DOG DAYS AND GLORY TO GOD
By Steve Bietz
Burke County
Yes, we are in the middle of the “Dog Days” of Summer. I was looking at a news article online that claimed that from mid-July till mid-August we Americans consume more liquids than any other time of the year. Makes sense to me, after all those are the “Dog Days” of Summer. During the summer, our bodies try and cool down through the natural process of sweating, hence the body asks and at times even begs for more fluids. The news article also mentioned that even sitting in an air-conditioned house or an office has a very drying effect on our bodies so that we still need extra hydration even as we stay cool.
Did you know that our brains and hearts are composed of 73% water? So no doubt about it, we must keep our bodies hydrated during these “Dog Days.” No one would argue this point, but what liquids should we consume to keep our hearts and our brains and the rest of our bodies hydrated? After all, Paul tells us that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Do you think God is concerned about what we drink? Well, I think God is very concerned about our health.
Public health researchers at Harvard University reported that people who drink two or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day–drinks such as soda, sports drinks, and sugar-sweetened fruit drinks, have a far greater chance of dying early than people who drink one or less a month. I wonder if it brings God glory when what we drink causes us to die younger than He planned for us?
Now we might suggest that now that we have this information, it will be the death of soda! How likely do you think that is? I do not doubt the findings of Harvard concerning the early health problems that come from drinking sodas. But even though we know the truth, it does not seem to stop us from doing bad things to ourselves. It was stated a few years back that processed meats cause cancer. Sales of processed meat were not affected at all.
The Bible says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We’re told drinking sugary drinks shortens our lives. There are about ten tablespoons of sugar in a bottle of most sodas. God did not design our bodies to take that much sugar in one hit. God can enable us to drink to His glory during these “Dog Days” of summer. Thankfully, God has the power we need to bring about wonderful changes in our lives.
So indeed, stay hydrated during August’s Dog Days. But drink to the glory of God and grab a bottle of water instead of a bottle of soda. Your body will thank you for it.
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Steve Bietz is the pastor at Morganton Seventh Day Adventist Church. You can read more good Christian news from Pastor Steve Bietz HERE.
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Blue Ridge Christian News covers Burke County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Yancey County, Madison County, in North Carolina, and Christian news from around the country.
