Secret Food
“Life is more than food…” Jesus Christ (Luke 12:23)
However, living in the food capital of Australia – Melbourne – life seems to be all about the food. The variety of restaurants, cafes and grocers is both exciting and dizzying.
Both in Melbourne and beyond, you’ve probably noticed that cafes and restaurants are catering to specific dietary requests. It’s not uncommon to see menu items tagged as Paleo, gluten free, vegan, free trade, raw, certified organic, local only, free range, etc.
We’ve moved away from simple calorie restriction to ‘lifestyle’ diets. You’ve probably heard of someone trying the Paleo, Raw, or Vegan ‘lifestyle’.
There are thousands of diet books available to fuel these lifestyles. Each book has their unique underlying philosophy and rules to take you from where you are to where you should be. It is no longer just about weight loss – diets are about ethics, detoxification, animal rights, ancestry, spirituality, power, intelligence, sexuality, individualization and identity.
Truly the diet industry has grown into something else. These diets are offering us something more than a healthy food plan (or not so healthy food plan – Butter and Bacon Diet!?). They are attempting to offer us something that they do not possess and we desperately want – a better life.
New York writer and journalist, Oliver Burkeman wrote that what we truly seek from diets is transcendence.
He writes:
“No wonder the more extreme varieties of diet begin to resemble the ascetic practices of ancient mystics, intent of achieving spiritual enlightenment through denial of the physical body. We may talk about merely getting ready for beach season, but we too are seeking transcendence.” – New Philosopher 16th Edition – Food “Not Eating Things” page 21- 22, 2017.
Yet, can food alone be a path to transcendence?
Jesus said, “Life is more than food…” (Luke 12:23)
He also speaks of a secret food: one that you won’t find in any grocery store or hipster café.
Jesus’ rebuke to Satan when hungry from wandering in the wilderness for 40 days is telling. Jesus quotes a profound truth found in the book of Deuteronomy, “Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Despite the clear abundance in modern societies, we are still starving for life. How can we be so good at feeding our physical bodies but utterly starved for spirit? Food does not sustain us alone. We are sustained by His words. If you want more life then seek His words and the truths they contain. Ingest them because they will revitalize your soul. This is the diet you seek and this one won’t leave you hungry, disappointed, weak, or broke.
God created and sustains all mankind. So instead of using a diet as a means to a better life, let’s seek the Bread of Life.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31,33)
