One day it will be discovered that every instruction, and law God has given to the human family is given with our best good in mind, for God lays no burden, or prohibition on us that is not well-intended. When we read of diseases, their causes, and their cures in the Bible, and in secular history, it reminds us of our sacred duty to find out what the scriptures have to say on the matter.
Some have erroneously concluded that dietary laws, as well as the ten commandments given in the Bible are a restriction on our liberties, when in fact, they were given to protect our liberty, longevity, and our health. Thus, our freedom of choice is not a license to depart from God’s laws, because, being a free moral agent comes with great responsibilities, and serious choices with consequences.
There are laws of cause and effect, laws of sowing and reaping which in many cases are allowed to run their natural course. God’s grace and mercies to the human family are not given to reverse the effects of a willful disregard of either physical or spiritual law, for if He were to constantly deliver us from a wrong course of action His instructions would be rendered useless.
Therefore, in times of grave national crisis, in times of personal danger from diseases, viruses and every other form affliction, God desires that we take time to reason soberly from cause to effect to find out if there are any contributing factors on our part and if there are any, repentance, and a permanent change of course will be required.
As a general rule of thumb, diseases are the result of violations of God’s instructions, and then there are spin-offs or ripple effects that often impact the innocent, and future generations. True cures, on the other hand, will involve a return to godly principles where applicable, with God’s mercies being applied at His discretion. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. 40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, forever.
2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
Another cause of diseases occurs in the invisible world, where fallen angels are actively engaged in experimenting with the secrets of nature, and then, the human family is engaged through disobedience. The Corona virus is directly linked to a violation of dietary law, as is the Ebola virus, which has not yet been eradicated entirely.
Therefore, even though our current understanding of science may not acknowledge these facts, yet we will one day have cause to consider what the Bible states on this matter, because the frequency, and intensity of the occurrence of diseases, and viruses will finally cause scientific cures to fail, and if folks were to continue disregarding God’s instructions on these matters, dire consequences will be inevitable.
The Bible explicitly states that when satan was given permission he brought disease upon Job, thus giving us unmistakable evidence that devils have ability to wreak havoc through disease when permitted. This fact is often disputed by science, but God’s word is the truth. Let’s read:
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
But throughout the history of the world, the mercy of God has shielded the human family from the dire consequences of our choices and actions, to a large extent. This fact is not generally acknowledged by the secular world, and therefore, God is calling our attention to things in His word that have been too long despised. Thus, as we get closer to Christ’s second coming the word of God states that the protecting angels which stand on the four corners of the earth will cease the work of continual protection, this in response to the stubborn resistance of man. Let’s read:
Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
[The Great Controversy. pp 589>590] Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. He will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.
The Biblical instruction on addressing the problem is not merely to find vaccines or drugs, but a change in our actions that will facilitate God’s intervention, if He so chooses. In many instances, our health-care systems work on the periphery, dealing mainly with symptoms, and not addressing the root cause. God’s way of dealing with diseases and viruses is to go to the source because prevention will always be better than cure.
It is quite preferable not to have the Corona virus, than to be cured from it. That is why, God has given specific instructions in His word, so that His miraculous power would not have to be engaged unnecessarily, because of presumption on our part. The following therefore are some of the dietary laws given in the scriptures, to help us avoid most of the afflictions we now suffer from, which almost run the entire gamut, with few exceptions, ranging from cancers, diabetes, sudden cardiac arrest, and blood disorders, compromised immune systems, viruses, and a host of other diseases and afflictions.
In particular, God has instructed the human family not to eat blood, in any way shape or form, for it is a known fact that doing so compromises health to a great extent. Then there are forbidden foods which must never be ingested, for if we do so, the laws of cause and effect will produce diseases that will take out millions of people.
Therefore, as we study from His word, the laws and instructions pertaining to healthful living, let us try to cultivate a humble and teachable spirit, so that His mercies may shield us in times of peril. In some instances changes will have to be made on our part, but if that be the case, it will be for our best good. Let’s read:
Leviticus 7:26 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Wet markets are places where the blood of animals often comes in direct contact with human beings, for when a person purchases a live animal for his or her consumption, it is often slaughtered on site, in the presence of the purchaser. At such markets one can purchase almost anything, including rats, frogs, snakes, snails, civets, and a host of other forbidden creatures which should never be ingested. The Corona virus jumped from animals to humans at one such market, and the dire results are what we are seeing today.
Most people would never have imagined that the eating of forbidden foods could be the cause a stock market collapse or the shutting down of major businesses and schools worldwide. Disney theme parks have been deserted, highways are virtually empty, car parts are becoming scarce, face masks are scarcely to be found, lay-offs are coming, and the world now stands on the brink of a pandemic as well as a possible recession all because of eating forbidden foods.
In fact, Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross as a result of eating forbidden foods. Think about it! That’s why we have said again and again on this forum, that it began with food and it will end with food. The fall of man began by eating of forbidden foods, and earth’s final crisis will also involve food. Those who obey God will be fed by God, and those who obey man will be fed by man. Its that simple!
However, there are other dietary laws that must be brought to light, so that all would have opportunity to make changes where necessary. God is practical, and very down to earth in His instructions, and if we be willing and obedient, He will cooperate with our efforts to do the right thing. Let’s read:
Leviticus 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
Leviticus 7:24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it. (Under no circumstances) 27 Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Many have mistakenly taken the phrase, “Cut off from his people” to mean something that God does to such individuals. But it has been discovered that the words “Cut off” refer primarily to the laws of cause and effect, whereby a disregard of God’s instructions is permitted to run its natural course. If folks were to drink a deadly poison they would die and if persons were to jump off of a cliff they should expect to have a lot of broken bones, or even death.
God does not have to “do” anything in particular for such a person to reap the consequences of their actions. That’s why the laws given to us in the Bible, are not arbitrary prohibitions or counsels, but were given so that we would not be subjected to unnecessary trial and tribulation. Certain animals and insects, certain birds and fish, together with shrimp, oysters, crabs, lobsters, and every other crustacean, should never be ingested, for they will do their dirty work in the human body.
And what is worse than eating them is eating them raw, for the dirty work is increased a hundredfold. Uncooked meat in any form, rare steaks, and sushi, which are considered delicacies, will in fact take us further than we are willing to go, and would cost us more than we are willing to pay. Let’s read:
Leviticus 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.
We now turn to an example of disease, cause, and cure as demonstrated live in the scriptures. A man has been disabled for a number of years, and he has tried to procure healing on many occasions, only to meet with utter failure and disappointment. Then one day, the great Physician, even The Lord Jesus Christ meets him and makes him an offer of a lifetime. He asks the man if he wants to be healed, the man then relates his plight, and Jesus grants to him a new lease on life. Let’s read:
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
That is all well and good, because the Bible teaches that God delights in mercy. However, there is work for the man to do, and there are radical changes to be made in his life, in his habits and in his choices, for his affliction was a result of his sin that had run its natural course. And now, with the new lease on life given to him by Jesus alone, he would need to do some serious soul searching, to see where he had done wrong, and he must make the necessary changes, if he really wants God’s healing to last.
Otherwise, like many of those metastatic cancers in our day, he will fall back into retrogression, instead of remission and this time it wouldn’t be stage four, but stage five, six and seven. Let’s read:
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus finds him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
In other words, if it was some forbidden things he had been eating, if his cholesterol had peaked at a dangerous level of 540 on account of eating oysters, or if he had an amputated leg because of gangrene caused by extremely high blood sugar, then he will have to take the necessary steps to change both his habits and his lifestyle. If he does the right thing, his sickness will go into permanent remission, and he will relish the healing Christ gave him.
But if he does not take all proactive steps to change his ways the disease will come back with a vengeance and this time he won’t be able to pray and reasonably expect God to heal him. The well-being of the human body, together with the preservation and fostering of good health is linked inextricably in most cases to what we eat, how we eat, and when we eat.
Eating late at night, before going to bed will trigger a plethora of dire, adverse consequences which will often result in heartburn, indigestion, and insomnia, with nightmares! Instead of reaching for those antacids at Walgreens and CVS, God is teaching us to go to the root cause, and if like the disabled man in Christ’s day, we make the needed changes in habits and lifestyle, God can be trusted to cooperate with our efforts, uniting our weakness with His omnipotence, to produce desired results.
Very many diseases are preventable, and godly cures are still possible, but we must be willing to follow wherever God leads the way. We therefore close with three passages of scripture which should bring some balance to the equation and would help and encourage us to live the best life possible for as long as possible. Let’s read:
Psalms 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (Health and diseases are inextricably linked to what we eat in most instances) 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
God Bless!