VEGETARIAN
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4; see also Acts 10:10–15). Some believe that before Noah’s flood all men were vegetarians, but we do not live before the flood and God has plainly told us that “every creature” is to be received if we thank Him for it in prayer. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall…heed…doctrines of devils…commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1–3). The Bible does not teach us to be vegetarians as these verses bring out, in fact, in the Bible a person who eats only herbs was considered “weak” in the faith. “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him” (Romans 14:2–3; see PORK).
VICTORY
Or what the Bible sometimes calls being a “conqueror” (Romans 8:37), and the world calls success, can be given by God or by the devil. “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:7). And the devil offered the world to Jesus (Matthew 4:8–9), but because Christ had patience, He ended up saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). The ultimate victory will be over death at the resurrection of the just. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:54–58). We defeat our enemies by completing the task that is before us (see Nehemiah 6:9–16; see OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD).
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4; see also Acts 10:10–15). Some believe that before Noah’s flood all men were vegetarians, but we do not live before the flood and God has plainly told us that “every creature” is to be received if we thank Him for it in prayer. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall…heed…doctrines of devils…commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1–3). The Bible does not teach us to be vegetarians as these verses bring out, in fact, in the Bible a person who eats only herbs was considered “weak” in the faith. “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him” (Romans 14:2–3; see PORK).
VICTORY
Or what the Bible sometimes calls being a “conqueror” (Romans 8:37), and the world calls success, can be given by God or by the devil. “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:7). And the devil offered the world to Jesus (Matthew 4:8–9), but because Christ had patience, He ended up saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). The ultimate victory will be over death at the resurrection of the just. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:54–58). We defeat our enemies by completing the task that is before us (see Nehemiah 6:9–16; see OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD).
