I Can't Eat That!

I love to eat.  And this has been a big problem in my life.  But God has shown me grace and mercy. Now I am walking on a path where I can enjoy food and work on my weight.  This process hasn’t been easy.  But I have to say it has been a bit fun.  I guess it's the analytical side of my brain combined with the creative.  I get to tally up all the macros and see how I can create a tasty meal or treat that is within my eating range.  But in this process of doing the research for understanding how to better live healthier, I have come across tons of videos and shorts on food, nutrients, and exercise.  These videos sometimes demonize certain foods or categories of nutrients in foods. I’m sure you’ve seen it.  Carbs are good and fats are bad, or fats are good and carbs are evil.  Maybe red meats aren’t good for you but only fruits and vegetables.  Or even vegetables are bad and you should only eat things that derive from animals.  It's a bit daunting.  I feel like the guy in this video (funny tik tok video)! But what I’ve come to realize is that I can’t look at food this way any longer.  I have to look at food as neutral (now there are things that are definitely not healthy and should not be eaten) and are these foods going to aid me in my goal of fat loss and muscle gain in order to grow healthier in my lifestyle.  Of course I want to get the tastiest things in order to make the tastiest meals but I have to prioritize what I’m focused on which is getting healthier.  

This is much like the spiritual life we live.  The writer of the letter/sermon we call Hebrews said that we should put aside weight and sin that causes us to be easily caught up and fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:1).  When the writer says what should be thrown aside he labels two things.  He says weight (encumbrance) and sin. There is a distinction made between the things that need to be let go.  The second is sin which we already know needs to be thrown aside. I mean, it's a sin! But the first is what I want to focus on.  The first thing he says that needs to be thrown off is just weight (translated encumbrance, things that hinder, obstacle).  It is neither good nor bad, vice nor virtue. It is not sin. It is a neutral item in itself. But the question that must be pondered is “does it take my focus off of the goal which is growing our relationship with Jesus?” 

There are things in this life that can be splendid and wonderful and increase our happiness for a time and to engage in them would be no sin at all, but would doing that action or having that thing cause us to take a little bit of focus off our walk with Jesus?  This becomes the major issue.  Many times in my life I have fallen short and the reason is because I wasn’t looking at the one who forever stands tall.  Many times I’ve felt overwhelmed because I wasn’t focused on the one who carries burdens. Many times I’ve felt isolated and alone because I wasn’t focused on the one who is always present. 

Just like how basically food in itself is neutral, but I cut some out because they don’t align with my health goals, there are things in this life that aren’t really that bad (God has blessed us with living and being a part of his very good creation (Gen 1:31)!).  But there are things in this world that I have to lay aside in order to achieve the goal God has called me to. That goal is to stay focused on Jesus.  So I ask you, what is there in your life you need to lay aside?