By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. – 2 Peter 1:4, Amplified Bible (AMP)

When we Christians say the word “salvation,” we normally think in terms of the eternal. In other words, when someone gets “saved,” we say that he or she is saved from having to live in Hell forever after death. While this is most definitely true, we often overlook the fact that, when people get saved, they also can be rescued – if they obey God’s commands – from the rottenness and corruption that infects the bodies and souls of people who are slaves to sin.

According to Proverbs Chapter 5, sin has the capacity to strip us of our honor, our wealth, and our health. Although Proverbs 5 focuses specifically on sexual sins (like adultery) stripping us of such things, the same horrible effects of sin can result when a person gives himself or herself to any kind of lust. The person who grabs hold of the promises of God, however, can escape these horrible effects of sin by giving themselves to the uplifting pursuit of righteousness rather than the destructive pursuit of sin. The more we cling to God’s promises, the more we trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more we think and act like Him. The more we think and act like Him, the more sound of body, soul, and spirit we become.

Of course, the most righteous person can suffer trouble as a result of this sin-cursed world. For example, we all suffer disease and death because of the Curse, no matter how close to God we are. And, from time to time, Satan may unload disease and distress on the most righteous among us – just as he unloaded on righteous Job – to tempt us to curse God. But, generally speaking, those who cling to God’s promises and truths pertaining to worship, trusting God, loving others, diet, exercise, financial management, etc., tend to live healthier and happier lives than those who live in tune with their lust and greed.

No one is perfect, so we all have some level of sin in our lives that tears away at our physical, spiritual, and mental health. But, the more we cling to God, the better off we are in all of these areas, or as Proverbs 3:7-10 (KJV) puts it:

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

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