In book of Leviticus, there is some written Laws governing people to be careful what was chosen to be eaten. From many angles this one chapter turns towards the hypothesis, that if certain foods are ate, it will destroy the body according to what God said.
In all reality in Chapter 11 verse 47 it says this “to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten.”
Basically to have a distinction between what is clean and unclean. NO friends, I’m not going to instruct you on how to go on a diet!
But, this does give us a glimpse on just how important it is to avoid things that are unclean in our lives and cling to things that are clean, and not just food!
Is it not written in Gospel of Matthew “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
I will go on as far as to say that Israel had been instructed many times how to live correctly. The people did not go without food or water many times, God sustained them.
Why do you think food is a factor in worship, and why food drives us in a certain direction?
Look at Eve, the temptation of eating a wonderful fruit that satan promises great knowledge. It was very tempting.
Several places in scripture shows us meals was a dedication to something, a way to express a grateful or honorable thing.
In old testament there was a time when Jacob was discussing a joining of families in marriage, but to do that, the people that did not know God had to be circumcised. So they had a meal to discuss and celebrate their decision.
One of the most portraited meals in the bible was the Last Supper!
Some denominations not only do bread and juice, but display a whole meal with it, which is quite fitting.
So its not just having a meal, its not that at all, it is What is being fed or ate at the meal which is important! To dine is not merely to eat one food but to eat the riches of a meal.
We are promised rewards for living and doing good, are we not! Have a meal which sustains life is very important. However, we are reminded of something very important, Deuteronomy 8:3 “And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you [a]understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord.”
Food and Drink its self will NOT sustain life!
So let us reflect on 1 Corinthians 8, and seeing how what we intake actually is important to our whole way of life!
Paul is writing to the Corinthians, a culture that is oodles of Idols, False gods and in as much as where food is concerned, Paul wants to give them distinction not to give a wholesome liberty to a ungodly thing.
Also it was truly a forbidden thing to waste food! Food was not where as we are today ‘plentiful’ so food left at idols was wasted to a point, yet those that worshiped the idols ate the food which what Paul is talking about here!
For conscience sake, probably food that was ate from Idols became a ‘norm’ so when Christians done it, idols no longer became a threat, but rather an adjustment saying “Yeah, they worshiped the idols, but the food is still good!”
You see, believe it or not, some of us including myself are weak in certain areas and strong in others! When we shine an example, what we feed upon, where its food or the world, we show whom we really are!
Scripture tells us “But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”
So this shows us clearly, food alone will not save or destroy us!
Let me read from Romans: “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is [j]sin.”
Clearly, what WE think is ok, does not necessarily mean its OK! What the world teaches us, doesn’t necessarily mean God approves of it! What we convince ourselves of, does not have bearing on what Gods direction is for us to fulfill.
So what exactly are you talking about “Be careful what you eat?”
None of us walk this Christian life alone!!!
The way I behave towards others, especially fellow Christians, is thew ay I am behaving towards Christ!
What we allow in our lives, directly impact if not destroy our faith and witness!
I would go as far to say this, We each are accountable when we destroy the faith of others! If we give bad unglodly advice, we are held accountable.
So what if a Christian has a conscience that is no longer working? Is that possible? According to scripture it is!
In closing let me have you reflect on the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cast out a devil. Demons and such are a real thing friends, its one thing I have encountered many times in my life.
Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone!
What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. And scripture goes on to say For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
Here is one of many examples, demonstrating what Jesus taught, who is really is was his everyday life. The miracle of casting out a demon spread throughout the region of Galilee, but how Jesus lived portraited who he was. Yes, he had the power being the son of God, but each of us, each of us serves the same God, each of us is responsible for what we bring into our lives; How we are fed, what we live like, what truly do others see in us.
What we eat daily in our Spiritual life shall and always will impact us in our Journey.
There is a old saying, “You are what you eat!” That is a very true statement here!
I may be an example of how I ate reflects on my health, but it goes much deeper than that! Remember friends, we are our brothers keeper, and when others are weaker than ourselves in certain areas, we should within our power and guidance from the Holy Spirit help feed them both spiritually and physically, Amen.