When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He said to them, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat" (Gen. 1:29). He therefore outlined what foods man should eat. These were created on the third day of Creation week and were planned in such a way as to provide all the essential elements necessary for proper growth and maintenance of the body. The record in Genesis says that after sin entered, the green herbs of the field were added to the original diet list. See Genesis 3:18.
It is interesting to note throughout the Bible that whenever God had a special work for someone to do He often gave specific instruction as to the dietary program. The experience of Daniel is interesting. He followed God's nutrition program and it served him well. He made a record never reached by any other statesman as far as we know. He was the prime minister of two world kingdoms—one succeeding the other. Usually the conquering nation takes as prisoners or executes the officers of the defeated nation, but not so with Daniel. He was too valuable. One spiritual writer says: "The life of Daniel is an inspired illustration of what constitutes a sanctified character. . . . A strict compliance with the requirements of God is beneficial to the health of body and mind. In order to reach the highest standard of moral and intellectual attainments, it is necessary to seek wisdom and strength from God, and to observe strict temperance in all the habits of life. In the experience of Daniel and his companions we have an instance of the triumph of principle over temptation to indulge the appetite. It shows us that through religious principle young men may triumph over the lusts of the flesh, and remain true to God's requirements, even though it cost them a great sacrifice."—ELLEN G. WHITE, The Sanctified Life, pp. 18, 19.
To John the Baptist also God gave a specific work, and he was given instruction as to his mode of living. Following God's instruction, he chose a plain and simple diet.
All through the history of the world Satan has been promoting substitutes for God's plan of living, and he has a counterfeit food program as well. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:21 (last part), "Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." We may change the context and imagine two dietary programs, one of which provides maximum health and the other lowered vitality. Only by following God's program can we enjoy good health.
God's Program
- Natural foods
- Nonstimulating
- Vegetarian
- Regular (Good breakfast light supper)
- Simple food, free from grease and spices
- Controlled appetite, Temperance
The Popular Program
- Refined foods
- Stimulating
- Nonvegetarian
- Irregular (No breakfast, heavy meal at night)
- Rich, heavy, fatty foods
- Gluttony
Let us look briefly at the various items in these lists. God put everything necessary in the food for man's health. I cannot believe there are any nonessentials there. The refining processes of food remove much of the essential vitamins and minerals, and when a person lives largely on refined foods, it isn't long until deficiences begin to show up. These often affect the nerves and the mental outlook on life. It is almost impossible to live to a great extent on a refined diet and not find it necessary to use stimulants in the form of tea, coffee, and Cokes. These seem to be necessary for that extra lift to keep a person abreast of the accelerated speed of modern living. These stimulants borrow from our future reserves for present use and leave no provision for paying back.
God would have us use foods containing the essential vitamins and minerals that He put in food. With the right kind of nourishment and proper rest it will not be necessary to take stimulants to keep going.
Vegetarianism has already been discussed in the August issue of the MINISTRY magazine. So we will mention it only briefly here. It was God's original plan that man should subsist on fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables, and this plan of eating will be established again when Eden is restored to this earth.
After the Flood, Noah was given permission to eat meat, but with this restriction: no blood was to be used. The blood represents the life of the animal. Other places in the Old Testament forbid the use of animal fat.
Modern research is giving us the relation between the use of fat (particularly animal fat) and degenerative heart disease. The facts are decidedly conclusive. The restriction of fat and blood was given to the Jews as a health measure. If this practice would keep the Jews healthy, there certainly isn't any reason why it wouldn't keep anyone else healthy who would follow the plan.
Regularity is important to health. Let us notice another scripture; "Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness" (Ecd. 10:17). Eating "in due season" could mean eating at regular times. Laboratory experiments show that having a regular time for eating is a much better plan than eating hit and miss meals. Modern research reveals there should be a good breakfast to begin the day. The evening meal should be light and easily digested, with nothing just before going to bed.
Now many people in this country are not following God's program. They eat no breakfast, or have just a cup of coffee and light up a cigarette to get them going. They snack off and on all day and then finish up with a big meal in the evening with a few TV snacks thrown in before bedtime for good measure.
Temperance is one of the oustanding qualities of a true Christian. This grace is extolled and recommended all through the Bible; on the other hand gluttony is condemned. Proverbs 23:1, 2 gives an unusual recommendation, which if followed would probably take care of all excesses in eating. "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite." This seems to be good advice—no matter with whom we are eating.
Is God really particular about what we eat and drink? Paul says: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). This scripture is very plain, and he continues, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Cor. 3:16, 17). It is impossible not to defile our body temple if we eat wrongly.
But what is the purpose of all this instruction on temperance and healthful eating? We will quote three scriptures to answer this question.
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 2). Health is God's wish for everyone.
"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" (Rom. 12:1).
"If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Ex. 15:26).
This is a wonderful promise. Let us never forget it is the Lord that heals us, we cannot do this ourselves, but God does give us a part to play, and that is choosing to "do that which is right in his sight." In other words, if we follow God's plan in living and eating, He has pledged Himself to take care of our health.
God has established laws for the care of our wonderful body temples. These are written upon every fiber and nerve of our being, and when we find and follow God's program we will have the necessary health and will be able to present our bodies a perfect living sacrifice, which is the only kind that is acceptable to God.
Why don't we do as Daniel did and give God's dietary program a trial? A few weeks spent carefully following this program should bring about a threefold improvement in our health—physical, mental, and spiritual.
