Would you believe the answer is, “attend church?!” I know what you are saying: “Preachers will do anything to get people to come to church.” Right? Wrong! This information came from the International Journal of Cardiology. The headlines read: “Religious faith wards off heart attacks. Recent discovery: Non-religious people have a heart attack risk two and a half times higher than that of religious people—regardless of serum cholesterol or blood pressure levels.” How could that be? I am not a doctor, but I have a few ideas.
- Christians do not have to live with guilt. As a child of God, I can know that the blood of Jesus continues to keep me pure every day (1 John 1:7). Even though I foul up, I can repent and live with the confidence of knowing I am safe in the arms of my Lord. I am free to enjoy forgiveness.
- Christians are part of a loving family, the church. In a day when many families are shattered by divorce, alcoholism, and many other problems, as a Christian, I have something that remains the same. My spiritual family, the church, is there to help me make it through the worst of times. Like a grove of Redwood trees that interlocks roots to survive the storms, the church is there to help through mutual support, shared love, and patient understanding.
- Christians do not have to fear death. That fear kept mankind in bondage until Jesus came (Heb. 2:14, 15). We know that we will be resurrected, or our bodies changed from physical to spiritual, and that we will live forever with God. David said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).
Want to avoid a heart attack? See you in church on Sunday.
