Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
This passage of scripture tells us of the method that was employed to secure our eternal salvation, and the consequent healing process that should result. The wages of sin is death, and this includes both physical and spiritual death, for when our first parents sinned in the garden of Eden, they died spiritually first, in that they became separated from God, but they also died physically later on, when their bodies were returned to dust. Jesus Christ suffered both deaths on the cross in the same order, in that He was first separated from the Father and then later, His physically body literally expired. Let's read:
Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
The healing process of salvation therefore of necessity must include both dimensions, in that our hearts and minds must be renewed, and our physical bodies should also be healed. Many Christians believe that because sin is a mind problem, that only our minds need to be recreated, and so their bodies are neglected or excluded from the healing process. But this should never be the case, because the wrong that Adam and Eve had done, was first committed in their minds by deciding to disobey God, which then led them to eat of the literal fruit which affected their physical bodies, and therefore the restoration that God has given to us through Jesus Christ, must of necessity include both mind and body. This sacred truth is highlighted several times in the Bible, and is absolutely indispensable to the process of salvation. Let's read:
2nd Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The way that we treat our physical body has a direct bearing on our spiritual health, and even though many Christians aren't aware of this, a neglect or disregard of the laws of health, severely inhibits spiritual growth and renewal, hence the reason why many believers experience difficulty in climbing "Jacob's ladder". In most cases the problems encountered are directly linked to health issues, where a deliberate or ignorant disregard of the laws of health effectively cancels out the growth in grace that should be occurring daily.
For instance, when the children of Israel were wandering in the desert for forty years, they often complained to Moses of the diet God had chosen for their rehabilitation, and so they clamored over and over again for the flesh pots of Egypt. Let's read:
Numbers 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
The problem was not with the cucumbers, melons onions and garlic, for these are ordained of God as recommended articles of food. The problem was with the Mcdonalds and the Kfc that they clamored for, but which, if ingested, would negatively affect spiritual growth. However, because God has given to us the freedom to choose, He went ahead and supplied their desire, but it had a dilatory effect on the spiritual aspect of their salvation. Let's read:
Psalms 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
Psalms 78:18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
Here in these two passages of scripture, diet is directly linked to salvation, and therefore these verses could not have been written by accident, but were rather given as beacons of warning to all generations, and especially for Christians who are living in the 21st century, to those of us who are eagerly looking forward to the soon return of Christ. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
In our day there is the tendency to divorce diet and exercise from the process of salvation. Many Christians are just content to be spiritually minded, but do not desire God's work of healing to touch in any way, the diets they crave. To many believers, faith and prayer, good deeds and missionary work must at all times stand separated from diet and food, and so the holistic work of salvation God intended for us through the sacrifice of Christ, comes up short and one-sided. We should bear in mind however that it began with food in the garden of Eden, and it will all end with food. Let's read:
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
When on account of the implementation of the mark of the beast, our economic privileges are taken away, we will not be able to purchase any food, and during this time of crisis, we will have to depend on God to feed us, just as He did with Elijah. Of this time of trouble, the sacred record states that God will indeed feed us, but it will not be Kfc or Mcdonalds. No Burger king or large sodas will be served then, for the remnant who will live during those dire times, will have long gotten the victory over appetite, and therefore would be prepared for the food that God will provide. Let's read:
Isaiah 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
1st kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
Now friends, since practice makes perfect, it therefore behooves us to adopt and implement the plan that God originally gave to us by incorporating into our daily lives, the principles and laws of health, the diet and foods that he has ordained to facilitate the process of salvation. May we now begin to do what we have long neglected, for the time of crisis is at hand. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which will encourage us to cooperate with God in the accomplishment of this delicate and necessary work, and if we do, an abundant entrance into God's kingdom will be ours. Let's read.
1st Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
May God grant us His grace and mercy so that our minds and bodies might be aligned with the ongoing work of healing, for this is the will of God concerning us. God bless!