At a Time Like This

2022 Black History Month Theme: Black Health and Wellness

Article: At a Time Like This

By: Emmanuel Phillips

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­One of the “penalties” of living in this time and season, the so-called ‘IT (Information Technology) or Innovation Age’, that is changing faster and faster, is the average person’s inability to handle all of the change. Today, relationships are changing, the business world is getting more complex, and to compound it all, societal values are degenerating as never before. The family system, which is the main crux or basis of any society, is breaking down in every nation of the world (the United States inclusive). In addition, high unemployment and job length are shortening, while debt is increasing.

 Worse still, there is an unprecedented global climatic change, accompanied by untold mishaps, hardships, and global pandemic – Covid-19. What shall we say about the present economic crisis that defiles all known economic remedies both in the developed and developing nations? In times like this, economic theories and policies are no more predictable and effective, and the existing economic institutions are almost in shambles.

What about the upsurge in violence and crimes – insecurity everywhere? Today, the alarming rate of crime among youths has become worrisome in the United States of America. At a time when African Americans are continually facing untold discrimination, racism, oppression, and incessant killings, the situation indeed calls for a sober reflection. 

Day-by-day, innocent souls are going to the land beyond, as a result of all these dastardly acts and health hazards like Covid-19. Above all, this present situation seems unending and beyond human reasoning, comprehension, wisdom, and defiled all known human solutions. Every human effort directed towards alleviating and containing this global social epidemic by the government and international organizations (United Nations and others) has been short-lived. The wisdom of man and that of the princes of this world with regard to the present global situation has come to naught.

Unfortunately, all these sullen happenings and acts culminate in people living in fear and despondency, thereby leading to poor health and high incidence of STRESS, TERMINAL SICKNESSES, and ultimately, premature DEATH. Therefore, it is now becoming crystal clear and very imminent for man to look up day-by-day to his Source of life for sustenance and a long and enduring solution to the present peculiar and endless problems. This is because God is the only true Source of man’s Health and Fitness – the FOUNTAIN OF HOPE.

Health & Fitness

God’s will is that man’s prosperity should be whole – spirit, soul, and body (1Tess.5:23, 3John2). However, when the spirit of a man is out of harmony with God or out of harmony with people, it affects the body. Therefore, when people are in disharmony with God, themselves, and their society, they need divine ministration.

MEDICAL STATISTICAL EVIDENCE

1. In his findings, Dr. Franklin Ebaugh of the University of Colorado Medical School, had confirmed that “One-third of all cases of illness in general hospitals are organic in nature and onset, one third is a combination of emotional and organic, and one third are emotional.”

2. Doctors have confirmed that resentment, hatred, grudge, ill-will, jealousy, vindictiveness, are attributes that produce ill-health.

3. It has been variously computed that 50 to 70 percent of present-day people are ill because of the influence of improper mental states on their emotional and physical make-up.

The medical world can give relief in disorders like high blood pressure, diabetes and others. They can give something that can lower the blood pressure when it is high, or raise it when it is low, but not permanently. They can give insulin, which will burn up more sugar into energy and give diabetic relief. These are definite aids, but they do not offer a complete cure. No drug or vaccine has been discovered to protect us from our emotional conflicts or relationships. Therefore, there is a healthy formula which in addition to the services of the physicians, can be of great value for Black Health and Wellness. Spiritual and emotional treatment can restore vitality (ability and energy).

Today, many African Americans do not know what rest is. “But why this assertion?” you may ask. This is simply because this is the ‘pill age’. People must have a pill to go to sleep. Then they have a pill to wake up. Nervous frustrations, fears, and doubts come even into the hearts of black folks. People use a large chunk or greater percentage of their hard-earned income on Health and Fitness drugs and centers. Still, they do not know what rest is, because they have not known God as the true Source of their Health and Fitness.

Listen to the words of the Source of Health and Fitness:

 “GRACE and PEACE be multiplied unto you through the KNOWLEDGE of God, and for Jesus our Lord. According as His divine power has given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain to LIFE (Health and Fitness) and godliness, through the knowledge of Him (Christ) that hath called us to glory and virtue.” 2Pet.1:2-3

Surely, events taking place in this season of God’s timetable will separate the ‘boys’ from the ‘men’ in the world. According to the scripture, “The people that do know their God shall be strong (healthy and fit), and do exploits.” Dan.11:32. A better understanding of God’s word, our emotional selves, and a return to the faith of our fathers of old seems to form the combination that holds the greatest promise of permanent and sustainable Health and Fitness. The answer to the cases of illness today, Dr. Beard concludes, “It is in the healing teachings of Jesus.”            

More importantly, we need to accept the fact that, “Apart from having Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we must live right, and always do the right thing at the right time.” You have no doubt heard the expression, “If you keep doing what you have always done, you will be getting what you have always got.”

It is not accidental that you are having this valuable write-up in The Black Jewels Network. For the Word of God says:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestinates, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”