Food for Life – Discard Flesh Meats

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22. How grateful we should all be that God has ordained the seasons, and even though we cannot always understand the workings of Providence, we can rest assured that He will never fail us or forsake us!

We continue this month from Ministry of Healing, 305–307: “Another serious evil is eating at improper times, as after violent or excessive exercise, when one is much exhausted or heated. Immediately after eating there is a strong draft upon the nervous energies; and when mind or body is heavily taxed just before or just after eating, digestion is hindered. When one is excited, anxious, or hurried, it is better not to eat until rest or relief is found.

“The stomach is closely related to the brain; and when the stomach is diseased, the nerve power is called from the brain to the aid of the weakened digestive organs. When these demands are too frequent, the brain becomes congested. When the brain is constantly taxed, and there is lack of physical exercise, even plain food should be eaten sparingly. At mealtime cast off care and anxious thought; do not feel hurried, but eat slowly and with cheerfulness, with your heart filled with gratitude to God for all His blessings.

“Many who discard flesh meats and other gross and injurious articles think that because their food is simple and wholesome they may indulge appetite without restraint, and they eat to excess, sometimes to gluttony. This is an error. The digestive organs should not be burdened with a quantity or quality of food which it will tax the system to appropriate.

“Custom has decreed that the food shall be placed upon the table in courses. Not knowing what is coming next, one may eat a sufficiency of food which perhaps is not the best suited to him. When the last course is brought on, he often ventures to overstep the bounds, and take the tempting dessert, which, however, proves anything but good for him. If all the food intended for a meal is placed on the table at the beginning, one has opportunity to make the best choice.

“Sometimes the result of overeating is felt at once. In other cases there is no sensation of pain; but the digestive organs lose their vital force, and the foundation of physical strength is undermined.

“The surplus food burdens the system and produces morbid, feverish conditions. It calls an undue amount of blood to the stomach, causing the limbs and extremities to chill quickly. It lays a heavy tax on the digestive organs, and when these organs have accomplished their task, there is a feeling of faintness or languor. Some who are continually overeating call this all-gone feeling hunger; but it is caused by the over-worked condition of the digestive organs. At times there is numbness of the brain, with disinclination to mental or physical effort.”

To us as a people preparing to meet our God so soon, this is extremely important! You may be used or called of God to bring this last day message of health reform to God’s people, whom Satan has ensnared. It is vital and we need it now, as never before, to prepare us for the end of all things. There will be no gluttons in Heaven! Let me quote from the Lord’s own words: “One of the highest attainments in the Christian life is to control appetite . . .without this victory, all hope of Heaven is vain.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 206. This is a very serious statement by our Father in Heaven, and remember, God never makes a misstatement! Think it over seriously, and pledge today that you will keep the word of the Lord with all diligence. May He help you and keep you is my earnest prayer for this new year!