Food
What is your favorite food? How does it taste? Many people like ice cream or chocolate because it tastes sweet. I like it too. Other than ice cream and chocolate, there are many kinds of food that are also very yummy. Different countries make foods with different flavors that taste sweet, salty, sour, bitter, spicy… My mouth waters just thinking about these delicious treats. Another delicious food is the many different kinds of fresh fruit. They let us feel happy, enjoy them, and feel satisfied. Imagine you are in a desert and feel very hot and thirsty. If someone gives you a bottle of ice water, how do you feel? You would say, “Ahh… it is really cool and refreshing. It quenches your thirst.
Fresh Food
Actually, food is not only delicious in taste but also contains essential nutrients for our bodies. Absorbing those nutrients helps us grow strong and stay healthy. We need them to build and repair our body cells. Some people say we should avoid certain nutrients or ingredients, otherwise we will have health problems…
For example, the ingredients in ice cream or chocolate contain sugar, and many people say we should avoid eating sugar from these foods, otherwise it will affect our health. Yes, excessive intake of sugar can cause disease. But that does not mean sugar itself is evil. Sugar (glucose) is the main and important substance that provides energy for our brain and our cells. It is an essential nutrient we need; sugar itself is by no means evil.
I am not a nutrition expert writing a book about nutrition, but I want to ask a scientific question: Why can we taste sweet, salty, sour, bitter, spicy, and fresh flavors in food? Why do we have those feelings? Why do we feel enjoyment, satisfaction, and happiness when we eat food? On the other hand, have you ever smelled spoiled food, like rotten eggs? Wow, you would say, “I want to throw up.” I agree — it really stinks. Why do we have this bad feeling?
Another question: Why does sugar taste “sweet” to us and not “sour,” “bitter,” “spicy,” or like “rotten food”? On the other side, why does a rotten egg give us a bad feeling? Why doesn’t it smell like a fragrant flower? Maybe you would say I am talking about something disgusting. Haha, I am sorry, but I think that is the truth. Actually, substances such as sugar and rotten eggs are neutral in nature. Our feelings do not represent their true nature. Our feelings toward these substances are relative and do not represent how other living things feel. For example, almost all living things like sugar, but for bacteria it is deadly if they are surrounded by sugar. We hate rotten food, but some living things really love it, such as flies.
So why are these feelings so different? The answer is simple: Our Creator, God Jehovah, wants to direct us to eat the food that benefits our health, so He created this chemical reaction (good taste and flavor) in our brain. That is why, when we eat ice cream, we feel sweet and happy. On the other hand, if we smell rotten food, it makes us uncomfortable and causes us to gag, warning us not to eat it. This strong discomfort is like a warning signal etched into our brain and heart, telling us, “Do not eat rotten food.”
In fact, we are not really talking about nutrition or the taste of food. I want to explain the grace God has given us — that is, the sexual relationship. Sexual relationship itself is neutral. For humans it is like good-tasting food that lets people enjoy and feel satisfied. Why do we feel enjoyment and satisfaction? Just like with ice cream, God created the “chemical reaction” — the feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction — in our brain.
Maybe someone would say, “It is an evil thing!” Why do people have this thought or concept? Just like eating ice cream, would people think the sweet feeling is evil? Would people say “eating ice cream” is evil? No. People would say ice cream tastes good; they would not feel it is evil.
For the same reason, God makes us feel happy and enjoy sexual relationship, and we should not think that “sexual relationship itself” is evil. Just as enjoying ice cream is good, sexual relationship itself has no evil in it — it is good for people. But aren’t a lot of scriptures saying sexual relationships are evil?
Let’s look at the beginning in Eden. Genesis 2:25 says, “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
When Jehovah God created Adam and Eve, they were both naked and not ashamed. What does that mean? It means God gave them a good feeling and a righteous mind with no evil thoughts or bad feelings about nakedness (sex). Just as when we see naked animals, our minds have no evil or bad feelings about them.
But when the serpent deceived Eve into eating the fruit of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 3:6 says Eve “…saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes… she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Then what happened?
Genesis 3:7: “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”
Before and after they ate the fruit, they were still naked — nothing physical changed. The change was in their minds. Evil minds (sin) entered, and they developed evil ideas, especially about the concept of “sex.” This improper concept (sin) occurred only in humans, not in animals.
All things God created are good, including sexual relationship. Therefore, “sexual relationship” itself is absolutely not equal to evil. How should we think about sexual relationship? Although it is neutral, it produces different outcomes depending on the creatures involved.
We are concerned with whether sexual relationship has a good or evil outcome for humans — just like fresh food or rotten food affects human health. Fresh food tastes good and is good for health, but rotten food is bad and makes people sick. How do we define “fresh food” and “rotten food” in the area of sexual relationship? Marital sexual relationship is like fresh food, and sexual immorality is the same as rotten food. Why can we say that? Because Jesus said,
Matthew 19:4, 5: “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?”
So God created sexual relationship for husband and wife, and it is good — it is the “fresh food,” good for their health and for both of them. It makes them “healthy and strong.” Then what is the “rotten food”?
Jesus said in verse 9: “I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
So all sexual relationships other than between husband and wife are “rotten food” (sexual immorality). The apostle Paul said, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral… nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality… will inherit the kingdom of God.” — 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.
What happens if you eat the “fresh food” (symbolic marital sexual relationship)? You (both husband and wife) will be happy, your family will be strong and grow, and you will have healthy, strong children. Husband, wife, sons, and daughters — the whole family — will have a peaceful, warm, stable, strong, loving, and happy home. If you teach your sons and daughters to eat “fresh food,” your family will grow bigger and stronger.
17 Thus says the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am YHWH your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
19 your offspring would have been like the sand,
and your descendants like its grains;
their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from before me.” – Isaiah 48:17-19
But do you know what will happen if people eat the “rotten food”? He or she will become “sick,” have “diarrhea,” heartache, an unstable family, weakness, and unhappiness — exactly like someone who eats real rotten food. Sexual relationship is related to life. God created “sexual relationship” itself to mean “life”, so God wants us to respect life with a serious attitude. Please read the other article “Good and Evil – Life” for more about it.
Unlike real fresh food and rotten food, people can see and smell the difference. The chemical reaction warns us when we see or smell it and guides us not to eat the rotten food but the fresh food. But our minds can think freely; there is no physical rule to guide us and direct us about what is good and what is evil. Moreover, the whole world is affected by the Devil, who deceives people into eating “rotten food” (sexual immorality). Then is there any “guide” that can help us?
Yes, God’s commandments are the guide that directs us, just as God said, “…neither shall you touch it,” “you shall not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
But Satan deceived Eve and said, “…your eyes will be opened.” Then Eve saw that the tree was “a delight to her eyes” and thought this fruit was “good for food”… so she ate it. How does Satan deceive us?
Revelation 12:9: “And the great dragon… who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.” How does Satan deceive the whole world?
Revelation 17:2, 4 says, “with (the great prostitute — the great Babylon) whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk… The woman was… holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.”
Just as Satan deceived Eve at the beginning, the “improper mind” of sex entered afterward. The Bible tells us he deceives the whole world, and he mainly uses “sexual immorality.”
Revelation 18:3,4 says “
For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;”
God’s people, how can we come out of her? We must obey God’s commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.” We must not only forbid “sexual immorality” but also remove “sexual immorality” from our hearts, souls, and minds. However, we are sinners. Just like Balaam, maybe we try every method to do what we want, even though Jehovah God stopped him and even his donkey tried to stop him from meeting the angel’s sword — but he still did what he wanted. What does that teach us?
Jeremiah 17:9 says:
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?”
We are sinners and our hearts are deceitful; we want to do what we want — like sexual immorality — even when we know it is evil. Maybe many excuses come up, but we know that, just as someone who eats rotten food “must” become sick and suffer (even if it does not happen immediately), the same is true here. Jeremiah 17:10 says:
“I, YHWH, search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Maybe someone says, “I am homosexual; it is my innate nature, not my fault.” Yes, sexual relationship is normal behavior because we have sexual desire, but God condemns sexual immorality, including extramarital sex and homosexuality. But how can God create sexual desire yet not allow people to satisfy it? Why do some people say their innate nature is homosexual?
And maybe someone says sexual desire is an innate instinct, just like the desire for food, which naturally occurs in adults, and “sexual immorality” also occurs in many animal behaviors in nature. Why can’t humans do the same?
Yes, many animals do not have the concept of “sexual immorality,” and maybe they have sexual relationships as much as they can before they die, making sure their offspring become more and more numerous. This is created by Jehovah God and is very important for the continuation of their species. Then why can’t humans be the same?
Please think about it. If humans live on earth for a few decades and then die, maybe it is not such a big problem (although it is still a big problem). But if humans can live forever — yes, eternal life — what will happen? Can you imagine? They will have sexual relationships with unlimited partners, their offspring will come from A, B, C… unlimited people, and maybe their sexual relations will cross over to each other too. What would happen? Can you imagine? Extreme confusion, discord, strife, and brokenness. Could they build a strong and peaceful family? Would they be happy? The answer is very clear.
1 Corinthians 14:33: “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” Ephesians 3:14, 15: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” Family is like a tree. Limiting sexual relationship protects the tree; otherwise the tree will become confused, broken, and die. If we obey God’s commandment, our tree and family will grow bigger and stronger.
Who is the Father of all creatures? Yes, He is YHWH God — our Father and Creator. He wants His family to be peaceful, not confused, and we are part of His big family. That is why He forbids sexual immorality. He will not give the grace of eternal life to those who commit adultery.
On the other hand, when He prohibits sexual immorality, what does it tell us? It tells us He does not want us to lose the grace of eternal life but is very willing to give it to us. He also loves and respects life (each individual). He loves us and wants every individual to have a happy life and live in a happy family. Thank you, our Father — He is the most good God. Amen.
If humans have “eternal life,” then is “sexual immorality” needed to ensure the continuation of the human species? Absolutely not! “Sexual immorality” not only does not help sustain humanity but will also destroy human families. That is why God forbids “sexual immorality.” God is good — will He withhold good grace from us? Absolutely not!
But if someone says he is homosexual or has strong sexual desire but cannot get married, what can they do? Leviticus 16:15: “If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening.” This gives us a hint: if someone has an emission of semen, he should bathe and wash himself physically, and then he will be clean.
Also, the Mosaic Law stipulated fasting each year on the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:29-31: “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work… For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you… It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.”
“Afflict yourselves” generally means fasting. Although some people say they are by nature attracted to same-sex couples or have strong sexual desire but cannot marry, they can “fast” (from sexual desire) during this period and wait for God’s salvation. God will solve it in the new heaven and new earth.
Matthew 4:1-4:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry… But he answered, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
When people fast, they feel hunger and dizziness — uncomfortable feelings — but they will not die; it is good for their health. In the same way, “sexual fasting” will not kill people but is good for their “spiritual health.” “Sexual fasting” means fasting from sexual immorality — “the sexually immoral, adulterers, homosexuals” (1 Corinthians 6:9). If you have the above problem, you have a choice: choose “sexual fasting” as a clean lifestyle now to please God, and it will also be good for you. You will inherit the precious wealth of the future — eternal life.
Actually, man and woman are two different creatures, but they can combine together perfectly. God’s arrangement is good for both. Generally, women like talking and men like being good listeners. Men have good logical skills to work and earn money, while women spend the money to buy food, tidy the home, and take care of the man’s health… Husbands and wives accompany each other.
Please imagine the picture of a wrinkled old man and an old woman sitting together before a sunset. You will feel sweetness, right? But have you ever seen two wrinkled old men sitting before a sunset together? Would you also feel they are sweet? God loves us and knows what is good for us — not only today but even when people grow old, even in the long, long future. We have faith in God; the marriage of man and woman is the best arrangement.
So we shall remove sexual immorality from our hearts, minds, and souls. Just like the basic rule 1 + 1 = 2, “sexual immorality” = “rotten food.” The result must be equal. Galatians 6:7, 8 says: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Just as 1 + 1 must equal 2, someone who sows to the flesh must reap corruption from the flesh. This is the foundation of truth. Balaam could not change it, you cannot… no one can change it. Do you believe it? If yes, you are a wise person. We will not think we are the exception because there is no exception.
On the other hand, have you had this experience — that we could resist sexual desire once, twice… many times, but sometimes we are overcome by it? It is very frustrating. Is there any method that can remove it permanently? If there really were a method to remove sexual desire permanently, do you think what the Father would say to Jesus?
Maybe the Father would say, “My beloved Son, it seems the design of sexual desire is not perfect, because it has stopped, but I want people to enjoy My grace and life eternally. Can you improve sexual desire and make it work eternally?”
Actually, the design of sexual desire is perfect and can work eternally with no need for improvement. That means we should not expect “sexual desire” to stop working one day — the same as “food desire” will not stop. Since “sexual desire” will not disappear, we have to “fast.” Fasting will make sexual desire slow down and pause, but it will not remove it. We have to avoid seeing or touching things that arouse sexual desire, such as pictures or videos on screens, books, etc. We must remove it from our minds (fasting from sexual desire).
May we all obey and carry out God’s commandment. We must realize this is a very difficult war because we are fighting against spiritual forces of evil. Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
If we do that, we can come out of the great prostitute — the great Babylon. Never give up. Failure is a normal part of the process because we are fighting against powerful evil spirits who deceive the whole world. Keep praying, keep asking the Father to forgive our sins, strengthen us, and help us remove evil mind. Never give up, and with consistent effort you can reach the “fasting” state. Then we can finally come out of her (the great Babylon). It will return to normal; sin will be removed when the new heaven and new earth come.
Amen.
Bacteria
There is an interesting, unrelated side question. I am scared to eat food now. I want to ask Jesus a question: Lord Jesus, as You know, with our advancement in scientific knowledge we discovered bacteria using microscopes. Sometimes social media broadcasts videos of many bacteria moving around not only on food but on everything… It makes me scared and gives me chills. It seems everything is dirty. I am scared to eat or touch those things… Why did You create them…? What do You think Jesus would answer?
“Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? …But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” — Matthew 15:17, 20
“Maybe” Jesus would say, “What do you think — which one is much dirtier? A glass of water or a dark-brown drain?” Surely you would say, “The dark-brown drain.”
“Then would a glass of water make the drain dirty? Surely it would not, right? You know what I want to say? A dark drain is like our intestines, which are full of billions and billions of bacteria, but a glass of water only contains millions of bacteria. So can food or water make your intestines dirty? Surely not, right?”
“Actually, we cannot use the word ‘dirty’ to define bacteria. Do you know what the function of bacteria is? As you know, when you eat food, it enters the stomach for digestion and then goes into the intestines. But we cannot absorb complex food nutrients directly until bacteria break them down into small nutrients like vitamins and fatty acids. That is their function. Bacteria also help make food like kimchi. If there were no bacteria, you could not alive anymore because you could not absorb the nutrition from food.”
“Actually, there is a very complex bacterial environment in your intestines. Everyone has a unique bacterial environment. It interacts with people’s ‘living place’ (an even more complex combination of bacteria). The bacterial combination reaches balance between their intestines and their living place.”
“That is why, if you travel to another country, you may feel uncomfortable in your intestines (because of a different bacterial combination), but if you stay one or two weeks you will be fine, because the bacteria in your intestines and the living place reach balance.”
“So don’t worry about the bacteria. They are your helpers and essential to your life, but they don’t look good — that is why I don’t let you see them. But if you can ‘see’ something is dirty, you have to clean it. Otherwise, there is no need to worry about something you cannot see. Do you have faith in Me? I know what I created.”
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Although most bacteria will not harm people’s health, some bacteria really do make people sick. Therefore, if you get sick, see a doctor. So keep your environment clean and let the bacteria stay in balance — that is fine. No need to worry about their existence.” — “Maybe” that is what Jesus would answer.
Let’s Pray
Jehovah God, our Heavenly Father, every good gift and every perfect gift is from You. Thank You, Father, for letting us taste sweet, fresh, and delicious food, for letting us enjoy it and be happy, healthy, and strong. I pray to You and openly and sincerely admit that we are sinners and often sin against You. Please forgive us and help us to be delivered from evil.
We know You are serious about sexual relationship. This grace You give us is related to life and must be respected, so You forbid sexual immorality. Under the control of the great prostitute (the great Babylon, the evil spirits), this world is pressing us into its wrong sexual-immorality mold.
Please help us to stay clean by forbidding sexual immorality. Please, Lord Jesus, forgive us and ask the Father to forgive us too. Please send mighty angels to throw the great Babylon into the sea. Amen.
Prayer is also in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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