By Ezekiel Kimosop
INTRODUCTION
Dear Friends, the search for balanced food nutrition today has never been greater. This is perhaps more pronounced during this difficult season of the COVID 19 pandemic when medical experts warn that people with nutritional challenges are likely to suffer from the infection.
Medical journals contain nutritional guides for healthy living. The herbalists on their part claim to have the traditional formulae for healthy living. The choice lies with the consumer.
There is no doubt that healthy nutrition is critical to human survival and longevity.
How long can we live without food and water?
This is an interesting question to ponder. Medical experts say that the human body can survive without food and water for about seven days and thereafter the essential body organs would collapse from severe dehydration. Prolonged dehydration eventually leads to death. Food and water are therefore essential to our daily wellbeing.
The Bible too recognizes the essentiality of a healthy and balanced nutrition. The children of Israel were promised that they will posses the Promised Land which was described as "flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 16:13). This was a Hebrew metaphor denoting the abundance found in Canaan.
During their wilderness experience, God provided manna for food (Exodus 16). When the people faced water shortage, God commanded Moses to strike the rock at Horeb and water gushed out to quench their thirst (Exodus 17:1-7).
The manna and the water have been used in the Bible to symbolize the word of God and the Spirit of God, respectively. Manna is mentioned five times in the New Testament Scripture and in most cases, it symbolizes God's divine provision for His people by His word.
In John 6:22-58, Jesus taught that the manna that God gave the Israelites in the desert only satisfied their immediate hunger. It was a stop gap earthly provision. By His coming, Jesus introduced a new type of manna, one which completely satisfied the hunger of the human soul.
Jesus proclaims in John 6:54-58: "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
Let's now examine the significance of the word of God under five dimensions.
A) THE WORD OF GOD AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION
The Bible goes on to teach that man shall not live by bread alone. It mentions a second powerful ingredient for our daily living: the word of God.
What does it mean to live on the word of God?
There are several passages of the Scripture that underscore the significance of God's word in the daily nourishment of the believer. Scripture is the authoritative source of spiritual instruction.
The children of Israel were commanded in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 to carefully observe the commandments contained in the word of God so that their days may be prolonged and that they may multiply greatly on earth.
They were also commanded to teach the commandments in the word of God to their children and bind them as a sign on their hands and between their eyes. They were also to write them on their doorposts.
There is power and blessing attached to the devotional study and obedience to the word of God. Believers are products of men and women who consistently and diligently taught them the principle of Scripture in our formative years.
During His temptation in the wilderness recorded in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus reinforced the authority of this scriptural truth, saying that man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
B) THE WORD OF GOD AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL PRESERVATION
In Psalm 119, David proclaimed two powerful truths regarding the efficacy word of God in preserving the believer from moral disobedience. The psalmist demonstrates that the word of God preserves and directs believers to walk in truth.
In Psalm 119:11, David confesses to God that he had kept [treasured] the word of God in his heart that he might not sin against Him. What a powerful revelation! Believers ought to identify with David and confess this truth with confidence. This is not to suggest that David was a perfect man before God. He had his moral flaws, some of which are captured in Scripture. David was however a devoted student of the word of God! Scripture attests to David's zeal for God (and His word). Acts 13:22 says "...He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will."
This is God's testimony of David's faithfulness in his generation.
The regular devotion to Scripture is one of the indispensable disciplines that are necessary for the moral sanctification of a believer.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (NKJV)
C) THE WORD OF GOD AS OUR SPIRITUAL GUIDE
In Psalm 119:105, David proclaims that the word of God is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path.
Let us briefly reflect on the implication of this statement.
In Hebrew culture people would chose to travel at night because of the scorching desert temperatures of the day. The night travelers needed protection from wild animals, snakes and sharp stones along the path. The lamp came in handy in illuminating the traveler's path.
David metaphorically spoke of the lamp and its light to demonstrate the significance of God's word in his life. Scripture is therefore the compass by which the believer navigates his journey of faith.
Matthew 5:14-16 speaks of the believers (the church) as the light on a lamp stand giving light to the world.
D) THE WORD OF GOD AS THE REVELATION OF GOD
One of the theological foundations of Scripture is that it reveals to us our Creator. In the Bible, we learn about God's nature and his redemption plan for us in Christ Jesus.
More significantly however is that God himself is revealed. His eternity, omniscience, omnipotence, His love and mercy and His justice.
In Genesis 1, we learn about God's creation of the universe and all that is in it. The opening statement of Genesis 1:1 is instructive. In the begging God created the heavens and the earth. This is later affirmed by several passages of Scripture (see Psalm 24:1-2; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-18).
Several other passages of Scripture affirm God's omniscience (He knows all things); His omnipotence (His unlimited power); and His love mercy and justice.
Nothing perhaps underscores God's love and mercy more than the statements of John 3:16; Romans 8:5 and Philippians 2:5-11. His justice is demonstrated across sections of the Old Testament Scripture such as Genesis 3, 6-7, 19. It is explicitly outlined in the final judgement of Revelation 20:7-15.
We cannot effectively relate with God if we don't understand His nature and His purposes. This is why our spiritual nutrition - our regular focus on the teaching of Scripture is indispensable for us.
E) THE WORD OF GOD AS THE GUIDE TO OUR ETERNAL DESTINY
The destiny of the Church is perhaps one of the most compelling truths found in the Bible. It captivates the saints and sinners. We learn from the teachings of the prophets that God preserves a remnant of faithful people for Himself in every generation of human civilization.
Micah 5:1-5 says of the coming Messiah and His ministry. It also mentions a remnant of God's people that will be preserved by God.
This concept of the remnant is later identified with the Church. In Acts 20:28 Paul admonishes the Ephesian elders saying, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."
Jesus guarantees His redemption for every soul that will place their faith in His saving grace. Their hope and destiny in God is sealed by the Holy Spirit once they believe in Jesus (Ephesians 4:30). They will be part of the great congregation of saints dresses in white robes from all tongues and nations that shall surround the throne of God and worship Him (Revelation 7).
CONCLUSION
The fundamentals of the Christian faith would perhaps be lost to succeeding generations that neglect God's word. The generation described in Judges 2 was morally disconnected from the previous generation of Joshua and the elders that served with him.
The new generation of the children of Israel fell for idolatry and apostasy because "did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). The knowledge of the LORD and His works is revealed in Scripture.
We shall conclude this article by confronting four hard questions below whose answers would be critical in determining our spiritual integrity. I will phrase them in the first person.
1) Am I walking in the light of God's word?
2) Does the word of God inform my daily source of wisdom and instruction?
3) Do I find time to study the Bible in a devotional manner?
4) Do I influence those within my immediatel society of context with God's word?
5) Do you have the hope of eternal life? Have you placed your hope in Christ Jesus?
May the word of God be part of our daily spiritual nourishment and may it always inform our daily prudence in the knowledge and fear God. May it be our exclusive guide to our destiny in God.
The word of God is indeed our nutrition to our healthy Christian living. It is our guide the understanding of God and His divine purposes and our light to our eternal destiny in Christ Jesus.
Shalom
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020
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