Times Of Swaziland: BLOOD, TISSUES FED BY FOOD WE EAT

BLOOD, TISSUES FED BY FOOD WE EAT
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The Editor on 14/08/2020 02:06:00


Sir,
What we eat helps make us what we are. Our blood, bones, fat and tissues are all
fed by the food we eat. Our food impacts our physical being in many ways. If we
stop eating we die, if we eat too much, or eat the wrong things we become sick.
Indeed, a good diet is a very important factor in living a healthy lifestyle.
Over the years, those following this biblical eating plan experienced apparent
health benefits. A good example is Prophet Daniel. At a time when Daniel and his
three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, first became Babylonian slaves,
they all rejected the king’s delicacies and wine, choosing to subsist on a
diet of vegetables and water instead.
Healthier
At the end of 10 days, all four youths were found to be healthier than those who
had eaten the king’s food. Scientific research has shown that this Eden diet
is the best diet one can use. It is healthier than a diet high in flesh.
After the flood, the Bible tells us that God introduced meat into the diet. Only
after much vegetation had been destroyed, did God give humans permission to eat
animals. However, not all the animals are fit for consumption. Leviticus 21 and
Deuteronomy 14 roll out a list of ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ foods to help
us. The Lord has given us a detailed revelation of the distinction regarding
clean and unclean meat. God wants us to take care of our bodies, that’s why He
showed us what things are not good for us to eat.
Distinction
Many people today assert that in the New Testament times, the Bible obliterated
the distinction between clean and unclean animals, and it does not matter now
what people eat. Yet, that really does not make a whole lot of sense, if you
think about it. It is very hard to imagine why the New Testament would show no
concern about our health. It gives us a picture of a God who was only concerned
with the health of the Old Testament.
One text that is often used to support this view is 1 Tim 4:3. In this
particular case, Paul was dealing with heresies that would forbid believers to
partake in two things that God gave humanity at creation, food and marriage. The
foods involved are all foods that God had created for human consumption.
Paul’s words here should not be taken to mean that unclean foods were
‘created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know
the truth’ (1 Tim. 4:3, NIV).
Gift
It is also noteworthy that in diet, temperance is key. Too much of even good
food can be detrimental to your health. In general, the idea is to eat a wide
variety of healthy food, certainly enough to meet all our nutritional needs,
while at the same time not overeating and taxing the system. Our health is a
precious gift, and diet plays an important role.
It is therefore paramount that we exercise self-discipline and self-control when
tempted to overeat or to eat what we know is not good for our health. The truth
of the matter is, we can get away with eating certain unhealthy foods today but
health problems will catch up with us as we grow older.
Bopoto Gwinyai