2021-02-12
Genesis 1:1 NKJV
A growing number of educators and scientists around the world believe the Bible account of creation and are pointing us back to the truth of these words: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The question “evolution or creation?” becomes clearer when you rephrase it as “accident or design?”
Sir Fred Hoyle, professor of astronomy at Cambridge University, said: “The chance that higher life forms might have emerged in this way [through evolution] is comparable to the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junkyard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein.” He continues: “The likelihood of the formation of life from inanimate matter is one out of 1040,000…It is big enough to bury Darwin and the whole theory of evolution. There was no primeval soup, neither on this planet nor on any other, and if the beginnings of life were not random, they must therefore have been the product of purposeful intelligence.”
Even evolutionist Stephen Hawking, one of the most respected scientists since Albert Einstein, acknowledges: “The universe and the laws of physics seem to have been specifically designed for us. If any one of about 40 physical qualities had more than slightly different values, life as we know it could not exist: Either atoms would not be stable, or they wouldn’t combine into molecules, or the stars wouldn’t form the heavier elements, or the universe would collapse before life could develop.”
As a Bible believer, never apologize or compromise when it comes to the truth that says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Soul food: Rom 15-16; Matt 14:1-12; Ps 145:1-13; Prov 4:20-22
2021-02-11
Leviticus 7:23 NLT
God warned His people about the dangers associated with animal fat. If you’re hooked on fried or fatty foods, check out this Scripture: “Give the following instructions to…Israel. You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose” (vv. 22-24 NLT).
While polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats found mostly in plant-based foods and oils promote dietary health, the kind of fat in many of the foods we eat are saturated and trans fats which raise dietary cholesterol, a major risk factor for coronary disease which leads to stroke and heart attacks. In reference also to prostate cancer, a study by the University of Pennsylvania cancer center stated, “The fourth most common cause of cancer among men may be related to saturated fat consumption.”
God also gave His people laws of hygiene. “When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall…bathe his body in running water” (Leviticus 15:13 NKJV). In the eighteenth century, three out of ten mothers died following childbirth, even though they seemed healthy. Why? Because back then doctors routinely examined the bodies of corpses, then without washing their hands, moved on to the maternity ward where they examined expectant mothers. “Microscopic disease” was unknown until 1845, when Ignaz Semmelweis, a Viennese doctor dubbed “the Saviour of mothers,” introduced hand-washing in “running water” with chlorinated lime solution, and the death rate from childbed fever plummeted.
Bottom line: living by the principles of Scripture will keep you healthy.
Soul food: Rom 12-14; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Prov 4:18-19
Levitikus 7:23 NLV
God het sy mense oor die gevare wat met diervet geassosieer word, gewaarsku. As jy aan gebraaide of vetterige kos verslaaf is, lees dan die volgende Skrifgedeelte: ‘…Gee vir die Israeliete hierdie instruksies: Julle mag nooit vet eet nie, nie die vet van osse of skape of bokke nie. Die vet van ‘n dooie dier… mag nooit geëet word nie. Dit mag egter wel vir ander doeleindes gebruik word’ (verse 23-24 NLV).
Terwyl poli-onversadige en mono-onversadige vette wat meestal in plantgebaseerde kosse en olies gevind word dieetgesondheid aanmoedig, is die tipe vet wat in baie van die kos wat ons eet versadigde en transvet, wat cholesterol verhoog. Cholesterol is ‘n groot risikofaktor wat tot hartsiektes lei wat beroertes en hartaanvalle veroorsaak. Met betrekking tot prostaatkanker, het ‘n studie aan die Universiteit van Pennsylvania se kankersentrum ook die volgende stelling gemaak: ‘Die vierde algemeenste oorsaak van kanker by mans mag dalk verband hou met versadigde vet inname.’
God het ook vir sy mense wette in verband met higiëne gegee. ‘As die man met ‘n afskeiding gesond word… moet hy sy klere was en in vars fonteinwater bad…’ (Levitikus 15:13 NLV). Gedurende die agtiende eeu het drie uit elke tien moeders tydens kindergeboorte gesterf, selfs al het hulle gesond voorgekom. Hoekom? Omdat dokters in daardie tyd gereeld lyke ondersoek het en dan, sonder om hulle hande te was, na die kraamsaal toe is waar hulle verwagtende moeders ondersoek het. ‘Mikroskopiese siektes’ was ongekend tot 1845, toe Ignaz Semmelweis, ‘n Weense dokter wat ‘die Redder van moeders’ gedoop is, begin aanbeveel het dat hande onder lopende water met ‘n gechlorineerde kalkoplossing gewas moet word. Die sterftesyfer onder nuwe moeders het daarna skerp gedaal. Die punt is: deur volgens die beginsels van die Skrif te lewe, sal jy gesond bly.
Sielskos: Rom 12-14; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Spr 4:18-19
Leviticus 7:23 NLT
There is wisdom and worth in every part of the Bible. With that in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that a lot of the Old Testament is complicated, and can be difficult to read at times. There are so many things that grew from very specific cultures and contexts that can be lost on us when we read them.
This rings true for a lot of Leviticus. For example, today’s verse from Leviticus 7:23 reads: ‘You must never eat fat, whether from cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn to pieces by wild animals must never be eaten, though it may be used for any other purpose’ (NLT).
At a glance it’s just another very specific food rule given to Israel, another law for them to have to remember and follow. But when we think about it more deeply, the God-given advice for the Jewish people to avoid excess dietary fat for their own good is millennia ahead of its time. Research now shows that eating large amounts of animal fat can have negative impacts on our health. There is solid reasoning behind what God is asking His people to do.
God gives us instructions for our own benefit, to keep us safe and healthy, not because He loves arbitrary rules. All of this is a great reminder that, even when the Bible feels difficult, God knows the purpose behind every word that He breathes. He also cares deeply about our physical health, and has wanted us to look after ourselves since the beginning of time.
Rom 12-14; Matt 13:47-58; Ps 141; Prov 4:18-19
2021-02-10
Proverbs 14:30 NLT
We can spend so much time taking care of our bodies. We exercise, we watch what we eat, we take notice when things don’t feel right and seek medical help. All of that is very important, but how much focus do we give to our mental and spiritual health alongside those things?
Solomon understood something that we’re only just getting to grips with today – that our emotions, thoughts, and the state of our spirit can affect everything else. Read these four Proverbs: ‘A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body’ (Proverbs 14:30 NLT). ‘A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health’ (Proverbs 15:30 NLT). ‘Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body’ (Proverbs 16:24 NLT). ‘A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength’ (Proverbs 17:22 NLT).
None of these verses are suggesting that a positive outlook is a replacement for real, medical support where needed. God purposefully gives us scientific and medical understanding. But these verses are a good reminder that, as well as taking care of our physical health, we should be working on our mind and spirit too.
We can do that exactly how we expect – spending time talking things through with God, listening to Him, and purposefully reading the Bible and any Christian books that might relate to where we’re at in life. It’s so important that we commit to these things and stick with them, though. Just like physical exercise, we won’t always feel like it and we’ll get distracted. But even more than exercise, what we stand to gain makes the effort worth it: rich, full life with the God who created our innermost being, and can bring it all back to order.
Rom 9:17-11:36; Matt 13:36-46; Ps 138; Prov 4:14-17
