The Human Body

Hurrah for the human body!

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made, and the bodies designed by the Great Creator speak to us of many spiritual truths which are a delight to contemplate. Examples:

Food... illustrates the way we need His Holy Word to guide us. The body functions best on three meals a day and this is reflected in the Bible reading plan. This is the best way of assimilating Scripture. Before we consume our physical food, we give thanks and in this way our Father ensures we pray regularly throughout the day: “Evening and morning and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice” (Ps 55:7).

Water... is essential to maintain life, and this reminds us of salvation, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Is 12:3) which should be springing up in us, “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Rest... we can’t keep going for ever. The seventh day was hallowed by God as a day of rest, and is a pattern of the seventh millennial reast “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ... Let us labour therefore to enter into that reat” (Heb 4:8-11). We remember that we shall not be weary in the Kingdom, when we have ceased from our mortal labours, “But those who wait on Yahweh shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:31).

Sleep... this is a wonderful illustration of what will befall all who are accepted by the Lord Jesus at His coming. If we didn’t fall asleep and wake up, we wouldn’t really understand about resurrection. The difference is, we dream when we sleep, whereas death is oblivion, “His spirit (Heb: ruach, breath) departs, he returns to his earth: in that very day his plans perish”: but the process of awakening each morning is an exciting foretaste of what God has promised, “But you (Daniel), go your way till the end: for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of days” (Dan 12).

Blood... we have been given blood which supplies life to the whole body, “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood” (Gen 9:4). The Almighty used the concept of blood to teach us essential lessons about sacrifice and atonement, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your soul: for it is the blood that makes atonement for the souls” Lev 17:11).

Sis Monica Achieng (Musoma, Tanzania)