Hosanna Restoration Church

I just returned from a conference where a brother shared about the danger that is involved when people attempt to make the Word of God palatable. I immediately thought of what some food additives do to me. I had a physical picture of what the spiritual condition might be if people only listen to things they want to hear. I think the bible calls it people with itching ears.

If you have ever read labels on food or if you are a label reader like me, you know that the list of stuff can be very long and most of it is just stuff they put in that is supposed to make it taste better and last longer. I am told that some of it is intended to get a person hooked on the flavor of a given product as well.

Well, these things started working on me over 30 years ago and I had not idea what the problem was. We checked laundry soap and every other thing we could think of and then one day my wife suggested it might be food additives. Sure enough, we discovered that it was in deed just that. Well it is an on going process to figure out which ones are the culprits but gradually we have found the worst of them.

When it first started causing problems it was never anything that anyone could really see. However, over the last several months, the evidence has been surfacing on my hands so it is very easy for anyone to see just what the effects are. You can be sure that I have prayed many times to be free from this, however, at this time it seems I can apply the scripture that if a person knows what they should not eat and they eat…well you can figure out the rest. No, I don’t think it is a sin if I end up eating the wrong thing, but it sure does make me want to make sure I don’t.

And now on to the spiritual picture that I am sure many of you have already painted. The truth is that for many years I wanted only the palatable part of the word of God. Actually I really had little to do with Him aside form Sunday School as a child and occasional church attendance as an adult. All of that time without the real thing was seriously affecting my eternal health.

Many Christians are in terrible condition because they only want a palatable gospel. As a result, they are slowly rotting away, not even realizing it. However, over time, it becomes obvious as their attitudes betray them. Too long without walking in the truth and people become just plain unruly. Let’s be honest, we have all been there and done that.

The true word of God will always mess with us. It will not always make us feel great, but it will inoculate us and keep us from being spiritually ill. Let’s be careful not spend all of our time looking for just what we like in the word or what we have always been told. Let’s be seekers of the truth, for only the truth will make us free. Believe me, I read the labels on foods closely and there are some things that when I see them, I know I don’t want to touch them.

Make sure you go for the pure milk of the word and don’t forget the untainted meat!