food idolitry

choirgirl1130

I was driving the other day listening to a Christian talk radio show. It was an episode in a continuing series about idolatry and the program caught my attention because it was about America’s obsession with food. Thinking it was going to be about our gluttony for “supersize” and increased rates of obesity, I decided to stay tuned in, not realizing that 20 minutes later I would be hugely convicted. Yes, they did talk about how we Americans “LOVE” food. But hey also talked about how in pursuit of achieving unrealistic physical ideals, our thoughts become so fixated on controlling our food, exercise, what’s going in, what’s going out, etc. that we put food on the alter and worship it instead of God. OUCH! The supposition was that our time pursuing, obtaining, and controlling food for whatever reason was drawing us away from God and preventing us from having a deeper relationship with Him. I was well aware I had an unhealthy relationship with food in the past, thank you very much But Light exposes darkness, and not only was I still hanging onto parts of it, I WAS GUILTY OF IDOLITRY! How could I, after being a Christian for so long, not realize I was breaking Commandment #1 AND #2?!?!
The answer is very simple…denial. And God, being so sweet and gentlemanly, doesn’t force us to face facts. He simply presents the truth. And the truth occurred to me that I spent countless hours and days before and after salvation thinking about what I was going to eat, obsessing over sweets & “forbidden foods”, planning food binges, preparing foods, and anxiously anticipating holidays & other festive events. I then spent equally as much time worrying about gaining weight, purging, exercising, & starving myself. I was knowingly self-medicating myself with food to avoid my feelings and, I dare say, God. All that time away from Him. And funny thing was, I was so sure I had it under control. HA!HA!HA!
Revelation is good and this made me realize I really had an area in my life I hadn’t turned over to Him. We all do. At any given time, every one of us has an area we hold onto and I believe those things in our lives change over time. So how do we get out of spiritual adultery? Simple…repentance and a slathering application of the Word. Romans 12:1-2 Paul admonishes us to present ourselves, our lives and bodies, to God as a sacrifice, avoiding conformity to the world, and allowing ourselves to be transformed by His Word. I really never put it down and left that part of me with Him. Part of me still clung to my “old self” or often times went back to pick it back up again. God called us to come out and separate ourselves from unrighteousness, not to worship idols as the unbeliever. (2Cor. 6:16-17) Sin is sin and my “love affair” with food, or rather my need to control it, was putting me back into bondage. (Gal. 4:8-9) What Jesus did delivered me from the curse of the Law! (Gal. 3:13) And praise God I am no longer bound!

“So if the Son liberates you [makes you a free man], then you are really and UNQUESTIONABLY FREE!”
-John 8:36 AMP