“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
Food and Drink #7
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:1-5).
What would devils teach us, if given an opportunity? What would they be sure to include on their syllabus? What would seducing spirits be sure to urge us to remember (v. 1)? Now this is not said because we have any business listening to them—they are speaking lies, of course, and their consciences are seared with a hot iron (v. 2). So, put another way, what would false teachers with seared consciences, full of lies, be sure to tell us to do? What is their agenda for us?
Well, what they would do is go for the strict line. They don’t like to see people having fun, and the stricter one is, the more spiritual some people believe one must be. And yes, one is spiritual, but only in the same way that devils are spiritual. They teach that we ought not to marry (v. 3). Sex under the blessing of God offers way too much enjoyment. And of course, they are diligent to forbid us from enjoying the pleasures of the table—God created these pleasures so that we would receive them all with thanksgiving (v. 4). Now the “we” here refers to Christians who believe and know the truth. Every created thing that can go on a plate is good, and nothing is to be refused, provided we say grace over it. What sanctifies it (v. 5)? The word of God (given to us in this passage) and prayer (said at the beginning of the meal).
And so God says that every edible thing is a good edible thing. God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for whatever it is.