QUESTION:
Could food really keep you from being spiritually prepared for the final crisis?
Let’s pray, “Dear Heavenly Father, we really do want to be ready for the closing events of this earth’s history, and your soon return. Please help us to have sharp clear minds to understand your will for us in this very important aspect of preparedness. In Jesus name, Amen.”
In Genesis 3:1 it says: “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
Isn’t it interesting that Satan’s first temptation involved food? There were any number of approaches he could have taken – why food? Was it just a coincidence? Consider this:
“Through temptations addressed to the appetite he has, to a large extent, led men into sin from the time when he induced Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. It was by this same means that he led Israel to murmur against God. Intemperance in eating and drinking, leading as it does to the indulgence of the lower passions, prepares the way for men to disregard all moral obligations. When assailed by temptation, they have little power of resistance.” Conflict and Courage, 103
Now, this is especially related to our discussion of spiritual preparation for the coming crisis. Notice this:
“The CONTROLLING POWER OF APPETITE will prove the RUIN OF THOUSANDS, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. BUT THOSE WHO ARE SLAVES TO APPETITE WILL FAIL IN PERFECTING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.” (3T 491-492)
DO YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER APPETITE, OR DOES IT CONTROL YOU?
HERE ARE SIX WAYS FOOD CAN KEEP YOU SPIRITUALLY UNPREPARED FOR WHAT IS COMING:
1. Eating Too Frequently:
“There should be no eating between meals, and at least five hours should be allowed to elapse between the meals. … The dullness from which people suffer is often caused by overeating, and by eating at irregular periods. Dyspepsia brings despondency, and one suffering from this disease, though he may profess to be a Christian, acts in an un-Christ like manner.” This Day With God, 210
You’ll notice in this quote that not just eating too frequently, but also...
2. Eating Too Much:
This is another one of the ways that food can keep you spiritually unprepared.
In the book Counsels on Diet and Foods, we read this on page 63:
“Oh, how many are low in the scale of spirituality, because they will not deny their appetite! The brain nerve energy is benumbed and almost paralyzed by overeating.”
On page 532 of the book Child Guidance, we find some interesting advice which relates this issue to Sabbath keeping:
“We should not provide for the Sabbath a more liberal supply or a greater variety of food than for other days. Instead of this the food should be more simple, and less should be eaten, in order that the mind may be clear and vigorous to comprehend spiritual things. Overeating befogs the brain. The most precious words may be heard and not appreciated, because the mind is confused by an improper diet. By overeating on the Sabbath, many have done more than they think to dishonor God.”
Another way that food can keep us unprepared for what’s coming is by…
3. Eating Rich Unwholesome Food:
So what is “rich, unwholesome food”? Typically we think of food that has a lot of sugar and maybe fat as well. Here’s a description that helps us understand what Mrs. White had in mind when she used the words “rich, unwholesome food”:
“Especially at parties of pleasure is the appetite indulged with but little restraint. Rich dinners and late suppers are served, consisting of highly seasoned meats, with rich sauces, cakes, pies, ices, tea, coffee, etc. No wonder that with such a diet people have sallow complexions and suffer untold agonies from dyspepsia.” Counsels on Health, 111-112
At the beginning of the paragraph where this statement is found, we find these remarks regarding the effects of this sort of a diet:
“Intemperance in eating and drinking, and the indulgence of the baser passions, have benumbed the nobler faculties of man.” Ibid, 111
By the way, on that list of unwholesome foods, we should include dairy products. There was a time when they were safe, but scientific evidence is sufficient now to tell us that time is past. If you’re interested, here’s a great book on the subject: “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell.
Fourth on our list of ways that food can keep us spiritually unprepared is...
4. Eating Meat:
Some quickly point out that the Bible permits meat as a part of our diet. However, that is only partly true. The Bible gives strict rules to determine whether or not meat is safe to eat. Those rules are found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. In these chapters the Bible makes a distinction between clean and unclean animals. The unclean are never to be eaten. But what many people do not know, is that these same chapters of the Bible teach us that even of the clean animals, meat is only to be eaten if it fits this criteria:
A. No blood
B. No fat
C. Not from weak or diseased animals
Applying these principles today basically RULES OUT MEAT EATING ENTIRELY, particularly that last one on the list – no meat from weak or diseased animals. It comes as a shock to many people to find out just how diseased the meat is that passes on to the American dinner table.
To hear a complete study on this subject entitled “A Biblical Basis for Vegetarianism”, go to this link:
For now, notice some of the things Mrs. White had to say about meat eating:
“…The use of the flesh of animals tends to cause a grossness of body and to benumb the finer sensibilities of the mind.” Counsels on Health, 115
“Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet.” Counsel on Diet and Foods, 380-381
By the way, there are two interesting Old Testament stories that serve as a parallel to God’s people in the last days. The first is about Israel, who before entering the Promised Land experienced a change in their diet to manna – clearly a vegan vegetarian menu. The second is Daniel, who survived the fall of Babylon (notice the parallel to God’s people at the end) and once again we see a vegan vegetarian diet – “pulse and water”.
Here’s another way food can interfere with our spiritual preparedness…
5. Drinking Caffeine:
In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul wrote, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Is it glorifying God to knowingly drink poison?” Yet that’s exactly what people are doing every time they take a sip of coffee. That’s right, coffee, is a poison. So it shouldn’t surprise us when we read things like this:
“Tea has an influence to excite the nerves, and coffee benumbs the brain; both are highly injurious.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 423
In another place, Mrs. White warned of even more serious effects of drinking coffee:
“The mind becomes enervated, and unless through determined effort the habit is overcome, the activity of the brain is permanently lessened.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 34
Have you ever heard people refer to someone they know who lived well into their nineties or beyond, yet practiced bad health habits like smoking and drinking. But consider this…
“Those who use tea, coffee, opium, and alcohol, may sometimes live to an old age, but this fact is no argument in favor of the use of these stimulants. What these persons might have accomplished, but failed to do because of their intemperate habits, the great day of God alone will reveal.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 421
Note: Regarding the Bible’s teaching against the use of alcohol, see Proverbs 20:1, 23:31-35; Isaiah 65:8; 1 Corinthians 6:10
Well, here’s number six. It’s the...
6. Problem of Too Much Sugar:
We’re talking particularly about refined sugar. Notice the counsel we’ve been given about this:
“From the light given me, sugar, when largely used, is more injurious than meat.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 328
Notice here the issue has to do with using too much sugar. If you’re like me, you enjoy having something sweet every once in awhile. The good news is that you can still do that and at the same time cut back on your use of refined sugar since there are other ways to sweeten things, without it that taste really great. For example, honey and dates, are both healthy substitutes for refined sugar.
Let’s pray, “Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you’d please help us so that we’ll not become victims of appetite. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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