Picture perfection in
you mind's eye for a moment.
00:00:01.40\00:00:04.48
What would that look like?
00:00:04.51\00:00:06.50
For some of us perfect
would look like being young
00:00:06.53\00:00:09.49
with no aches or pains with
flexible joints and no disease.
00:00:09.52\00:00:14.72
Or perhaps, perfect
conjures up the ideal marriage,
00:00:14.75\00:00:18.88
a kind and attentive
spouse, a good provider
00:00:18.91\00:00:22.65
or a lifelong best
friend who never compromises
00:00:22.68\00:00:26.19
their faithfulness or integrity.
00:00:26.22\00:00:29.39
Today of course those
ideals are just that, ideals.
00:00:29.42\00:00:33.95
But divorce, unfaithfulness,
sickness and death
00:00:33.98\00:00:37.24
are all reminders that we
are not in a perfect world.
00:00:37.27\00:00:41.25
So we
contemplate something better.
00:00:41.28\00:00:44.37
But we're not the first
to muse over perfection.
00:00:44.40\00:00:47.37
Perhaps the genesis of
our infatuation with idealism
00:00:47.40\00:00:51.53
stems from an
original sense of variety
00:00:51.56\00:00:54.62
of how things should
be, were designed to be.
00:00:54.65\00:00:58.54
You know, one of the
doctrines or teachings of Jesus
00:00:58.57\00:01:01.27
actually talks about
this very theme of perfection.
00:01:01.30\00:01:05.86
"Be ye therefore perfect."
He said in Matthew 5:48.
00:01:05.89\00:01:09.70
"Even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect."
00:01:09.73\00:01:14.13
Imagine that, a God who calls
us to the ideal of perfection.
00:01:14.16\00:01:19.91
And in one way
we like it because
00:01:19.94\00:01:22.07
if everyone else is
perfect then our lives
00:01:22.10\00:01:25.94
will be better,
safer, full of peace.
00:01:25.97\00:01:29.89
And yet like a thunderstorm
this doctrine clashes against
00:01:29.92\00:01:33.41
the pervasive of
teaching from Popes today.
00:01:33.44\00:01:36.58
But no matter how
this teaching of Jesus
00:01:36.61\00:01:38.78
disturbs our sacred cows
of understanding and belief,
00:01:38.81\00:01:42.54
Jesus is calling us
to something better.
00:01:42.57\00:01:46.69
Hello, I'm Charles Byrd.
00:02:39.62\00:02:42.12
If you've ever
seen the acrobatics
00:02:42.15\00:02:44.02
of cirque du soleil
then you can appreciate
00:02:44.05\00:02:46.41
that our bodies are capable
00:02:46.44\00:02:48.44
of far more than
we demand of them.
00:02:48.47\00:02:51.27
When you watch
their physical acumen
00:02:51.30\00:02:53.45
how can you not
marvel at the perfection
00:02:53.48\00:02:56.35
and precision of the human body.
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Stunning as
these athletes maybe,
00:03:00.08\00:03:02.35
an area even more needy
of perfection is marriage
00:03:02.38\00:03:06.11
and the family, one husband
and one wife in love and happy.
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After all, a
strong and healthy family
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is the framework for a
strong and healthy society.
00:03:15.33\00:03:19.53
But how do we
come to perfection?
00:03:19.56\00:03:21.63
How do we arrive at the ideal
body or the ideal marriage?
00:03:21.66\00:03:26.32
How do we become as
perfect as our Father in heaven?
00:03:26.35\00:03:30.82
Once again Jesus shows
us the way in Matthew 19:8.
00:03:30.85\00:03:35.50
He points us
back to the beginning
00:03:35.53\00:03:37.57
to His original creation
as the model, as the standard
00:03:37.60\00:03:41.75
He had in mind
for our happiness.
00:03:41.78\00:03:45.08
You see, God never intended
there to be imperfection
00:03:45.11\00:03:49.51
and He is working right
now to restore the perfection
00:03:49.54\00:03:52.48
He originally intended
for this planet and for us.
00:03:52.51\00:03:56.71
But you and I
have a part to play.
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So true, Charles.
00:04:00.10\00:04:01.53
God did and does
have better plans for us
00:04:01.56\00:04:04.10
than this world offers.
00:04:04.13\00:04:06.32
Over and over the
Bible teaches us that
00:04:06.35\00:04:08.97
all God's ways are perfect.
00:04:09.00\00:04:11.42
Moses proclaimed
in his victory song.
00:04:11.45\00:04:13.70
"Thy God work
is indeed perfect."
00:04:13.73\00:04:16.79
The very first perfect
work God presents to us
00:04:16.82\00:04:19.98
in the first verse of scripture
00:04:20.01\00:04:22.13
is His creation in this
world and everything in it.
00:04:22.16\00:04:25.73
In the beginning God created
the heaven and the earth,
00:04:25.76\00:04:29.70
and God saw every
thing that He had made,
00:04:29.73\00:04:32.62
and behold, it was very good.
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Seven times in the
first Chapter of Genesis,
00:04:35.68\00:04:38.84
God pronounced His
work of creation "good."
00:04:38.87\00:04:42.90
God's awesome creative
ability is the ultimate reason
00:04:42.93\00:04:46.89
we all Him worship,
obedience and honor.
00:04:46.92\00:04:52.79
In Revelation 14, the
first of Three Angels,
00:04:52.82\00:04:57.06
flies through heavens
crying with a loud voice
00:04:57.09\00:04:59.55
to earth's inhabitance.
00:04:59.58\00:05:01.94
"Fear God and give glory to Him
00:05:01.97\00:05:04.55
for the hour of His
judgment is come and worship Him
00:05:04.58\00:05:08.53
that made heaven
and earth and the sea
00:05:08.56\00:05:11.34
and the fountains of waters."
00:05:11.37\00:05:13.41
Again creation
sided us the reason
00:05:13.44\00:05:16.58
for us to worship God.
00:05:16.61\00:05:18.47
The fact that God is the
creator is the sole reason
00:05:18.50\00:05:22.05
on which He can rest
the claim of worship.
00:05:22.08\00:05:25.87
And John Chapter
1, the beloved apostle
00:05:25.90\00:05:28.72
introduces us to His
master, Jesus Christ.
00:05:28.75\00:05:32.64
As he starts his book he
asserts Christ's divinity
00:05:32.67\00:05:36.44
and the proof of that
claim rest in the fact that
00:05:36.47\00:05:39.21
Jesus or the
Word is the creator.
00:05:39.24\00:05:43.75
"In the beginning was the Word,
00:05:43.78\00:05:46.15
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
00:05:46.18\00:05:49.80
All things were made
by him, and without Him
00:05:49.83\00:05:52.91
was not any thing
made that was made."
00:05:52.94\00:05:56.92
John understood that if
Jesus life ministry in death
00:05:56.95\00:06:00.91
was to have any value at
all He must be the creator.
00:06:00.94\00:06:05.42
Only the
inventor could intervene
00:06:05.45\00:06:07.58
as the
substitute for His creation.
00:06:07.61\00:06:10.74
No other being in heaven
or earth held the authority
00:06:10.77\00:06:14.30
or right to step and to take
its place except the creator.
00:06:14.33\00:06:19.22
That's why Jesus could
triumph over the tomb of saying.
00:06:19.25\00:06:23.16
"I am the
resurrection, and the life."
00:06:23.19\00:06:27.68
Not only was He
the inception of life,
00:06:27.71\00:06:30.36
the creator, He was
also life's redemption.
00:06:30.39\00:06:34.77
If we are indeed His
creation then the creator would
00:06:34.80\00:06:37.86
certainly know what's best
for His creation, wouldn't He?
00:06:37.89\00:06:41.85
So let's go back to Eden and see
00:06:41.88\00:06:44.36
what His perfect
ideal is for our happiness.
00:06:44.39\00:06:50.06
The seven day week
along with it Sabbath rest
00:06:50.09\00:06:52.64
comes to us from
perfect eating, Carl.
00:06:52.67\00:06:55.46
But the Sabbath is
not the only institution
00:06:55.49\00:06:57.52
that comes to us
from God's perfect garden.
00:06:57.55\00:07:00.35
So does marriage.
00:07:00.38\00:07:02.01
In Mark 10:6, Jesus
hugs back to Genesis
00:07:02.04\00:07:04.82
as the perfect and
only design for marriage,
00:07:04.85\00:07:07.99
it is for one man and one woman.
00:07:08.02\00:07:10.88
"From the beginning of creation
God made them male and female."
00:07:10.91\00:07:15.27
And in Matthew, Jesus said
that He made marriage to endure,
00:07:15.30\00:07:19.09
to be a permanent
and happy union for life.
00:07:19.12\00:07:22.29
Jesus also said that
it was God's intention
00:07:22.32\00:07:24.60
from the very
beginning, from creation.
00:07:24.63\00:07:27.89
Marriage is very
close to God's heart
00:07:27.92\00:07:29.88
because He
designed the family union
00:07:29.91\00:07:31.92
to be the foundation of society.
00:07:31.95\00:07:34.93
Today, most homes have drifted
from God's edenic family plan
00:07:34.96\00:07:38.65
of one man and one woman mated
00:07:38.68\00:07:40.88
and committed it in a
lifelong relationship.
00:07:40.91\00:07:43.69
And our society is
reaping the results.
00:07:43.72\00:07:47.02
Statistics show
that fatherless children
00:07:47.05\00:07:49.05
are three times more
likely to fail in school.
00:07:49.08\00:07:51.98
Require psychiatric treatment.
00:07:52.01\00:07:53.77
And commit
suicide as adolescents.
00:07:53.80\00:07:56.70
They are also up to
40 times more likely
00:07:56.73\00:07:59.21
to experience child abuse
00:07:59.24\00:08:00.90
compare to children growing
up in two parent families.
00:08:00.93\00:08:04.09
Among long-term
prison inmates 70% grew up
00:08:04.12\00:08:07.49
without father as
did 60% of rapists,
00:08:07.52\00:08:10.34
and 75% of
adolescents charged with murder.
00:08:10.37\00:08:14.36
And who are the women in prison?
00:08:14.39\00:08:16.24
More than half
are single mothers
00:08:16.27\00:08:18.40
who were living on welfare.
00:08:18.43\00:08:20.89
Well, sin has made
marriages less than perfect.
00:08:20.92\00:08:23.92
In the teachings of Jesus
and the Bible God is giving us
00:08:23.95\00:08:26.88
counsel for reordering
our lives and marriages
00:08:26.91\00:08:29.99
and restoring them to
the happiness of Eden.
00:08:30.02\00:08:33.48
For example, in Matthew 5:28
00:08:33.51\00:08:35.78
Jesus calls us to
purity even a thought.
00:08:35.81\00:08:39.79
"Whosoever looketh
on a woman to lust after
00:08:39.82\00:08:42.12
her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart."
00:08:42.15\00:08:46.36
God calls for
purity of the mind and body
00:08:46.39\00:08:48.83
before and within the marriage.
00:08:48.86\00:08:51.61
He says through
the apostle Paul,
00:08:51.64\00:08:53.95
"do you not know
that the unrighteous
00:08:53.98\00:08:55.65
will not inherit
the kingdom of God?
00:08:55.68\00:08:58.15
Do not be deceived.
00:08:58.18\00:08:59.55
Neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers,
00:08:59.58\00:09:02.62
nor homosexuals, nor sodomites
00:09:02.65\00:09:05.26
will inherit
the kingdom of God."
00:09:05.29\00:09:07.84
God wants us to experience
true happiness which is why
00:09:07.87\00:09:11.57
He gives us clear
directives for a happy marriage.
00:09:11.60\00:09:14.94
Sexual purity is
paramount and fostering
00:09:14.97\00:09:17.68
one essential element, trust.
00:09:17.71\00:09:20.98
The wise men says
of a virtuous woman,
00:09:21.01\00:09:23.60
"the heart of her husband
doth safely trust in her,
00:09:23.63\00:09:27.36
" A healthy
relationship can only last
00:09:27.39\00:09:29.72
if there is
absolute and mutual trust
00:09:29.75\00:09:33.87
which brings us to Commitment.
00:09:33.90\00:09:35.87
God created marriage to
be a lifelong commitment.
00:09:35.90\00:09:39.57
Jesus talked about
this when the Pharisees
00:09:39.60\00:09:41.71
questioned Him about divorce.
00:09:41.74\00:09:43.97
He told them, "From
the beginning of creation
00:09:44.00\00:09:46.88
God made them male and female.
00:09:46.91\00:09:49.46
For this reason a man shall
leave his father and mother
00:09:49.49\00:09:52.53
and be joined to his wife,
00:09:52.56\00:09:54.57
and the two
shall become one flesh.
00:09:54.60\00:09:57.45
Whoever divorces his
wife and marries another
00:09:57.48\00:10:00.06
commits adultery against her.
00:10:00.09\00:10:02.08
And if a woman divorces her
husband and marries another,
00:10:02.11\00:10:05.33
she commits adultery."
00:10:05.36\00:10:08.31
God wants us to be
committed to one another.
00:10:08.34\00:10:11.09
This was His original
plan from the beginning.
00:10:11.12\00:10:14.51
He never intended
there to be divorce
00:10:14.54\00:10:16.36
and the only time Jesus
said divorce was permissible
00:10:16.39\00:10:19.59
was in the case of
sexual unfaithfulness.
00:10:19.62\00:10:22.32
But even then divorce
is not a God's idea for us
00:10:22.35\00:10:25.55
rather He instructs us to
be kind to one to another,
00:10:25.58\00:10:29.24
tender hearted,
forgiving one another,
00:10:29.27\00:10:31.86
even as God for
Christ's sake has forgiven you.
00:10:31.89\00:10:36.21
Forgiveness keeps the
path of communication open
00:10:36.24\00:10:39.16
and is a healing
balm in any relationship.
00:10:39.19\00:10:42.03
That's why Jesus
taught us to pray.
00:10:42.06\00:10:44.72
"Forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors."
00:10:44.75\00:10:49.53
Excellent points, Andrea.
00:10:49.56\00:10:51.22
A purity, trust,
commitment, and forgiveness
00:10:51.25\00:10:54.32
truly are vital
to healthy homes.
00:10:54.35\00:10:57.63
But there are
two more directives
00:10:57.66\00:10:59.52
that are key to our happiness.
00:10:59.55\00:11:02.42
God also carefully
instructed His people
00:11:02.45\00:11:05.22
not to
intermarry with the world.
00:11:05.25\00:11:08.32
Marriage is a partnership
and both parties need to share
00:11:08.35\00:11:11.45
the same beliefs, goals,
standards, values, etcetera
00:11:11.48\00:11:15.14
in order to pull the load of
life evenly and successfully.
00:11:15.17\00:11:19.56
And Paul counseled
the Corinthians believers,
00:11:19.59\00:11:21.83
"Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers,
00:11:21.86\00:11:25.70
for what fellowship hath
00:11:25.73\00:11:27.27
righteousness
with unrighteousness?
00:11:27.30\00:11:29.58
And what communion
hath light with darkness?"
00:11:29.61\00:11:33.54
In the Hungarian
culture knew well that
00:11:33.57\00:11:35.65
in order to have a good team,
the animals had to be equal
00:11:35.68\00:11:39.01
in size and strength
and had to pull together.
00:11:39.04\00:11:42.49
They had to be united in purpose
00:11:42.52\00:11:44.71
and both had to listen
to the same one master.
00:11:44.74\00:11:49.48
"Can two walk together
except they be agreed?"
00:11:49.51\00:11:52.45
The prophet asked in Amos 3:3.
00:11:52.48\00:11:54.87
For a marriage to
be a happy and lasting,
00:11:54.90\00:11:57.79
a couple must be in spiritual,
00:11:57.82\00:11:59.71
emotional, and
intellectual unity.
00:11:59.74\00:12:02.53
And that brings us to
the number one component
00:12:02.56\00:12:05.90
to making happy
and heavenly homes.
00:12:05.93\00:12:09.13
Each of us must
listen to and obey
00:12:09.16\00:12:12.49
the directions of our master.
00:12:12.52\00:12:15.29
In the sermon on the
Mount, Jesus taught us,
00:12:15.32\00:12:17.81
"seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and His righteousness,
00:12:17.84\00:12:22.97
and all these things
shall be added unto you."
00:12:23.00\00:12:27.25
Only when the
husband and wife hold God
00:12:27.28\00:12:29.95
as a supreme authority
in their lives individually
00:12:29.98\00:12:32.91
and together, can
they truly be united.
00:12:32.94\00:12:36.70
And throughout the
Bible God requires priority
00:12:36.73\00:12:39.77
in our finances,
our time, our bodies,
00:12:39.80\00:12:42.80
every part of our lives.
00:12:42.83\00:12:44.28
And basically He
claims the highest honor
00:12:44.31\00:12:47.62
in every area of our lives.
00:12:47.65\00:12:49.47
And because He is our creator
00:12:49.50\00:12:51.19
He has the right to
require supreme royalty.
00:12:51.22\00:12:54.12
And because He is our creator
00:12:54.15\00:12:55.82
His goal is our
greatest happiness.
00:12:55.85\00:12:59.40
That's why He
says, "For my thoughts
00:12:59.43\00:13:01.88
are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.57
my ways, saith the Lord.
00:13:04.60\00:13:06.39
For as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
00:13:06.42\00:13:09.16
so are my ways
higher than your ways,
00:13:09.19\00:13:11.41
and my thoughts
than your thoughts.
00:13:11.44\00:13:14.32
For ye shall go out with joy,
and be led forth with peace."
00:13:14.35\00:13:20.72
If joy without guilt and peace
at all time soundsgood to you
00:13:20.75\00:13:25.73
then says yes, put Him first.
00:13:25.76\00:13:29.80
God certainly does have
our best interest at heart.
00:13:29.83\00:13:33.52
And even though sin
and our own imperfections
00:13:33.55\00:13:36.31
have tainted the beautiful
family God intended for us,
00:13:36.34\00:13:40.58
He still loves us and
longs to bless our homes
00:13:40.61\00:13:43.88
with His abiding presence
if we will put Him first.
00:13:43.91\00:13:48.21
He delights in our happiness.
00:13:48.24\00:13:50.10
In fact Christ's
first public miracle
00:13:50.13\00:13:52.81
was performed at a
marriage celebration.
00:13:52.84\00:13:55.77
It was here in the
little village of Cana
00:13:55.80\00:13:58.48
that Jesus reached out a
ministering hand to share
00:13:58.51\00:14:02.12
in the celebration of marriage.
00:14:02.15\00:14:05.85
God think so highly of marriage
that He compares His relation
00:14:05.88\00:14:09.39
with the church as
that of a groom and a bride.
00:14:09.42\00:14:13.22
In the Parable
of the Ten Virgins,
00:14:13.25\00:14:15.09
Jesus portrayed
the Second Coming
00:14:15.12\00:14:17.16
as a bridegroom
coming at midnight
00:14:17.19\00:14:19.73
for the love of His life.
00:14:19.76\00:14:21.91
Again in Matthew
22, Jesus compares
00:14:21.94\00:14:24.35
His wonderful offer of salvation
to the festive marriage scene.
00:14:24.38\00:14:29.45
And once again in Revelation
John uses the terminology
00:14:29.48\00:14:32.99
of marriage to depict
God moving the capital
00:14:33.02\00:14:35.74
of the universe to
this earth to dwell with us.
00:14:35.77\00:14:39.99
The Bible's glorious
presentation of the union
00:14:40.02\00:14:42.81
of a husband and wife certainly
00:14:42.84\00:14:45.44
show that God views
marriage as honorable.
00:14:45.47\00:14:49.58
In fact, I believe
that God designed marriage
00:14:49.61\00:14:52.49
just so we could get
a glimpse of the union
00:14:52.52\00:14:55.17
God wants to have with us.
00:14:55.20\00:14:57.51
Back in the Garden of Eden,
God knew that we would need
00:14:57.54\00:15:00.44
the object lesson of marriage
00:15:00.47\00:15:02.68
to help us picture
the unity of the Godhead.
00:15:02.71\00:15:06.15
He wanted us to enter
into the joy of creation
00:15:06.18\00:15:08.97
by enabling us to procreate.
00:15:09.00\00:15:11.78
And He wanted us
to experience the love
00:15:11.81\00:15:14.50
that He has for
us as His children
00:15:14.53\00:15:17.25
by giving us the joy
of loving our children.
00:15:17.28\00:15:20.71
Yes, the Garden of
Eden is indeed the place
00:15:20.74\00:15:23.65
where God set in motion
the very things we would need
00:15:23.68\00:15:27.28
to catch a glimpse of
His perfection and happiness.
00:15:27.31\00:15:30.96
Here is clearly laid
out the Edenic blueprint
00:15:30.99\00:15:34.00
that God ordained parameters
within which to experience
00:15:34.03\00:15:37.51
His intended best in marriage.
00:15:37.54\00:15:40.61
And something else
God's original plan also sets
00:15:40.64\00:15:43.43
the stage for,
building optimal health.
00:15:43.46\00:15:47.81
Indeed it does, Charles.
00:15:47.84\00:15:50.10
Let's consider the perfect diet
00:15:50.13\00:15:51.95
God gave to Adam
and Eve in Paradise.
00:15:51.98\00:15:55.27
"'Then God said, "I give
you every seed-bearing plant
00:15:55.30\00:15:58.20
on the face of the whole earth
00:15:58.23\00:16:00.23
and every tree that
has fruit with seed in it.
00:16:00.26\00:16:03.45
They will be yours for food.'
00:16:03.48\00:16:06.14
" Our first parents were
giving a plant based diet
00:16:06.17\00:16:08.75
of seeds, fruits, and nuts.
00:16:08.78\00:16:10.90
It was a simple yet
nutritious and balanced diet.
00:16:10.93\00:16:14.60
It was perfectly
suited to a vigorous, healthy,
00:16:14.63\00:16:17.38
and lone life, in
fact eternal life.
00:16:17.41\00:16:20.96
Immediately following sin
00:16:20.99\00:16:22.56
God added
vegetables to the human diet.
00:16:22.59\00:16:25.41
Thorns and
thistles diet to be eaten
00:16:25.44\00:16:27.19
such as potatoes,
carrots, or cabbage.
00:16:27.22\00:16:30.85
I'm not sure why He added
this provision to our diet,
00:16:30.88\00:16:34.19
but perhaps in His
infinite wisdom God knew that
00:16:34.22\00:16:36.92
since mankind was no longer
eating from the tree of life
00:16:36.95\00:16:39.92
we would need extra nutrients
available in vegetables.
00:16:39.95\00:16:44.84
The next time we see
God directing men's diet
00:16:44.87\00:16:47.51
was when they came off the ark
00:16:47.54\00:16:49.48
after the worldwide
flood in Genesis 9:3.
00:16:49.51\00:16:53.25
God said to Noah,
"Every moving thing
00:16:53.28\00:16:56.16
that liveth
shall be meat for you,
00:16:56.19\00:16:58.72
even as the green herb
have I given you all things."
00:16:58.75\00:17:03.17
Here is where flesh foods were
00:17:03.20\00:17:04.82
first introduced
to the human diet.
00:17:04.85\00:17:07.41
However did Noah understand
this to me that he could eat
00:17:07.44\00:17:10.86
absolutely every kind
of animal in the planet
00:17:10.89\00:17:13.75
such as rats,
or snakes, or pigs?
00:17:13.78\00:17:18.50
Certainly not.
00:17:18.53\00:17:20.09
How do I know this?
Because of the context.
00:17:20.12\00:17:24.12
The immediate context
is found in Genesis 7:2
00:17:24.15\00:17:27.44
when Noah brought
the animals into the ark.
00:17:27.47\00:17:30.37
"The clean animals
came by sevens while those
00:17:30.40\00:17:33.71
that were not clean
came as pairs just to each."
00:17:33.74\00:17:38.40
Noah and his family knew
which were clean and unclean
00:17:38.43\00:17:41.31
because God made a distinction.
00:17:41.34\00:17:44.47
And it was the
clean animals only
00:17:44.50\00:17:46.56
that God allowed them to eat.
00:17:46.59\00:17:48.78
How can I be confident of this?
00:17:48.81\00:17:50.95
Well, to put it
simple we still have pigs.
00:17:50.98\00:17:54.68
If Noah had eaten just
one of the unclean animals
00:17:54.71\00:17:57.77
like a pig, or a mouse,
squirrel or a rattlesnake
00:17:57.80\00:18:01.07
that species would
have gone extinct because
00:18:01.10\00:18:03.09
there were only two
each of the unclean animals.
00:18:03.12\00:18:06.21
In Genesis 6, God proposed
00:18:06.24\00:18:08.08
to shorten
man's life expectancy.
00:18:08.11\00:18:11.08
But we don't see the
happening until after
00:18:11.11\00:18:13.17
the flood in the introduction
of meat into the diet.
00:18:13.20\00:18:16.80
Following the
flood we see an amazingly
00:18:16.83\00:18:18.96
precipitous
decrease in longevity.
00:18:18.99\00:18:22.06
According to
Genesis, the average life span
00:18:22.09\00:18:25.37
of the generations preceding
the flood was 912 years.
00:18:25.40\00:18:30.43
But in just nine generations
following Noah's family
00:18:30.46\00:18:33.56
we come to Abraham
who only lived to 175.
00:18:33.59\00:18:38.57
That is almost an
81% drop in longevity
00:18:38.60\00:18:42.02
in just nine generations.
00:18:42.05\00:18:45.22
That is a huge
drop in longevity, Carl.
00:18:45.25\00:18:48.04
And that well eating clean meat.
00:18:48.07\00:18:50.74
Fast-forward over
400 years the Exodus
00:18:50.77\00:18:53.60
and once again God
spelled out the dietary laws
00:18:53.63\00:18:56.81
designed for optimal health.
00:18:56.84\00:18:59.22
He said that the reason He gave
them the dietary injunctions
00:18:59.25\00:19:02.33
was because His chosen
people and a special treasure.
00:19:02.36\00:19:09.91
For all God's
chosen and holy people then
00:19:09.94\00:19:13.21
and now He clearly spelled out
00:19:13.24\00:19:15.42
the difference
between clean and unclean.
00:19:15.45\00:19:18.82
"These are the
animals which you may eat,
00:19:18.85\00:19:21.49
every animal with cloven hooves,
00:19:21.52\00:19:23.68
having the hoof
split into two parts,
00:19:23.71\00:19:26.12
and that chews the
cud, among the animals."
00:19:26.15\00:19:29.22
God goes on to tell us
which aquatic animals are clean.
00:19:29.25\00:19:33.07
"These you may eat of
all that are in the waters,
00:19:33.10\00:19:36.03
you may eat of all
that have fins and scales."
00:19:36.06\00:19:39.77
The distinction among
fowl is not quite as clear.
00:19:39.80\00:19:42.77
But it seems as though
birds that are considered clean
00:19:42.80\00:19:45.39
are those that only eat
grasses, seeds, and insects.
00:19:45.42\00:19:49.61
Listen friend, these
laws are not ceremonial laws
00:19:49.64\00:19:52.98
that were nailed to the cross.
00:19:53.01\00:19:54.62
The cross did not somehow make
unhealthy meat healthy for us.
00:19:54.65\00:19:59.08
These are the health laws
that have blessed God's people
00:19:59.11\00:20:01.97
through every age of history
00:20:02.00\00:20:03.84
and are still
blessing many today.
00:20:03.87\00:20:06.70
Another important stipulation
God placed on meat eaters
00:20:06.73\00:20:09.67
is found in Genesis 9:4.
00:20:09.70\00:20:12.17
From the very first time
God allowed man to eat meat
00:20:12.20\00:20:15.48
and before there were
any Jews He commanded them
00:20:15.51\00:20:18.20
not to eat the blood.
00:20:18.23\00:20:20.21
And in the Leviticus
God again strictly forbade
00:20:20.24\00:20:23.02
its ingestion
along with animal fat.
00:20:23.05\00:20:26.26
"It shall be a perpetual
statute for your generations
00:20:26.29\00:20:29.32
throughout all your dwellings,
00:20:29.35\00:20:31.09
that ye eat
neither fat nor blood."
00:20:31.12\00:20:34.24
And once again in Acts,
00:20:34.27\00:20:35.64
the command to not
eat blood is given.
00:20:35.67\00:20:38.00
But this time to New Testament
00:20:38.03\00:20:40.08
non-Jewish believers in Jesus,
00:20:40.11\00:20:43.19
"Abstain from things
strangled, and from blood."
00:20:43.22\00:20:46.77
Now why would God be so emphatic
about the eating of blood?
00:20:46.80\00:20:50.64
Fortunate for us
science is finally catching up
00:20:50.67\00:20:53.27
with what God knew
from the beginning.
00:20:53.30\00:20:56.14
The blood system is
a marvelous creation.
00:20:56.17\00:20:58.84
It is the courier
for all things necessary,
00:20:58.87\00:21:01.16
bringing oxygen and
nutrients to the cells.
00:21:01.19\00:21:03.99
It carries platelets
to coagulate the blood
00:21:04.02\00:21:06.23
along with white cell
antibiotics to fight germs.
00:21:06.26\00:21:09.85
But this system
does double duty.
00:21:09.88\00:21:12.36
It also carries
away from the cells
00:21:12.39\00:21:14.41
all the waste
products, the broken down cells,
00:21:14.44\00:21:17.16
metabolites, or
molecular debris from used food.
00:21:17.19\00:21:20.63
It transports fat and
all kinds of pollutants
00:21:20.66\00:21:23.33
that end up in
the urine and stool.
00:21:23.36\00:21:25.53
It also is the courier
for hormones like adrenaline.
00:21:25.56\00:21:29.03
To eat blood is to deliberately
ingest all of these poisons
00:21:29.06\00:21:32.87
and hormones that are
injurious to our health.
00:21:32.90\00:21:35.83
God wants us to live life
at its fullest and even though
00:21:35.86\00:21:39.38
sin has
interrupted God's perfect plan,
00:21:39.41\00:21:42.32
we can still
cooperate with God's wisdom
00:21:42.35\00:21:44.74
and thus experience
above-average health.
00:21:44.77\00:21:47.75
In fact, God promises, "if
thou wilt diligently hearken
00:21:47.78\00:21:52.21
to the voice of
the Lord thy God,
00:21:52.24\00:21:53.96
and wilt do that
which is right in his sight,
00:21:53.99\00:21:56.55
including obeying
the laws of health.
00:21:56.58\00:21:58.85
I will put none of
these diseases upon thee,
00:21:58.88\00:22:01.63
which I have
brought upon the Egyptians."
00:22:01.66\00:22:05.09
Archeology has shown
that ancient Egyptians died
00:22:05.12\00:22:07.74
from preventable,
avoidable diseases
00:22:07.77\00:22:10.03
such as diabetes,
heart disease, and cancer.
00:22:10.06\00:22:13.11
Well Moses lived to
be 120 and when He died
00:22:13.14\00:22:17.01
the Bible says
"His eye was not dim,
00:22:17.04\00:22:19.86
not his natural forced abated."
00:22:19.89\00:22:22.68
These natural
laws are still binding
00:22:22.71\00:22:24.83
and we can chose
to say yes to God
00:22:24.86\00:22:27.01
with this choice and
live younger, longer.
00:22:27.04\00:22:31.49
What a beautiful
testimony, Andrea.
00:22:31.52\00:22:33.79
And when we follow God's laws
00:22:33.82\00:22:35.78
we're sure to
reap His blessings.
00:22:35.81\00:22:38.15
And some people try to argue
that these commands applied
00:22:38.18\00:22:40.87
only to the Jews, but
as we've already discussed
00:22:40.90\00:22:44.26
these health laws
were emplaced long
00:22:44.29\00:22:46.78
before the first Jew existed.
00:22:46.81\00:22:49.28
God gave these
rules to all humanity
00:22:49.31\00:22:51.88
so that we'd all be healthy.
00:22:51.91\00:22:53.32
God made all people
and no matter where we're
00:22:53.35\00:22:55.84
from our bodily
functions are the same.
00:22:55.87\00:22:58.94
Our creator God knows
our bodies far better than
00:22:58.97\00:23:01.46
anyone else and He
wants what's best for us.
00:23:01.49\00:23:05.79
But for Christians He has an
additional claim on our legions.
00:23:05.82\00:23:10.07
And Paul admonished
the Corinthians believers,
00:23:10.10\00:23:12.52
"Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God,
00:23:12.55\00:23:15.99
and that the Spirit
of God dwelleth in you?
00:23:16.02\00:23:18.97
If any man defile
the temple of God,
00:23:19.00\00:23:21.43
him shall God destroy,
for the temple of God is holy,
00:23:21.46\00:23:26.15
which temple ye are."
00:23:26.18\00:23:29.13
Today God lives
in His people, in us.
00:23:29.16\00:23:33.64
We're are His sanctuary
and that's why Paul pleaded,
00:23:33.67\00:23:38.54
"I beseech you
therefore brethren,
00:23:38.57\00:23:40.55
by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies
00:23:40.58\00:23:44.00
a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God,
00:23:44.03\00:23:48.41
which is your
reasonable service.
00:23:48.44\00:23:51.23
You body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost
00:23:51.26\00:23:54.22
which is in you,
which ye have of God,
00:23:54.25\00:23:57.66
and ye are not your own?
00:23:57.69\00:23:59.06
For ye are bought with a price,
00:23:59.09\00:24:01.49
therefore
glorify God in you body,
00:24:01.52\00:24:04.14
and in your
Spirit which are God's."
00:24:04.17\00:24:07.28
God wants to be
intimately close with us.
00:24:07.31\00:24:10.45
He says, "I will dwell
in them, and walk in them,
00:24:10.48\00:24:16.10
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
00:24:16.13\00:24:20.75
Wherefore come
out form among them
00:24:20.78\00:24:23.07
and be ye
separate, saith the Lord,
00:24:23.10\00:24:25.42
and touch not the unclean
thing, and I will receive you.
00:24:25.45\00:24:30.69
And I will be a Father unto
you, and you shall be my sons
00:24:30.72\00:24:34.36
and my daughters
saith the Lord Almighty."
00:24:34.39\00:24:37.16
God longs to have undisturbed
access to our hearts.
00:24:37.19\00:24:40.59
He knows that He can
only have that if we'll follow
00:24:40.62\00:24:43.40
the principles He has
laid out for us in His word.
00:24:43.43\00:24:47.00
He is jealous of our
love, time and attention
00:24:47.03\00:24:50.30
and only when
we have clear minds
00:24:50.33\00:24:53.07
and healthy bodies can
have free access to us.
00:24:53.10\00:24:57.38
And as God's temple,
we're called to utmost holiness,
00:24:57.41\00:25:01.71
and purity in
diet, relationships,
00:25:01.74\00:25:05.43
thoughts and actions.
00:25:05.46\00:25:08.60
Thanks, Levi.
00:25:08.63\00:25:11.95
When we're obedient, God can
use us a spectacle to the world.
00:25:11.98\00:25:17.09
A living
testimony that He is good
00:25:17.12\00:25:20.12
and His ways are best.
00:25:20.15\00:25:22.64
That's the story of Daniel
"who purposed in his heart
00:25:22.67\00:25:25.42
not to defile
himself with the king's meat.
00:25:25.45\00:25:28.65
He purposed in his heart
00:25:28.68\00:25:30.05
not to drink the king'salcohol."
00:25:30.08\00:25:32.98
Daniel here is requesting
a healthy vegetarian diet.
00:25:33.01\00:25:37.11
And the results of this choice,
00:25:37.14\00:25:39.30
God blessed Daniel
and his three friends
00:25:39.33\00:25:41.45
with quick minds,
wisdom, skill, and knowledge
00:25:41.48\00:25:45.70
and at the end of their studies
they were found to be ten times
00:25:45.73\00:25:49.11
wiser than the
established wise men around.
00:25:49.14\00:25:53.19
These man were temples
of a living and wise God.
00:25:53.22\00:25:58.20
And those same positive results
can be had today by those
00:25:58.23\00:26:01.73
who'll follow the
lamb wherever He leads.
00:26:01.76\00:26:05.40
Evidence for this can be found
00:26:05.43\00:26:06.89
in a U.S. News and
World Report article titled,
00:26:06.92\00:26:10.06
"11 health habits that
will help you live to 100."
00:26:10.09\00:26:14.42
Number eight in the list reads
00:26:14.45\00:26:16.45
live like a
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:26:16.48\00:26:20.01
"Americans who define themselves
as Seventh-day Adventists
00:26:20.04\00:26:23.21
have an average
life expectancy of 89,
00:26:23.24\00:26:26.16
about a decade longer
than the average American.
00:26:26.19\00:26:29.20
One of the basic
tenets of the religion is that
00:26:29.23\00:26:32.15
it's important to
cherish the body that's on loan
00:26:32.18\00:26:35.49
from God, which
means no smoking, alcohol,
00:26:35.52\00:26:38.73
or overindulging in sweets.
00:26:38.76\00:26:41.04
Followers typically
stick to a vegetarian diet
00:26:41.07\00:26:44.07
based on fruits,
vegetables, beans, and nuts,
00:26:44.10\00:26:47.09
and get plenty of exercise.
00:26:47.12\00:26:49.40
They're also very focused
on family and community."
00:26:49.43\00:26:53.72
Seventh-day Adventist
Christians have chosen
00:26:53.75\00:26:55.92
to say yes to God and
His laws regarding health.
00:26:55.95\00:27:00.09
And as a result
they not only live longer
00:27:00.12\00:27:02.36
than the average
American that time is lived
00:27:02.39\00:27:05.41
with far fewer diseases.
00:27:05.44\00:27:08.01
And it shouldn't
really surprise us, should it?
00:27:08.04\00:27:10.55
That following God's plan makes
00:27:10.58\00:27:12.42
for longer life
and happier homes.
00:27:12.45\00:27:15.57
After all He is the creator.
00:27:15.60\00:27:19.04
Back in that beautiful
garden He created everything
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.89
that would enable us to
live life at its fullest.
00:27:21.92\00:27:25.28
And in regard to our
bodies and our marriages
00:27:25.31\00:27:28.85
following His original
plan is laid out in His laws
00:27:28.88\00:27:32.05
when we restore a good deal
00:27:32.08\00:27:34.08
of Eden's perfect
happiness to our lives today.
00:27:34.11\00:27:37.38
As well as give us
a foretaste of heaven
00:27:37.41\00:27:40.42
where Eden will be restored
to all who love and obey Him.
00:27:40.45\00:27:46.16