God's
"We are the
temple of the living God! For as God himself has said, 'I will make my home
with my people and live among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my
people." Galatians
6:16, GNB
In John 2:13-16,
we read about how Jesus came and cleansed the
Christ's cleansing
of the temple was a dramatic illustration of the work He came to do in the
human soul. God's original idea was that man should be a living temple for his
indwelling, but sin defiled the body-temple and marred God's plan. Jesus came
to drive out the demons of selfishness and lust that had made their home in
man, and to restore him as a clean temple for God's possession.
Many people think
that Christ's cleansing work affects only our hearts and minds, but he is
indifferent to how we treat our bodies. It therefore comes as a complete
surprise to many to learn that God views our whole personality- body and spirit—as
his temple, and that he is as keenly interested in the
health and welfare of our bodies as he is in the health of our souls!
How does God want
us to care for his living temple? Let us
open the Bible and see!
GOD'S CLAIM TO THE
1. What relationship does our body have to God?
I Corinthians 6:19, 20
Psalm 100:3
Romans 14:8
Note: God is not only our Maker, but He is also our Redeemer. He paid a
heavy price to save us. He preserves us daily, giving us life with each breath.
We should always remember, "I belong to God! My body is his temple."
If God places such a high value upon us, how can we continue to have such cheap
regard to ourselves?
2. Is God really concerned for our health?
3 John 2
Note: God places a very high value on our physical bodies. He created
our bodies "in his own image" and pronounced them "very
good!" (Genesis 1:31). Therefore his redemptive work takes in our
bodies, and he will not rest until they are fully reclaimed from sin, disease,
and death (Romans
3. Can we disregard our health and expect God to keep us healthy or heal
us?
I Corinthians 3:16,17
Galatians 6: 7,8
Note: When Satan tempted Jesus to jump off the temple pinnacle and
expect God to save him, Christ responded that it was wrong to tempt God. God
has set certain laws of health in motion. They are written on every fibre and
muscle of our bodies, and they are just as sure as the law of gravity. It is
presumption to live unhealthful lifestyles and then expect God to heal us if we
get sick as a result of our own doing.
4. Does what we eat or drink really have anything to do with our
spiritual lives?
I Corinthians 10:31
I Corinthians 9:26
Note: The Bible clearly teaches that everything we do in life affects
our spiritual being.
5. What was God's original provision for man's diet?
Genesis 1:29
Genesis 2:16
Genesis 3:18
Note: "Meat" in the King James Version means
"food." God originally
designed man to be vegetarian. Meat was allowed as an item in man's diet only
after the flood.
We would assume that no one
knew more about the proper care of the Model-T than Mr. Ford, who had designed
it. We may also safely and correctly assume that the all-wise Designer of our
bodies knows what is best for its proper care and health.
6. Are there specific foods
that God has told us not to eat at all?
Leviticus 11
Deuteronomy 14
Note: God has strictly prohibited eating the following:
a) Animals that are
not cloven-footed and ruminate (Deuteronomy. 14:6)
b) All seafood
without both fins and scales (Deuteronomy. 14:9)
c) All fowl that
have webbed feet or that are scavengers (Leviticus
d) All animals that
drag themselves upon the ground (invertebrates) (Leviticus
Most meats commonly
eaten are clean, with the following notable exceptions: Pork, squirrel, rabbit,
hares, badger, lobster, squid, crab, shrimp, oysters and clams.
7. Aren't these only rules for Jews, given at Sinai? Didn't these laws end
at the cross?
Genesis 7:1-2
Isaiah 66:4
Revelation 18:2
Note: Animals, by their very nature, are either "clean" or
"unclean". Christ's death on the cross did not change the animals or
their effects on our health and well-being.
8. What does the Bible say about alcoholic beverages?
Proverbs 20:1
Proverbs 23:31,32
I Corinthians 6:10
Note: God wants his people to have calm nerves and clear minds. We are
to live demonstrating that we believe and look forward to a new world.
It is no
coincidence that alcoholic beverages are called "spirits". The
ancients thought it possible to receive the "spirit" by drinking alcohol.
And through the ages, countless people have seemingly received comfort from
this "spirit". However, this in no way compares with the comfort that
the true Spirit brings. The counterfeit can never truly measure up to the
genuine. The key word in Proverbs 23:31,32 is "forget". This is the real
danger of alcohol and other unhealthful practices. "Whatever injures the health, not
only lessens physical vigor, but tends to weaken the mental and moral
powers. Indulgence in any unhealhful
practice makes it more difficult for one to discriminate between right and
wrong, and hence more difficult to resist evil... The body is the only medium through which
the mind and soul are developed for the upbuilding of character." Ministry
of Healing, pp. l28,130
9. Does the Bible condemn tobacco use?
I Corinthians
3:16, 17
I Peter 2:11
2 Corinthians 6:17
Note: The 6th commandment states "Thou shalt not kill." By
smoking and eating unhealthful foods, we are slowly, but surely, killing
ourselves. This would also extend to the use of coffee, tea, and soft-drinks
that contain caffeine, as well as using drugs.
10. What are
some other of God's recommendations for good health?
a) Strict personal
cleanliness 2 Corinthians 7:1, Isaiah 52:11
b) Proper sanitary
provisions Deuteronomy 23:12-14
c) Isolation from
infectious diseases Numbers 5:2,3, Leviticus 13:45,46
d) Burning of
infected materials Leviticus 13:47,48,52
e) Avoidance of
gluttony Luke 21:34, I Corinthians 9:25
f) Adequate exercise
and rest Exodus 20:8-11, Mark
g) Clean, positive
thinking Philippians 4:8
h) Do not hold
grudges Proverbs 14:30, Matthew 5:23,24
i)
Maintain a cheerful disposition Proverbs 17:22, Philippians 4:11
j) Trust in God Proverbs
11. Why has God given us
the laws of health? Does He want us to abstain from enjoying good things?
Deuteronomy 6:24
Note: God does not want to withhold things from us because he doesn't
want us to have fun, but because he loves us and wants us to be healthy and
happy. Read Psalm 34:8-10.
12. Does God force us to
abstain from harmful foods?
Deuteronomy 30:15, 19, 20
Note: God never forces his will on us. God offers us life, health, and
happiness; but as always, the choice is ours.
13. What has God promised
if we obey His laws, including the laws of health?
Exodus 23:25
Proverbs 3:1, 2
Exodus 15:26
CONCLUSION
"I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice; wholly acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1
Jesus is asking us to
respect our body-temples so that we may have clearer minds and better health,
and may be able to offer rational, intelligent worship and service. Will you
ask him to give you power over everything that tends to defile the body?
My response to Christ is:______________________________