Healthy Bodies & Emaciated Souls
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
“Man’s life cannot be sustained without renewal from God. As it is necessary to repair the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances.” – C.H. Spurgeon
Last week, when I had not one but two severe attacks of vertigo, what nourishment I had taken in those days was quickly brought back up. And even after the bouts of dizziness and extreme nausea abated, I had to be careful not to eat too much food too fast lest I upset my still-recovering stomach.
Oh well, looking at the bright side, I managed to lose a couple of pounds!
Of course, the point that Charles Spurgeon is trying to make in today’s quote is much deeper and far more profound. Far too many people, Christians included, feed their earthly (and rapidly deteriorating) bodies, but neglect to nourish their emaciated and eternal souls. The truth of the matter is that we are physical and spiritual beings… and both aspects of our life need daily enrichment.
The “Prince of Preachers” had more to say on this subject…
“If our piety can live without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream; for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon Him as flowers wait upon the dew.”
“Without constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of hell, or the stern afflictions of heaven, or even for the strife within. When the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that has not sucked up fresh sap and grasped the rock with many inter-twisted roots.”
“When tempests arise, woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast, nor cast their anchor, nor sought the haven.”
In other words, if you feed your body but not your soul, you will not be prepared for when the inevitable storms of life slam against you… and they will (see Matthew 5:45).
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
