“For the new study, which was published [in late July] in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and other institutions turned to an impressively large and long-term database of information about Swedish men” (“Being Unfit May Be Almost as Bad for You as Smoking,” The New York Times, July 27, 2016).

The results confirmed what many studies before had concluded: “Not surprisingly, smoking had the greatest impact on lifespan. It substantially shortened lives. But low aerobic capacity wasn’t far behind.”

What’s interesting in this new study and data analysis is that doing nothing for your health is just as bad as making poor health choices such as smoking. “Poor fitness turned out to be unhealthier even than high blood pressure or poor cholesterol profiles, the researchers found” (ibid.).

God’s design of our bodies is beautiful and harmonious. Paul mentions that taking care of our bodies does profit us, but our greater focus must be on exercising spiritually: “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

Considering this on a spiritual level we may also be reminded that it’s not enough to just do nothing in avoiding evil, but we must be active in practicing righteousness—doing what is good: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Avoiding smoking is good for our health, but we should add to that by staying fit. Just so, we must avoid sinful lifestyles as well as strive to do good. Show love and let that love be authentic. We should keep ourselves fit—physically and spiritually. (Source: The New York Times.)