Keys to Happiness & Health!

Whether you desire to be satisfied as an individual, as a family or in your community...there are keys to help achieve that! We all would like to be satisfied in life - mentally, physically and spiritually. Why not?! We live in a world that is adept at throwing curveballs. We often feel lost, broken or incomplete.

Well, just like the last gadget or item you purchased that requires following the directions to achieve the desired results...your life requires following directions to achieve true peace and health. Fortunately, our Creator, who created us in His image, has given guidelines to follow and commands to obey. Additionally, He has provided some barriers or restraints to keep us singularly focused on fulfilling the purpose for which He created us. These restraints are non-negotiable to our individual or collective happiness!

Just like a good parent gives a child restraints like staying away from dangerous situations, abstaining from too much junk food, looking both ways before crossing the street and more...we as God's creation need restraints to keep us safe and healthy. When we disregard these barriers that God has placed in our lives...danger lurks! The result - absolute selfishness, broken relationships, guilt, shame and more. Therefore it is essential that we place close attention to what our Creator has given us for our own benefit.

First, God has given each of us a conscience. This conscience helps us know the difference between right and wrong. Additionally, the conscience causes us the pain of guilt when we choose wrong. It is the mechanism our Creator gave us to keep us in check, healthy and safe. The conscience is good! It keeps us in line with what is healthy and right in a world full of wrongs. The Apostle Paul said we have "the Law of God written on our hearts." The conscience helps each of choose between what is morally right and morally wrong...choosing right brings health and happiness!

Second, God has given us the institution of family. Family is God's way of teaching truth and tradition to future generations. Family is how God chose to build communities, cities, states and nations. Husband and wife come together, and through procreation, fill the earth. In doing so, the family teaches God's will and way to children, grandchildren, etc. Additionally, parents restrain their children through discipline. Homes are to be filled with love, grace, mercy, discipline and growth. Subsequently, children grow into adulthood as healthy men and women. Then they build their own godly families and fill the church and culture with God-fearing people. Also, these parents release young adults with godly virtue into society to become helpful citizens and hopeful evangelists for the Good News of Jesus Christ. Allowing the family to have its rightful place in our society brings health and happiness!

Third, our Lord has given us government or civil authorities. God's design for government is NOT to create an economy, provide handouts to the hurting or present an educational plan to citizens. Instead, according to Romans 13, our Lord's primary purpose for civil authorities is to protect good and punish evil. Government's role is not to be our savior or rescuer. The larger our local and national governments become the more inclined they are to stray from its primary function. The result: higher crime, chaos, anarchy, persecution of the church and more. This third restraint God provides for a flourishing society is essential to having safe, growing and healthy individuals, families, communities, churches and cultures! Without it - we have sin run amok: drugs, thugs, hopelessness, violence and shame! Submitting to authority, including governing authorities, brings health and happiness!

Fourth, the Lord has given us His church. God provides salvation to those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior! These men and women receive God's forgiveness, escape from hell and receive the glorious hope of heaven. These believers make up local churches who preach/teach the gospel, love one another, grow in grace, reach the world with His truth and help the brokenhearted. The church provides salt and light in a dark and decaying culture. The church helps individuals and families mature in the faith. These believers separate themselves from the world spiritually and morally - thus, giving a display of wonder, beauty and truth to those who desperately need Jesus. A strong and courageous church helps us be healthy and happy individuals and families!

The culture that has a seared conscience (one that does not feel pain or guilt anymore), has disregarded God's set standard for family, has shaken its fist at local and national authority and has discarded the church...has set itself up for failure. Ultimately there will be no peace or happiness. Mental, physical and spiritual health are thrown into the trash. Violence will cause the good in our society to live in physical fear. Crime will wreck havoc on communities and the economy. Families will be destroyed. Individuals will live in depression. This is the society satan wants...hopeless and weak!

Friend, Brother or Sister...love God, be grateful for His goodness, fear and honor Him. Read the Scripture. Be strong and courageous. Serve in your church. Create a loving and truthful community of believers that trust in the Lord and serve Him faithfully. Pray for our nation. Ask God to have mercy on us. Support and serve alongside your pastor. Discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness...for your own growth and out of respect for others. We need each other to be strong and healthy. Christ is the victor...don't give in to defeat! When you follow Him - He fills you with His spirit and you have spiritual health and happiness - regardless of the circumstances! Now, go and win the day!

Bruce