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My God, the Stomach?

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Php. 3:18-20 For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One). They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party. But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,…AMPC

We are all familiar with Genesis 3 and how Adam and Eve got distracted by forbidden fruit. It didn’t matter that they were allowed to eat from all the other trees in the Garden – they had to have the forbidden fruit. In Genesis 3:19 Adam is cursed to continue eating food but under one condition: his food will be supplied through the sweat of his brow, or his own self-efforts. In Genesis 25 we discover the older brother of Jacob hungry for some red lentil stew. The price of the soup? The birthright of the firstborn.

According to Paul the enemies of the Cross of Christ (Anointed One of the Spirit) are those whose stomach comes first – their appetites, and sensuality. Sensuality is simply defined as the condition of being pleasing or fulfilling to the senses. What’s truly amazing? Is that throughout the Bible God meets us in our sensuality to redeem us from the curse it brings. You find His offers of redemption from the story of Ruth of Bethlehem, to the announcement of His birth to lowly shepherds. Ruth is gathering barley to feed her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Shepherds are grazing sheep near the House of Bread – Bethlehem – overseeing sheep who do what they do best: eat. All are hungry for more not realizing the Bread of Life is the only thing that is ever going to truly satisfy them. We’ve all gone to the cafeterias, potlucks, and family reunions where our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. We piled our plates with food and desert, gorging on what our eyes delighted. Moments later we find ourselves feeling over stuffed and miserable. Which raises some interesting questions: Do you eat more physical food than spiritual? What qualifies as spiritual food? and Is there some spiritual food that is actually bad for you?

We have an idiom in our culture that expresses a profound truth: What’s eating you? Which is another way of saying, What are you worried or concerned about? But taking into account our previous discussion we can use that expression as a way of asking, Are the desires of my senses actually devouring my life? Are my desires being fueled by my senses or by eternal things?

E.T. Phone Home

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Mirrors are marvelous contraptions. Since narcissus fell in love with his own image while gazing at his reflection in a pond, the human race has been fascinated by mirrors. Mirrors are the friends magicians, the enemies of aging movie stars. WE have round mirrors and squat mirrors; big mirrors and compact mirrors; bathroom mirrors and rearview mirrors…If a dog is man’s best friend, perhaps his worse enemy is his mirror. Well, maybe his mirror isn’t really is worst enemy; it merely reflects the image of his most formidable opponent. What opponent is more dangerous than the one ho knows our deepest, darkest secrets? What opponent is more lethal than the one who can probe our most vulnerable points? – R.C. Sproul, Man in the Mirror Introduction

In this weeks installment of blogs we will seek to look into the mirror of the lives of Biblical twins to see what it reveals. In the familiar story of Esau and Jacob we are introduced to two brothers, fraternal twins (not to be confused with identical twins) who can teach us a great deal about who and what our spirit man can become. From the beginning of their birth the elder is favored over the younger as a man’s man; a hunter, or man of the outdoors. Tim Allen would depict him as a tool man (Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor), grunts and all. Jacob on the other hand was a homebody, some might ever refer to him as a “Momma’s Boy,” not given to grunts, hairiness, or the great outdoors. Whats’s amazing about these two is how quickly they expose our own spiritual condition; the divide between soul and spirit. Naturally, or soulishly, we would most likely have chosen Esau in a game of kickball, football or baseball. Jacob on the other hand would be the one last chosen; not our first pick. In an interesting twist God actually prefers the younger, and probably the least likely to be voted home coming king, or the most popular, or class president. But why? What is it about Jacob that God loved? What did He see that his earthly Dad couldn’t see?

Jacob valued the birthright, and the patriarchal blessing so much so that he was willing to stoop to any depths to obtain them. Jacob was so hungry for any blessing that he was willing to wrestle through the night to obtain it from an angelic stranger. But what was the big deal about the birthright and blessing? The Birthright was an honor given to the firstborn, bestowing “head of household” status and the right to inherit his father’s estate. The son with the birthright would receive a double portion of whatever was passed down. It’s your inheritance. The Hebrew word for birthright means to “bear new fruit.”  The Blessing on the other hand was prophetic in nature involving the Favor or Grace of God bestowed upon an individual in every area of their lives. (See Deut. 28). Jacob valued these – and he valued them bad. So badly, that we was willing to do whatever it took to get them. There you have it: inheritance and God’s favor or grace. Hopefully you can see what God saw. For in these two values of Jacob we have a foreshadowing of those who are born from above. Those whose hearts belong to Heaven. Alien strangers visiting an even stranger land. But these extra-terrestrial’s (E.T. phone home) have a heart light that must phone home. Col. 3:1-3 states an obvious characteristic of those E.T.’s when he states: If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. I used to be puzzled, even offended by the beatitude that stated: blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth until I read Psalm 37. That blessing is repeated 5 times. I noticed a teachable moment so I asked the Lord, What’s the big deal about inheriting the land? His answer surprised me. Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Everything that Jesus is coming back to possess belongs to His heirs. It should be of value to us because it is of value to Him. Jacob saw the value in the inheritance afforded to him through the birthright. He saw the value in God’s Grace and favor. He saw so much value in them that he was willing to do whatever it took to possess them. All children of the King should be the same way. This sounds really crazy but I long to be home with Jesus. But check this out: our heavenly home is only temporary. Why? Because Jesus is where our Home is and He is coming back to this earth to reign. Isn’t that crazy? Jesus makes Heaven – Heaven, and there’s coming a day when He will make earth like Heaven. Why do we pray, “Thy Kingdom COME!!!???? That’s so amazing. To be with Jesus – face to face; our faces looking into His Beautiful Face! Can you hear the call? E.T. Phone Home!