Good Health

I come from a culture that values health almost above all other things. It's very subtle -- no one would probably say that it is the case. But our speech betrays us... When people greet each other, they say "zdravstvuyte" (literally, "be healthy"); when someone sneezes, others quickly affirm, "budte zdorovi" (again, "be healthy"). Even birthday wishes almost always have health as one of the items wished for. In fact, sometimes, people wish good health above all things. Everything else is secondary, they say.

Is it wrong to wish good health? Of course not! But to wish good health as the ultimate end of all pursuits of man is meaningless! Why? Because health is a means to something. Saying that good health (as a means to immortality) is the goal of every man begs the "why" question. Why live long? What's the purpose of living a long healthy life? Everyone agrees that it is a good thing but no one seems to be able to answer this question apart from the Christian worldview.

The Christian worldview states that God created man for Himself and man's ultimate goal is to be happy in God! If good health is a means to be exceedingly happy in God, then by all means pursue good health. Unfortunately, in the Ukrainian and other cultures, pursuit of good health is a way to delay death and the judgement that comes thereafter. Of course, for Christians, death has no power because Christ swallowed up death in victory -- since death could not contain Life. He swallowed it up! We think of death destroying life but the possibility of life destroying death seems like a paradox to us! "O death where is your victory, o death where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

So what's the conclusion then? Pursue God and all His pleasures. All other things will be added to you, including health. Remember that the things He gives are only a means to Him. Don't use them as a means to run away from God. Pursue maximum pleasure -- don't settle for things that mimick it.