When I was a child one of my friends was climbing a tree. On his way
down he made a wrong move, slid down and fell on the ground. When he
made impact he let out a scream that showed his pain. He immediately
yelled out, "I broke my bone." I asked the question, "How does he
know?" My other friends look at me, and said, "When it happens to you
will know."
Years later, I corroborated their statement. I slid on a patch of
ice. I lost balance and my right knee fell on the concrete sidewalk.
The pain was unbearable. And, I just knew I had fractured my knee.
The paramedics did not believe me. But, the X-rays confirmed it. I
know first hand the process described on Mondays lesson,
Those who have suffered a broken bone or severe joint sprain have
experienced the immobilization necessary for healing to take place.
Supportive casts, bandages, and even surgical pins are used to help
stabilize an injured joint or fractured limb. As a result of the
immobilization, the muscles related to that particular area are not
used. With this lack of use, a process of atrophy or wasting occurs.
The muscles become thin and weak. When the healing of the bone or
joint has taken place, movement begins to return, and with sustained
use and exercise, muscle strength is regained.
When they removed the cast, my leg and thigh seemed without shape or
form. But, as I started to exercise my leg, it toned and firmed up.
Eventually it returned to its original shape. This tells about the
importance of physical activity. The lesson cites the following quote
from Sister white addressing this,
"Action is a law of our being. Every organ of the body has its
appointed work, upon the performance of which its development and
strength depend. The normal action of all the organs gives strength
and vigor, while the tendency of disuse is toward decay and death.
Bind up an arm, even for a few weeks, then free it from its bands, and
you will see that it is weaker than the one you have been using
moderately during the same time. Inactivity produces the same effect
upon the whole muscular system."—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of
Healing, pp. 237, 238.
Our lesson continues saying that as it is with the body it is with faith,
"If faith is not exercised, it does not grow. The vital movements and
actions of the limbs and body of faith cannot take place. Though faith
is a gift, if it is not exercised, if we do not make choices based on
it, if we do not reach out and by it claim God's promises, if we are
not willing to take chances based on faith, if we will not exercise
faith to the point of being brought to our knees in submission and
humility—then we are in danger of losing it."
Ellen White addresses this topic also,
"The only way to grow in grace is to be disinterestedly doing the very
work which Christ has enjoined upon us—to engage, to the extent of our
ability, in helping and blessing those who need the help we can give
them. Strength comes by exercise; activity is the very condition of
life. Those who endeavor to maintain Christian life by passively
accepting the blessings that come through the means of grace, and
doing nothing for Christ, are simply trying to live by eating without
working. And in the spiritual as in the natural world, this always
results in degeneration and decay. 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, 81.
Our lesson states that it is tragic,
"… because faith is one of the most precious of all God's gifts. Only
those who know what it's like to live in this world without faith,
without the knowledge of God, without the hope found in His promises,
can tell you just how wonderful and precious a gift it really is."
We know that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God
(Romans10:17). Only those who have heard (and are hearing) the Word,
believed it and trusted it, know what a precious gift it is. For they
know what it is to live with out it. This process is akin to seeing
Jesus. Those who have are changed forever, not wanting to go back, so
are those who hear His Word believe it and trust it. It is these who
exercise the faith given to them. They hear the Word and they trust
that the Word will do what it says it will do, and they wait for the
Word to do it and they depend on the word to do it. Whatever is not
of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). So, any move they make is because the
Word said so. Realizing how precious a gift faith is, they strive to
do nothing to tarnish it. Pleasing God is their greatest motivation,
and they know that without Faith it is impossible to please Him
(Hebrews 11:6). Just as we are pleased when someone uses a gift we
give to them, God is pleased when we use His gifts to us.
--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
