fresh, from a natural source or melted. But where can I get it? The city is not the best place to obtain clean drinking water. And my body needs it both inside and out. What can I offer it?

Why do I, knowing what I need, content myself only with making a healthy appearance, observing only superficial things?

I, as I suppose, am physically active—but what kind of activity is this in the light of the health reform? Walking from the sofa to the kitchen and the toilet are also movements, but minimal ones. My blood needs periodic loads on the body to be renewed and to flow faster through the veins, nourishing every cell. But the flesh seeks a soft sofa, to observe from its summit the world events around itself. As a result, drowsiness and laziness cling to me, depriving me of any desire for active movement.

I love to eat tasty and wholesome food, but it does not appear on my table just like that out of nowhere. And I have adapted to trusting unverified producers to feed me with who knows what, thinking that they ought to care for my health, offering me the very best and freshest. But reading the contents on the packaging, I am horrified at what we are fed. And do I want, while eating with wholesome food all sorts of emulsifiers, to be healthy?

My temperance must extend to everything. Beginning with drinking and eating, touching work, hobbies, and the bedroom—everything must be within certain bounds of self-control. But I, being firm in one thing, am excessive in another. And that should not be so.

My rest has become unclear to me. In the evening it is hard to go to bed, and in the morning it is hard to get up. Over the week I become so tired that I have to sleep off the whole Sabbath. But this is not right.

And so, lying on the bed of sickness, I pondered myself and did not know how I should be and live.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

1. Please read Prov. 17:22; Matt. 24:8; Ps. 90:10; Exod. 15:26; 23:25; Deut. 7:12, 15; 28:58–61; 2 Chron. 16:12; Job 33:16–20; Ps. 114:3–4; Isa. 53:3–4; Matt. 4:23–24; Luke 9:1; Rev. 21:4 in light of this lesson.

2. What did you understand from this topic?

3. What other Bible verses came to your memory?

4. What is illness, and why does it come?

5. Why do people fall ill?

6. Does the LORD desire to see us healthy and to teach us not to be ill?

7. Have you heard anything about the health reform? If so, what place does it occupy in your life?

8. Is it worth trying all of GOD’s methods of healing for prevention?

9. Why did JESUS warn us about the beginning of illnesses in Matt. 24:8, and then add that the love of many would grow cold?

10. Does a joyful spirit have power for a quick healing? Prov. 17:22.

11. What should be done in order not to be ill?

12. What awaits those who will reject the light of GOD’s health reform?

13. Is it important in the last days to care for one’s health and understand the laws of health?

14. What relation does health have to the last time and to the final warning message?

15. Should I study the laws of health if I do not have a medical education?