It is always our desire that the Lord will not only bless us spiritually, but also physically. This is evident in the prayers that we offer to God, when we ask him to bless us with good health and strength. Prayers for healing also dominate intercessory prayer meetings. This is not only true today, but even in the days of the apostle John. In his letter to Gaius, John said, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2). Keeping ourselves healthy should be given as much importance as keeping ourselves spiritually strong. It is more glorifying to the Lord when we can serve him with a healthy and strong body. We need to live a balanced life so that our physical health will keep in step with our spiritual growth.
Our physical health is closely link with our spiritual wellbeing. In his proverbs, King Solomon said, “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body” (Prov. 4:20-22). We live in a society that has an unprecedented craving for food. Some no longer eat to live, but they live to eat. This can be seen in restaurants serving buffets. Besides, food is no longer valued based on its nutrients, but on how tasty and well-presented the food is. And as we are accustomed to the buffet style of eating, we eventually reap the consequence—sickness.
Many who get sick come back either blaming God or questioning his love and care. However, no one should ever blame God, because as the apostle Paul said, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). Our health is determined by the food that we eat. If we eat healthy food, we become healthy, yet if we choose to stuff ourselves with junk food, sickness is an inevitable consequence. Notwithstanding all the warnings given, many still prefer to eat foods that are pleasing to the eyes and with flavours that cater to their taste buds. This is no longer a case of “lack of knowledge”, but of stubbornness—the hardening of the heart. When the heart is hardened, there is no hope left but the fearful expectation of judgment that comes in the form of sickness.
When God created man, he provided him with the proper foods to eat. He said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Gen 1:29). With this diet, God intended that man will enjoy long life and it was so. Adam lived for more than 900 years, and so with many of his descendants. The oldest among Adam’s descendants was Methuselah, who lived 969 years. But because of men’s wickedness, the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years” (Gen. 6:3). To accomplish this, God said, “Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything” (Gen 9:3). With meat products becoming part of man’s diet, life expectancy was drastically reduced from an average of several hundred years to a hundred and twenty. Because we consume more meat products today that before, our average age of a hundred and twenty has further deteriorated and reduced to about seventy years.
When we prosper spiritually, it should naturally follow that we prosper physically. It is for the glory of God that we become strong and useful in his kingdom. This is fully demonstrated by Daniel and his three friends. When they were given the privilege of partaking of the king’s table, they chose not to defile themselves of the royal food and wine. Daniel said to the king’s official, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see” (Daniel 1:12-13). Indeed Daniel and his friends turned out to be healthier and smarter than those who partook of the king’s table. Friends, let us heed the command to eat fruits and vegetables and enjoy good health. These are not as tasty as meat products, but these are what our body needs to stay strong. Let us resolve not to defile ourselves with food that does not provide the proper nutrients to our body. In fact, meat products are loaded with all kinds of chemicals that are harmful to our body. Like Daniel and his friends, let us eat to live. Hallelujah!
