1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Recently, a dear friend of mine went through a horrible health crisis. He had been suffering from what we thought were flu-like symptoms: nausea, decreased appetite, coughing, and wheezing. A trip to the emergency room revealed that it was not as simple as we thought; it turned out that his kidneys and his heart were failing, and had we waited another day his life as he knew it would have been over.
The doctors worked hard to understand what could have brought a man who had not spent one day of his life in the hospital to such a state. A little research into his past showed that 20 years prior, when he was in his 30s, he had been diagnosed with high blood pressure. However, in his youthfulness and vanity he did not take it seriously. He did not like how the medications made him feel, nor did he like the side effects. Instead of talking to his doctor and finding the right medication, or even considering a change in lifestyle, he rolled the dice with a silent killer and later almost lost his life.
Have you ever ignored something you thought was not important, only to find out that what was once a small thing has morphed into a dangerous beast that comes to threaten your very existence? Your health and your life are all you have, why not take them seriously and manage the things that may in the future render you harm?
High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and digestive issues don’t sound as intimidating as a heart attack, a stroke, or cancer, but if you don’t address what you falsely believe are harmless issues, years later you may end up in the ER, wishing you could have those years back to make better decisions. Instead, you have now fallen into the hands of a physician, and you realize the time you could have used to take care of yourself will now be spent trying to preserve what life you have left.
May you have the courage to remain alert and engaged when it comes to your life and choose those things that are best for not just today, but your tomorrow as well.
