“My son, My daughter . . . . attend to My Words, yea, incline thine ear to My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart . . . For they are Life unto those that find them (John 6:63), and health to all their flesh !”
– Proverbs 4:20-22
“The Saviour in His miracles revealed the power that is continually at work in man’s behalf, to sustain and to heal him . . . Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; but God is (our) the Restorer . . . !
The Words spoken to Israel are true today of those who recover health of body or health of soul. “I Am the LORD (Jehovah, Yehuwah) that healeth thee !” Exodus 15:26.
The desire of God for every human being is expressed in the Words, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2. He it is Who “forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies !” Psalm 103:3-4
When Christ healed disease, He warned many of the afflicted ones, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14. Thus He taught that they had brought disease upon themselves by transgressing the laws of God (Theos – Deity, divinity), and that health could be preserved only by obedience.
The physician should teach his patients that they are to cooperate with God in the work of restoration. The physician has a continually increasing realization of the fact that disease is the result of sin. He knows that the laws of nature, as truly as the precepts of the Decalogue, are divine, and that only in obedience to them can health be recovered or preserved. He sees many suffering as the result of hurtful practices who might be restored to health if they would do what they might for their own restoration. They need to be taught that every practice which destroys the physical, mental, or spiritual energies is sin, and that health is to be secured through obedience to the laws 
that God has established for the good of all mankind.
When a physician sees a patient suffering from disease caused by improper eating and drinking or other wrong habits, yet neglects to tell him of this, he is doing his fellow being an injury. Drunkards, maniacs, those who are given over to licentiousness* (immoral thoughts and practices), all appeal to the physician to declare clearly and distinctly that suffering results from sin. Those who understand the principles of life should be in earnest in striving to counteract the causes of disease. Seeing the continual conflict with pain, laboring constantly to alleviate suffering, how can the physician hold his peace? Is he benevolent and merciful if he does not teach strict temperance as a remedy for disease?
Let it be made plain that the way (path) of God’s commandments is the Way of Life. God has established the laws of nature, but His laws are not arbitrary exactions. Every “Thou shalt not,” whether in physical or in moral law, implies a promise. If we obey it, blessing will attend our steps. God never forces us to do right, but He seeks to save us from the evil and lead us to the good.
Let attention be called to the laws that were taught to Israel. God gave them definite instruction in regard to their habits of life. He made known to them the laws relating to both physical and spiritual well-being; and on condition of obedience He assured them . . .
“The LORD will take away from thee all sickness.” Deuteronomy 7:15. “Set your hearts unto all the Words which I testify among you this day.” “For they are Life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” Deuteronomy 32:46; Proverbs 4:22.
God desires us to reach the standard of perfection made possible for us by the gift of Christ. He calls upon us to make our choice on the right side, to connect with heavenly agencies, to adopt principles that will restore in us the divine image. In His written Word and in the great book of nature He has revealed the principles of Life. It is our work to obtain a knowledge of these principles, and by obedience to co-operate with Him in restoring health to the body as well as to the soul.
note:
“The physical life is to be carefully educated, cultivated, and developed, that through men and women the divine nature may be revealed in its fullness. Both the physical and the mental powers, with the affections, are to be so trained that they can reach the highest efficiency.
That perfection* of character which the Lord requires is the fitting up of the whole being as a temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God will accept of nothing less than the service of the entire human organism.
It is not enough to bring into action certain parts of the living machinery. All parts must work in perfect harmony, or the service will be deficient. It is thus that man is qualified to co-operate with God in representing Christ to the world. Thus God desires to prepare a people to stand before Him pure and holy, that He may introduce them into the society of heavenly angels.
Perfection of character cannot be attained when the laws of nature are disregarded; for this is transgression of the law of God (Theos – deity, divinity). His law is written by His own finger upon every nerve, every muscle, every fiber of our being, upon every faculty which has been intrusted to man. These gifts are bestowed, not to be abused and corrupted, but to be used to His honor and glory in the uplifting of humanity. { Review & Herald, November 12, 1901}
Men need to learn that the blessings of obedience, in their fullness, can be theirs only as they receive the grace* (G5485 = Divine Influence) of Christ. It is His grace that gives man power to obey the laws of God. It is this that enables him to break the bondage of evil habit. This is the only power that can make him and keep him steadfast in the right path . . . !”
– Ministry of Healing, p.113-115