EXERCISE

AND the LORD God took the man (Adam], and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."  Genesis 2:15.

 God's original plan was for people to be active. Physical activity is necessary to maintain all our functional body units and to keep a reserve physical capacity to handle emergency situations.

 "God designed that the living machinery should be in daily activity. For in this activity or motion is its preserving power.... The more we exercise, the better will be the circulation of the blood." -- Ellen G. White, Healthful Living, pp. 131-132

"There is no exercise that can take the place of walking. by it the circulation of the blood is greatly improved. Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best remedy for the diseased bodies, because in this, all of the organs of the body are brought into use." -- Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 78

"Moderate exercise every day will impart strength to the muscles, which without exercise become flabby and enfeebled." -- Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 533
"Exercise will aid in the work of digestion. Take a walk after a meal; but no violent exercise after a full meal." -- Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 530

"Morning exercise, walking in the free, invigorating air of heaven, or cultivating flowers, small fruits, and vegetables, is the surest safeguard against colds, coughs, congestion of the brain, inflammation of the liver, the kidneys, and the lungs, and a hundred other diseases." -- Ellen G. White, Healthful Living, p. 176-177

"If physical exercise were combined with mental exertion, the blood would be quickened in its circulation, the action of the heart would be more perfect, impure matter would be thrown off, and new life and vigor would be experienced in every part of the body." -- Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health, p. 572

"Those who thus exercise the Christian graces will grow and will become strong to work for God. They will have a clear spiritual perceptions, a steady growing faith, and an increased power in prayer.... Strength comes by exercise. Activity is the very condition of life. Those who endeavor to maintain a Christian life by passively accepting the blessing that come through the means of grace, and doing nothing for Christ, are simply trying to live by eating without working.... A man who would refuse to exercise his limbs would soon lose all power to use them. Thus the Christian who will not exercise his God-given powers, not only fails to grow up into Christ, but he loses the strength that he already had." -- Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 80

"The life of the flesh is in the blood." Leviticus 17:11 What is in the blood constitutes life; and if there is life in the blood, but bad circulation, the entire system cannot receive the life it needs. Each cell in the body requires nourishment and cleansing from its own wastes to be healthy. Nutrients are delivered to each cell through the blood stream, and, in turn, the wastes are picked up and deposited in the eliminating organs. Thus we can understand the statement, "Perfect health depends upon perfect circulation." (2T 531).

"The more active the circulation, the more free from obstructions and impurities will be the blood." (Healthful Living, p. 178).

The very best exercise is walking briskly outdoors.

 "There is NO exercise that can take the place of walking. By it the circulation of the blood is greatly improved. Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best remedy for diseased bodies, because in this exercise all the organs of the body are brought into use." (3T 78).

 "There is no exercise that will prove as beneficial to every part of the body as walking." (Healthful Living, p. 130).

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalms 139:14

Cells need four essential things to live and function properly:

OXYGEN: Without oxygen, cells die within three minutes; pure air brings life to the skin; for a lack of air the skin nearly dies;

WATER: Without water, the cells die in a few days;

NUTRITION: Without nutrients they die in a few weeks;

CLEANSING: Their own wastes must be removed promptly or death will result in a matter of minutes, or at the most a matter of hours

"The studied habit of shunning the air and avoiding exercise, closes the pores, -the little mouths through which the body breathes, -making it impossible to throw off impurities through that channel. The burden of labor is throne upon the lungs, kidneys, etc., and these internal organs are compelled to do the work of the skin." 2T 524

  “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy  4:8

In this text we would almost think the apostle is telling us not to exercise but that is not what is being said. He is telling us that developing our bodies is not to be more important to us than learning to follow and obey God. You see, Paul lived at the time when the Greek Olympic contests were considered so important. The Pagans worshiped the human body and often put everything into athletic training. It was there idol, so to speak. And so we must be careful because it is easy to make sports, athletics, games of skill, or physical training an idol, to the neglect of our souls and the service of God.

  “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:17- 19

It is often said- Oh how terrible that God cursed the earth, but you will notice it said- ‘for your sake’ God wasn’t ‘getting even’ as it were, He was making things so that man would have to work hard to live as that is the only way he would stay strong and well in a sinful world! God’s plan for mans physical prosperity is not sports and games, but rather practical, worthwhile work. God’s blessing is on those who follow His wise plan and they get more pleasure and satisfaction from life than the idle person ever does.

 “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Proverbs 13:4 

 “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.” Proverbs 20:4 

“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” Proverbs  6:9 

 “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men]”. Proverbs 22:29 

 “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].” Proverbs 22:29 

  “The sleep of a labouring man [is] sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:12

Yes, God means us to use the physical abilities He has given us and also use simple exercise to stay fit, but Sports and Athletics can be a snare and become an Idol and are not God’s way. These things lead to PRIDE, and take our minds from heavenly things it is no help to have a strong body and loose your own soul.

Matthew 16:26  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Working, outdoors especially, and walking in nature are two excellent ways to stay in shape as they allow us to contemplate the works of God and meditate on Him, they do not cost a lot to do them, and they do not engender pride and competitive attitudes.