Heaven's

True Remedies

by

Vernon Sparks, MD
 Copyright © 2009

Vernon Sparks

Published
by

Digital Inspiration
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Tellico Plains, TN 37385
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 Heaven’s True Remedies
by Vernon Sparks, M.D.

S
OME very important aspects of our Christian experience and
message are summarized in a well-known sentence found in The
Ministry of Healing, 127:
“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the
use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies.”
Most, if not all, Seventh-day Adventists will readily acknowledge
the importance of this list as the “eight natural remedies.” However,
although we frequently refer to this inspired reference, we seldom ex-
plore or realize its full meaning.
The present author has been puzzled for many years over the phrase
“these are the true remedies.” Why are they referred to as “remedies”
and not as principles of healthful living? And does the qualifiying word
“true” mean that all other remedies are false? Let us explore the impli-
cations of these questions and seek to know the fuller meaning of this
passage.
When created, Adam and Eve’s impulses to “breathe,” “eat,” “drink,”
“exercise,” “rest,” and so forth were according to God’s will. These
were not arbitrary “commands” of God merely to test man’s loyalty as
was the command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
These natural laws were actually instructional in how the human body
was designed to operate to its maximum. Disobedience or disregard of
these operational instructions would result in cause and effect malfunc-
tioning of the human body—the Creator’s masterpiece. See Temper-
ance, 142. These eight principles are the laws of God, and we show our
subjection or loyalty to Him by keeping them. We also determine our
degree of temporal health by how carefully we obey them. Adam and
Eve’s disobedience began an epidemic of neglect, and rebellion against
God’s natural and spiritual laws in their descendants. Satan unfortu-
nately succeeded in recruiting Adam and Eve into his attempt to prove
that God’s natural and spiritual laws are unnecessary and not obeyable.
It is only with great difficulty and at great expense that man discov-
ers and acknowledges the relationship between physical health and obe-
dience to these eight laws of health. Evolution teaches that man, in spite
of his great disobedience to these laws of health, is improving his status
in life. However, Inspiration is clear that disobedience to these divine
4 Heaven's True Remedies
laws is actually the primary cause of our many diseases and our greatly
shortened life span. Inspiration assures us, and many have demonstrated,
that faithful adherance to these eight principles of health prevents, to a
great degree, the malfunctioning of the human body. Inspiration also
assures us, and many have demonstrated, that obedience to these laws
of health will restore us to health if we do become ill. Thus, these are not
only principles or laws of health but also remedies or cures for disease.
Because these are laws in our nature, they are referred to as “natural”
laws and “natural” remedies.
In our struggle against physical disease, God has not limited us, how-
ever, to these eight natural remedies. The Lord’s messenger presents a
few other simple remedies such as the use of charcoal, hydrotherapy,
massage, and a number of simple herbs, as being helpful in the treat-
ment of disease. For certain problems she also mentioned the use of
surgery, x-rays, blood transfusions, the rare use of coffee and tea as
medicines, and even quinine “if it will save a life.” See Selected Mes-
sages, book 2, 292–303. It should be noted that the latter therapies,
addressing certain problems, are the exception and not the general rule
in treating diseases. Nevertheless, they should not be excluded alto-
gether. Though she never classed these other treatments with the “true”
remedies, she did not relate to them as “false” remedies that should
never be resorted to. Even though these remedies also work through
natural law, these latter modalities were never placed by the Lord’s
servant on the same level as “the eight natural, true remedies.”
These eight principles of health found in The Ministry of Healing,
127, are the true remedies because they are principles of God’s eternal
government. Not only do they determine the health of man in this present
life but also throughout eternity. Throughout the endless ages, the saints
will be maintained in perfect health through their perfect obedience to
these eight eternal principles of health. In heaven and in the new earth,
we will not need to use the healing properties of charcoal, herbs, or
massage. Certainly we will never again need treatments from x-ray,
strong medications, blood transfusions or surgery.
The eight principles of healthful living are the true remedies be-
cause, being the laws of God, willful disobedience to them is rebellion
against God—which is sin. Thus, obedience or known disobedience of
them can determine our eternal destiny. Whether or not we use char-
coal, simple herbs, surgery, and so forth, may very well affect our present
health and longevity, but not our eternal life. The true remedies affect
not only temporal well-being but eternal life itself. Thus, we can jeopar-
dize our eternal salvation by turning to the simple remedies or to modern
 Heaven's True Remedies 5
technology while continuing to neglect the eight eternal laws of health.
Being salvational, the eight true remedies are an integral part of the
three angels’ messages which are to go to every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people. We can now see how a knowledge and practice of Heaven’s
true remedies—health reform—is of such importance to us individually
and as a people.
“To make plain natural law, and urge the obedience of it, is the work
that accompanies the third angel’s message to prepare a people for the
coming of the Lord.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 161.
“I was again shown that the health reform is one branch of the great
work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely
connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body.”
Ibid.
“One important part of the work of the ministry is to faithfully present
to the people the health reform as it stands connected with the third
angel’s message as part and parcel of the same work. They should not
fail to adopt it themselves, and should urge it upon all who profess to
believe the truth.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 469–470.
Because of the great importance of these true remedies, the Lord
began in 1863 to give light on these subjects through His messenger
Ellen White. See Testimonies, vol.1, 485–495. Over the years, God’s
messenger wrote hundreds of pages on nearly every facet of healthful
living. Because of its great importance, God has sent us some strong
words against those who fail to abide by the eternal principles of health.
“To have the physicians of our institutions educating by precept and
example, those under their care to use a meat diet, after years of in-
struction from the Lord, disqualifies them to be superintendents of our
health institutes. The Lord does not give light on health reform that it
may be disregarded by those who are in positions of influence and au-
thority. The Lord means just what He says, and He is to be honored in
what He says. Light is to be given upon these subjects. It is the diet
question that needs close investigation, and prescriptions should be made
in accordance with health principles.” Counsels on Diet and Foods,
294.
“Why do some of our ministering brethren manifest so little interest
in health reform? It is because instruction on temperance in all things is
opposed to their practice of self-indulgence. In some places this has
been the great stumbling block in the way of our bringing the people to
investigate and practice and teach health reform. No man should be set
apart as a teacher of the people while his own teaching or example
contradicts the testimony God has given His servants to bear in regard
6 Heaven's True Remedies
to diet, for this will bring confusion. His disregard of health reform unfits
him to stand as the Lord’s messenger.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 378.
“The Lord has given His people a message in regard to health re-
form. This light has been shining upon their pathway for thirty years, and
the Lord cannot sustain His servants in a course which will counteract
it. He is displeased when His servants act in opposition to the message
upon this point, which He has given them to give to others. Can He be
pleased when half the workers laboring in a place teach that the prin-
ciples of health reform are as closely allied with the third angel’s mes-
sage as the arm is to the body, while their co-workers, by their practice,
teach principles that are entirely opposite? This is regarded as a sin in
the sight of God.” Counsels on Health, 561–562.
We can now understand why God has not worked fully with us to
bring many into the church:
“The subject of health reform has been presented in the churches;
but the light has not been heartily received. The selfish, health-destroy-
ing indulgences of men and women have counteracted the influence of
the message that is to prepare a people for the great day of God. If the
churches expect strength, they must live the truth which God has given
them. If the members of our churches disregard the light on this subject,
they will reap the sure result in both spiritual and physical degeneracy.
And the influence of these older church members will leaven those newly
come to the faith. The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into
the truth, because of the church members who have never been con-
verted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden.
What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new con-
verts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which
His people are to bear?” Testimonies, vol. 6, 370–371.
The context of our beginning reference presents the true remedies
not only as eternal principles of healthful living but also as modalities for
treating the sick that every person is to know how to use:
“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the
use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies. Every
person should have a knowledge of nature’s remedial agencies and how
to apply them. It is essential both to understand the principles involved in
the treatment of the sick and to have a practical training that will enable
one rightly to use this knowledge.” The Ministry of Healing, 127.
The great controversy between good and evil has placed the char-
acter of God, and thus His laws and government, on trial before the
universe. Satan is out to prove that God’s natural as well as His spiritual
laws are unnecessary and/or are not obeyable by created beings. By
 Heaven's True Remedies 7
keeping fallen man from the knowledge of and obedience to heaven’s
natural and spiritual principles of health, Satan is endeavoring to descredit
God’s character and government.
For God to be able to bring the great controversy to an end, He
needs a generation of Christ’s followers who have the knowledge of,
and by His enabling grace, the obedience to the eternal principles of His
government. We are assured that the far-reaching principles of God’s
law will be demonstrated in humanity.
“The fact that the law is holy, just, and good is to be testified before
all nations, tongues, and peoples, to worlds unfallen, to angels, seraphim,
and cherubim. The principles of the law of God were wrought out in the
character of Jesus Christ, and he who cooperates with Christ, becoming
a partaker of the divine nature, will develop the divine character, and
become an illustration of the divine law. Christ in the heart will bring the
whole man, soul, body, and spirit into captivity to the obedience of righ-
teousness. Christ’s true followers will be in conformity to the mind and
will and character of God, and the far-reaching principles of the law will
be demonstrated in humanity.” Review and Herald, March 9, 1897.
It means much to us as well as to God and the whole universe for us
to stand by heaven’s true remedies as well as to His spiritual laws.
“God has given man immortal principles, to which every human power
must one day bow. He has given us truth in trust. The precious beams of
this light are not to be hidden under a bushel, but are to give light to all
that are in the house. Truth, imperishable truth, is to be made prominent.
Show those with whom you come in contact that the truth is of conse-
quence to you. It means much to you to stand by the principles that will
live through the eternal ages.” Lift Him Up, 366.
When through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit we live in obe-
dience to these eight principles of healthful living we are helping to vin-
dicate God, His character. His laws and His government. When in the
care of the sick we utilize the simple true remedies based on treatments
such as hydrotherapy, fasting, deep breathing, sun- baths, exercise, proper
rest, and so forth, the beneficial results help to vindicate God’s laws and
government in a special way that the sometimes necessary, but noneternal
treatment modalities cannot do. Orientation to the eternal principles of
healthful living—“go and sin no more”—is to be a part at some point in
time of every treatment program. When the sick experience the super-
natural results (see Selected Messages, book 2, 346) of the treatments
based on the eternal true remedies, they then have confirmed in their
minds the importance for them also to stand by God’s eternal principles
of health.
8 Heaven's True Remedies
There are many ways of treating the sick, but Heaven only ap-
proves of the method that makes the true remedies the backbone of its
program:
“There are many ways of practicing the healing art, but there is only
one way that Heaven approves. God’s remedies are the simple agen-
cies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system through their
powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a proper diet, purity
of life, and a firm trust in God are remedies for the want of which thou-
sands are dying; yet these remedies are going out of date because their
skillful use requires work that the people do not appreciate. Fresh air,
exercise, pure water, and clean, sweet premises are within the reach of
all with but little expense.” Testimonies , vol. 5, 443.
Let us purpose with God’s help to make Heaven’s true remedies the
backbone of our personal life and also of our ministry to the sick, in
order that we and they might be part of that final demonstration to the
universe of the far-reaching principles of God’s law.