Country Living and God's Eight Natural Remedies

The best time to move out of the cities and into the country is now, as we must make haste to get all things ready for the coming crisis10MR 263.2+1. This transition should be handled with prayerful consideration and wise generalship rather than in a rush or with rash excitementCL 25.2+1.

The Urgency of the Move

• A Message for Today: The instruction to leave the cities has been given repeatedly because the problem of buying and selling will become a very serious one in the futureLDE 99.3.

• Avoiding the Crisis: The crisis is coming soon, and the influence of labor unions and world confederacies is becoming a snare that will make it difficult for our institutions to function in urban centers4MR 82.3+1.

• The Example of Lot: We are warned not to have a lingering spirit like Lot, but to be wide awake and move as the Lord reveals the way from point to point2SM 354.

Spiritual and Physical Preparation

• Seeking Spirituality: Our lifework should be to seek for spirituality because Christ is at the door, and the scenes of nature are God's appointed means to change us into His image10MR 263.2+1.

• Protection for Children: Moving into rural districts allows parents to shield their children from the "street education" of the city and the contamination of viceAH 136.1+1.

• Self-Sufficiency: It is necessary for God's people to move to retired places where they can cultivate the land, raise their own produce, and establish healthful habitsLDE 99.3+1.

Wise and Orderly Transition

• Avoid Rashness: While the move is urgent, it must not be done in a disorderly manner that leads to great financial loss or future regretCL 25.2+1.

• Individual Leading: God has not required all people to dispose of their property at the same time; instead, He will teach individuals when and how much to sell as the cause has needExV 45.2.

• Consultation and Prayer: Every plan should be spread before God with fasting and prayer, seeking the wisdom of the infinite Counselor to direct the pathCL 27.4+1.

The Biblical Call to Separate

The Lord continues to call His people to a position of safety and spiritual health as the end of all things draws near.

• "Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope" Zechariah 9:12.

• "Come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" 2 Corinthians 6:17.

• "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10.

• "Seek you out of the book of the LORD, and read" Isaiah 34:16.

• "Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" Revelation 1:3.

Country living is a spiritual and physical necessity for the preservation of health, the protection of the family, and preparation for the final events of earth's history12MR 30.1+1. While the transition must be made with careful, prayerful study rather than rashness, the instruction to leave the cities is a divine command that becomes more urgent as the end approachesLDE 99.3+2.

A Divine Command for Preservation

• Safety from Contamination: The cities are filled with temptation and wickedness, making it a necessity to keep young people away from such contaminationLDE 98.2+1.

• Spiritual and Physical Health: It is not God's purpose for people to be crowded into cities; moving to the country is essential for the recovery and preservation of health12MR 30.1.

• Preparing for the Future: Leaving the cities is a necessity because the future problem of buying and selling will be very seriousLDE 99.3.

• Peril of Remaining: Those who remain in the cities unnecessarily do so at the peril of their soul's salvationLDE 119.1.

The Scriptural Foundation for Separation

• A Call to Separate: The same voice that warned Lot to leave Sodom bids us to "Come out from among them, and be ye separate" 2 Corinthians 6:172SM 354.

• Seeking a Better Home: God's people desire a better, heavenly country, and the atmosphere of that home is best cultivated in rural settings Hebrews 11:16CL 3.1.

• The Original Plan: In the beginning, God placed humanity in a garden, and our favor is increased as we come into harmony with this original plan12MR 30.1.

• A Sign of Sanctification: Keeping the Sabbath is a perpetual covenant and a sign of sanctification, which is more easily honored away from the interference of enemies in crowded cities Exodus 31:12-17LDE 99.3.

The Necessity for Children and Families

• Character Development: In the country, children are brought into direct contact with the works of God in nature, which makes it easier to bring the truth to their heartsLDE 98.2+1.

• Avoiding "Street Education": Moving is necessary to close the door against a flood of temptations and the "street education" that children obtain in the town2MCP 648.4+1.

• Foundation for Education: Parents are called to get out of large cities as fast as possible to establish schools where the Word of God is the foundationCL 12.3.

Balanced Instruction on Moving

• Avoiding Rashness: While the move is a necessity, it must not be done in a rush, in excitement, or in a way that leads to later regretCL 25.2+1.

• Seeking Counsel: Individuals should not make a rush to enter businesses they know nothing about, but should spread every plan before God with fasting and prayerCL 27.4+1.

• Individual Guidance: God will reveal from point to point what to do next for those who study His instruction and ask for His leading2SM 354+1.

• Dependence on God: In the country, separated from the world's corrupting customs, people learn the essential lesson of dependence upon GodCL 19.1.

The Lord's call is clear: "Get out of the cities into rural districts"LDE 99.3. He desires His people to be "prisoners of hope" who turn to His stronghold for strength Zechariah 9:12. By obeying this warning and following the light of the third angel's message, believers will find a refuge and be prepared for the "heavenly country" that God has prepared Hebrews 11:162SM 354+1.

Agriculture and gardening are of the highest value as an educational and spiritual necessity, having been appointed by God as the original occupation for humanity in EdenCG 356.2+3. This line of manual training is considered the "ABC of industrial education" and provides a unique opportunity for both physical development and character building through direct contact with nature and nature’s GodCG 34.2+3.

The Divine Origin and Value of Agriculture

• God’s Original Plan: Tilling the earth was God's plan for man from the beginning, as the first ruler of the world was given a garden to cultivate Genesis 2:15CG 356.2+2.

• A Noble Vocation: Many of the world’s greatest men and real nobility have been tillers of the soil, proving that farming is an elevating and ennobling occupationCG 356.2+2.

• Economic Independence: In an age of business competition and trusts, the agriculturist enjoys a real independence and a certainty of a fair return for their laborEd 219.1.

• Instruction from God: The Bible declares that God Himself instructs the husbandman to discretion and teaches him how to work the soil Isaiah 28:26Ed 219.1+1.

Educational Benefits for Youth

• All-Sided Development: Schools should provide extensive lands for cultivation so that students can divide their time between book knowledge and practical manual labor8MR 152.1+2.

• Character Training: The attention required in pruning, watering, and shielding plants from frost teaches essential lessons in patience, attention to detail, and obedience to lawAH 142.3+2.

• Self-Support: Agricultural training opens resources for self-support, allowing students to earn their way through school and prepare for future missionary workPCO 149.3+3.

• Outlet for Passions: Vigorous physical exercise in the open air provides a healthy outlet for animal passions and helps keep them within proper bounds18LtMs, Ms 40, 1903, par. 35.

Spiritual Lessons from the Soil

• God’s Husbandry: The cultivation of the soil represents the work God performs in the human heart, which is described as "God’s husbandry" 1 Corinthians 3:911MR 186.1+2.

• The Miracle of Life: While man prepares the soil and sows the seed, it is God's miracle-working power that gives life and vitality to the plant Mark 4:2811MR 177.4+1.

• Cooperation with Divinity: Success in the field requires the concurrence of human effort and divine power; if the farmer fails to plow and sow, God does not work a miracle to supply the lack1MR 345.2+2.

• Character as a Harvest: Just as the earth produces its treasures in obedience to natural laws, the hearts of people are to reflect God's character in obedience to His moral lawAH 142.3.

Practical Guidelines for Success

• Intelligent Cultivation: Success in gardening requires a study of the special needs of every variety of plant and compliance with the laws governing themCG 56.1+2.

• Thorough Work: Deep plowing and thorough cultivation are necessary to secure a bountiful harvest, as superficial work brings discouraging results13MR 350.4+2.

• Fresh Produce: Families and institutions should prioritize raising their own fruits and vegetables, as fresh produce from the orchard and garden is of special value for healthCG 356.2+2.

• Restoring the Land: Under God's control and with proper treatment, neglected or unproductive land can be restored to fertility and beautyAH 142.3+2.

The Lord continues to call laborers to this holy work, even as He called Elisha while he was plowing in the field 1 Kings 19:19PK 218.1+1. By treating the earth as God’s treasure house, we manifest a pure, practical religion and prepare for the better, heavenly country Hebrews 11:1610LtMs, Lt 47a, 1895, par. 16+1.

The best diet and lifestyle for health and happiness is a return to the original plan established by the Creator, consisting of a simple, plant-based diet and a life governed by the laws of healthTSDF 125.6+1. Health and happiness are directly dependent upon the healthy condition of the stomach, as a diseased digestive system affects the entire nervous system, the brain, and the mindPH123 42.2.

The Original and Ideal Diet

• God's Appointed Menu: In the beginning, God designed the human race to eat the fruit of the trees, grains, and seedsTSDF 125.6+1. After the fall, "the herb of the field" or various vegetables were also added to man's dietTSDF 125.2+1.

• The Best Materials: A truly healthful diet consists of fruits, grains, nuts, and various roots prepared in a simple and natural stateTSDF 125.6.

• A Non-Flesh Diet: Animal food was not the most healthy article of food for man and was only permitted after the flood due to the destruction of vegetationTSDF 125.6+1. We should learn to do without flesh meats, as they are injurious to physical well-being and can stimulate lower passions at the expense of moral and intellectual facultiesCCh 234.3+2.

• Progressive Reform: The move away from animal products should be progressiveCCh 225.3+1. As disease in animals increases, the use of milk, eggs, and butter will become increasingly unsafe, and we should learn to prepare wholesome, palatable food without themCCh 225.3+1.

The Connection Between Body and Mind

• Mental Clarity: Those who study and write must eat the most healthful food to prevent the mind from becoming dull and prostrated by a diseased stomachPH123 42.2.

• Moral Strength: Proper physical habits elevate the standard of virtue, while the indulgence of perverted appetite strengthens animal propensities and clouds the perception of truthCD 62.4+1.

• The Goal of Eating: We should instruct our children and ourselves that we do not live to eat, but that we eat to live, seeking to nourish the body for the glory of God3SM 290.3+1.

Practical Habits for Daily Living

• Simplicity and Palatability: Food should be prepared with simplicity and nicety to invite the appetite, avoiding grease, spices, rich desserts, and highly seasoned graviesApM 19.1+2.

• Mastication: Dry food that requires thorough mastication is far preferable to soft, "slip-down" foods like porridges and mushes, which can debilitate the digestive organsCD 318.3+1.

• Regularity and Moderation: It is essential to observe regularity in eating and to avoid overeatingCTBH 51.1+1. Even with wholesome food, immoderate eating clogs the living machineCTBH 51.1.

• Natural Remedies: True health is maintained through the use of pure air, cleanliness, a healthful diet, proper periods of labor and repose, and the use of waterCH 247.2+1.

Lifestyle for Longevity and Peace

• Self-Denial and Temperance: The Christian will be temperate in all things—eating, drinking, and dressing—to maintain a condition of mind where the Spirit of God can impress the heartRH August 29, 1907, par. 19.

• Healthful Environment: For those who are brain-weary or nervous, a simple, carefree life in the country, coming in contact with nature, is a powerful agency for recoveryMH 236.1.

• Laboring with God: We are called to be laborers together with God in caring for our physical bodies, which are His property 1 Corinthians 3:93SM 290.3.

• Conversion of Habits: A change in the course of living, eating, and drinking is often necessary to clearly discern sacred and eternal things2T 71.1.

By following these principles, we cooperate with the Great Physician to preserve the vitality of the system and reflect a pure, virtuous characterSA 66.1+1. Health reform is not a matter of a poverty-stricken or "starvation diet," but a path to reaching the highest heights of physical and spiritual knowledgeTSDF 45.5+2.

God's eight natural remedies are the simple, cost-free agencies of nature that restore health without taxing or debilitating the human system2SM 287.3+1. These powerful remedies, which Heaven approves as the only true way of practicing the healing art, include pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness (temperance), rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, and trust in divine powerCG 366.2+1.

The Eight Natural Laws of Health

• Pure Air: Fresh, pure air is a powerful efficiency in healing; we must have a precious knowledge of how to breathe it properly and ensure it circulates in every room of the house2SM 287.3+2.

• Sunlight: Plenty of sunlight should be allowed into every room possible, as there are great advantages to be gained by its intelligent use in restoring the sick2SM 287.3+2.

• Abstemiousness (Temperance): True temperance involves the surrender of all hurtful indulgences—such as tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol—and a sacrifice of unnatural appetites that war against the soulCG 366.2+2.

• Rest: Nature requires a fair chance to put forth her healing resources, which involves avoiding overtaxing the physical and mental powers through excessive workPC 22.1+1.

• Exercise: Regular exercise, especially in the open air, is a natural restorative agency that helps the sick get well and preserves the health of the strong20MR 261.4+2.

• Proper Diet: A healthful diet consists of grains, fruits, seeds, and roots prepared simply and palatably to take the place of flesh meats and rich, unwholesome mixturesPC 22.1+2.

• Water: Pure water is a primary remedy; we must possess an intelligent knowledge of how to apply it externally and internally to assist nature in removing obstructions2SM 287.3+2.

• Trust in Divine Power: A firm trust in God and a clear conscience are essential for health, as the Savior is the never-failing remedy for both the body and the sin-sick soul2SM 281.4+2.

The Superiority of Nature's Methods

While the use of these natural remedies requires an amount of care and effort that many are not willing to give, they are far more effective than drug medicationCG 366.2+1. Drugs are expensive and often paralyze the powers of nature, whereas simple agencies work gradually to rebuild the system2SM 287.3+2. If those who are suffering will perseveringly live out these principles of health reform, nine out of ten will recover from their ailmentsPC 22.1+1.

The Spiritual Connection to Health

Following these laws is not merely a physical matter but a "reasonable service" and a "living sacrifice" to God Romans 12:120MR 3.3. The Lord requires that we present our bodies holy and acceptable to Him, for transgression of the laws of nature is recognized as transgression of the laws of God Romans 12:1POSDAI 22.6+1. By educating the physical life to reach its highest efficiency, the divine nature can be more fully revealed through us to the worldCH 445.1+2.

• "For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh" Proverbs 4:22.

• "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31.

• "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" 3 John 1:2.