The health of his creation was essential to God because with health comes happiness, and what loving parent doesn't want their child happy!?
We are no different when it comes to welcoming a new life into our homes. Creating an environment of all of the things we love because we will be spending a lot of time with our beautiful infant there.
God did the same thing for us when he created the Garden of Eden, preparing it with exactly what Adam would need. Our loving God meticulously designed every detail to ensure Adam would have the best possible environment to thrive in...
The most enjoyable place to work and fellowship in. Cool breezes, warm sun, beautiful starry nights, delicious food, and delightful scents.
Let's look at 7 things God established in creation that he knew would be foundational for Adam to survive.
1. Light
and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
Genesis 1:3-4
The lesser light, the moon, or night regulates the hormone melatonin, created by eye stimulation or lack thereof when the lights are low. So together, the two lights set our circadian rhythm.
The sun stops melatonin production, provides our immune-supporting vitamin D, and heats our body to produce sweat, a form of detoxification.
2. Air
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,
and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament,
and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters
which were above the firmament:
and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament,
and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters
which were above the firmament:
Genesis 1:6-8
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7
INHALE. EXHALE. Man can live for weeks without food, days without water but only about three minutes without air. The air we breathe is vital to the life of every cell and the brain.
For this reason, the quality of the air we breathe is vital to our health. Can you imagine how fresh and pure the air was in the Garden of Eden? Ahhh.
3. Water
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, ...
and the gathering together of the waters called he Ses: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:9-10
Your body is 70% water and plays a role in nearly every process. It is the main energy source, regulates body temperature, and is the transportation system for blood cells, oxygen, nutrients, and waste. It also lubricates joints; know anyone with stiff joints??
Now imagine a thick, murky, stagnant pond... gross, huh? But, unfortunately, that's what our bodies are like when we don't drink enough water.
4. Plants
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree
yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
Genesis 1:11
Time has changed the definition of "carbs" into a negative food choice like bread and pasta. In actuality, God designed complex carbohydrates in the garden. These provide vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients to every organ and cell of your body.
When you say you are on a low-carb diet, you typically mean you eliminate the processed, starchy foods that cause inflammation and disease. That's wonderful, turning back to the garden as God intended.
5. Exercise
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden
to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15
With the changes in the type of jobs in society over the past 100 years, we spend more time sitting than we were intended to. Adam's physical work had many health benefits, such as strengthening the muscles, joints, bones, and heart.
Besides those benefits, physical work also reduces depression and anxiety, promotes better sleep, and improves cognitive function.
6. Relationships
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:... Genesis 1:26
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking
in the garden in the cool of the day:...Genesis 3:8
in the garden in the cool of the day:...Genesis 3:8
God's greatest desire was to have companionship and a relationship with Adam. As humans, we are designed with a spiritual void that the Holy Spirit of God can only fill through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Although we may have many relationships in our life, the quality of each of them hinges on the quality of our relationship with our creator. If we have peace within, we can bring peace, love, and joy to the other relationships we have in our life.
If the year 2020 taught us anything, it was that isolation is NOT good for mental health; Adam could have told us that we were meant to have relationships.
7. Rest
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made:
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it:
Genesis 2:2-3
The designer of a product knows the capability and limitations of the product because he knows the materials he used in creating it and the functions it is capable of performing.
Knowing Adam's physical, mental and spiritual limitations, God designed a day of rest. A day to come apart from work and responsibility to relax, refocus, and rejuvenate. Ready to begin another week with a fresh mind and renewed strength for the purpose he was created.
"And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not the man
for the sabbath:" Mark 2:27
for the sabbath:" Mark 2:27
Would you agree that our designer knows us best and provided everything we need to function optimally? Me too!
Think about the environment we live in now... Lights are on all hours of the night; our air is toxic, our food is artificial, made from a plant, not from a plant. Our water is highly contaminated, our exercise is minimal, our relationships struggle, and our society is constantly on the go, never resting.
When we compare our environment to what God designed for Adam, it's easy to see why we are unhealthy people.
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