Yet Another Year of Choices
By Barbara Dahlgren
Menelik II was an intelligent, dynamic African ruler who lived from 1844 to 1913. He established the nation of Ethiopia and is remembered for preserving the freedom of his people by defeating a major Italian military expedition. He strengthened his kingdom through expansion and modernization.
Legends tell us that Menelik II believed the word of God had curative powers. When he felt ill, he would actually eat a few pages of scripture. This seemed to work quite well for him. Then in 1913 he had a stroke and prescribed himself a strict diet of first and second Kings. He survived the stroke but died of a bowel obstruction shortly afterwards – probably caused by excessive amounts of paper in his intestines. If he had read the book of Kings instead of literally eating it, he might have learned something and lived in the process.
Ezekiel and John were given specific instructions from God to literally eat a scroll or two. However, we don’t see any other prophets, disciples, or apostles doing the same thing. It would give a whole new meaning to the Last Supper. However, the Bible often uses the image of eating as a metaphor for studying God’s Word. Jeremiah said that when God’s Word came to him, he “ate” it. (Jeremiah 15:16)
2 Timothy 2:15 commands us to study the Bible. Metaphorically speaking, we should devour it like a healthy meal. In our hearts, we know that spiritual food is better than physical food. After all, man wasn’t meant to live by bread alone but by every Word of God. (Matthew 4:4) The scriptures were given by inspiration from God to help us understand doctrine, correct us, instruct us, train us, and equip us for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The Thessalonians were commended for searching the scriptures daily. (Acts 17:11)
We know this, but the sad fact is that most of us don’t even read our Bibles daily, much less study them. However, we rarely go a day without eating because we know our physical bodies cannot survive without physical food. Not only do we eat daily, but the health conscious among us strive to eat a balanced diet. Menelik II found out the hard way that too much of the wrong kind of fiber could be hazardous to your health.
One’s spiritual life cannot survive without the spiritual food found in the Bible. Listening to TV preachers, reading devotionals, and attending small group meetings are great but should not be substitutions for daily drinking in God’s Word. Not only should we be “eating” the Bible daily, but in a balanced way. A spiritual diet of all prophecy will not make a healthy Christian.
Consider this… If we are what we eat, I recommend we “eat” our Bibles. Not the way Menelik II did, because it did not reap a healthy result. “Eat” your bible the way Jeremiah did. “Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”
One final thought…
There’s an old saying: Garbage in; garbage out. It came from the computer world indicating that when poor or incorrect input occurs, a faulty output is produced. The same can apply to our bodies and minds. So be cautious about what your body and mind feed on so each can produce the right result.
