Jesus settles egg debate: "Eggs are good!"

On Tuesday, Cheddar News interviews a scrawny dietician who says "Eggs are good for you. Eat at least an 18-pack every week, and you'll live to be a healthy 105." Two days later on CNN, an obese researcher contradicts her, "Eggs are going to plant you into a deep, cold, early grave."

What do us poor simpletons do in such a contrasting dilemma? I, my fellow simpletons, turn to God. He understands His own creations better than anyone else (except, of course, theologians).

I want to enjoy all of God's gracious gifts. And I count the mighty egg as one of His greatest blessings. If I listened to Dr. Death on CNN, instead of Jesus (and scrawny girl), my breakfasts would be ho-hum. I dislike ho-hum breakfasts.

Jesus' word on this issue is the last I need to hear. He said to His disciples in Luke 11:11–13,

Now of some father of you a son will be requesting bread. No stone will he be handing him! Or a fish, also. Not, instead of a fish, a serpent will he be handing him! ¹² Or he will also be requesting an egg. He will not be handing him a scorpion! ¹³ If you, then, being inherently wicked, are aware how to give good gifts to your children, how much rather will the Father Who is out of heaven, be giving holy spirit to those requesting Him!

—Concordant Literal New Testament (CLNT)

Eggs are good. Scorpions? No. Now you know.

He skimmed the love letter

The point of this post isn't your physical diet, but your spiritual diet (which definitely can affect you physically). My goal in this post is to encourage you to read through the entirety of the Scriptures so that you don't miss anything that God has for you, like the glorious truth of the egg.

The Scriptures are a gold mine of truth and encouragement. When a gold prospector finds a hot spot, he keeps going back to get the goods. As I regularly read through the Scriptures and learn and grow and get to know Jesus better, it keeps me coming back for more. This is the hot spot for truth—truth directly from God. Some days yield better results that others. But I've experienced the benefits of consistently seeking God through His word.

Following are two reasons why I think you should read the entire Scriptures. This is not a law, only a suggestion for your benefit.

Matthew 4:4, CLNT,

Yet [Jesus], answering, said [to Satan], "It is written, 'Not on bread alone shall man be living, but on every declaration going out through the mouth of God.'"

And the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, CLNT,

All scripture is inspired by God, and is beneficial for teaching, for exposure, for correction, for discipline in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be equipped, fitted out for every good act.

Everything that God communicates to us through the Scriptures is important and beneficial.

Jim the skimmer could have benefited from the advice to read thoroughly.

Jim received an email from Beth, his newest girlfriend. She had been overseas on business for many months. The letter was extremely long, so Jim skimmed over it like it was Facebook's Terms and Conditions agreement. Then he got back to his life's many demands.

Later that week on Friday, Jim arrived home from work in the darkness of evening. The rain was pouring down. As he approached his house, he could see a figure standing outside with no umbrella, surrounded by suitcases. As Jim pulled into the driveway, he realized it was Beth, soaking wet and furious. Before Jim could get out of the car to help her, Beth rushed at him, pulled out her Smith & Wesson Bodyguard-38 and shot Jim four times in the head. Jim died.

Sadly for Jim, he didn't see the part in the email where Beth said she was coming to see him this Friday. (Did I mention Beth was psycho?) Now you know.

Though the true living God is not a psycho, I hope this little story shows you the importance of reading all of God's words. The Scriptures are a letter to you from your heavenly Father. There are amazing truths to be found on the lesser traveled roads of Scripture. Explore. I have no idea how God will use His words to speak directly to you in your unique life. But He will.

But please realize this important fact: although we can learn from everything God has given us in the Scriptures, it's not all written to us. For example, God gave the law to Moses who in turn gave it to Israel. He didn't give it to the nations outside of Israel. God never requires the nations to do what He required of Israel. If you take the commands He gave to Israel onto yourself, you'll end up miserable, because attempting to keep the law is not the way to freedom. Believing in Jesus is the way to freedom.

Most people will say that if you're new to the Scriptures, start reading in the book of John. I, along with others, suggest starting in the book of Romans. This is the apostle Paul's letter that lays out foundational truths that will solidify your faith in God.

God's revelation of Himself to mankind is progressive, and Paul's letters reveal God's most up-to-date dealings with mankind. Having a solid foundation in Romans will help you understand as you read the rest of the Scriptures. Martin Zender has an excellent series on Romans that can help you as you read through the Scriptures.

Jesus used the Scriptures to defeat Satan (so can you)

Take a look at how Jesus uses Scripture to fend off Satan's temptations in Matthew 4:1–11,

Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the spirit to be tried by the Adversary. ² And, fasting forty days and forty nights, subsequently He hungers. ³ And, approaching, the trier said to Him, "If you are God's Son, say that these stones may be becoming cakes of bread." ⁴ Yet He, answering, said, "It is written, 'Not on bread alone shall man be living, but on every declaration going out through the mouth of God.'" ⁵ Then the Adversary is taking Him along into the holy city, and stands Him on the wing of the sanctuary. ⁶ And he is saying to Him. "If you are God's Son, cast yourself down, for it is written that 'His messengers shall be directed concerning Thee' and 'On their hands shall they be lifting Thee, Lest at some time Thou shouldst be dashing Thy foot against a stone.'" ⁷ Jesus averred to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not be putting on trial the Lord your God.'" ⁸ Again the Adversary takes Him along into a very high mountain, and is showing Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, "All these to you will I be giving, if ever, falling down, you should be worshiping me." ¹⁰ Then Jesus is saying to him, "Go away, Satan, for it is written, The Lord your God shall you be worshiping, And to Him only shall you be offering divine service." ¹¹ Then the Adversary is leaving Him. And lo! messengers approached and waited on Him. 

—CLNT

Arming yourself with the truth in the Scriptures enables us to stand against the Adversary. Ephesians 6:11–17 shows us,

Put on the panoply [suit of armor] of God, to enable you to stand up to the stratagems of the Adversary, ¹² for it is not ours to wrestle with blood and flesh, but with the sovereignties, with the authorities, with the world-mights of this darkness, with the spiritual forces of wickedness among the celestials. ¹³ Therefore take up the panoply of God that you may be enabled to withstand in the wicked day, and having effected all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand, then, girded about your loins with truth, with the cuirass of righteousness put on, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with the readiness of the evangel of peace; ¹⁶ with all taking up the large shield of faith, by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is a declaration of God.

—CLNT

God has equipped us to stand against our true enemies—Satan and the spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness. They are relentless. Prepare yourself for battle.

"Did you see this?"

So many beneficial revelations can be found throughout the Scriptures. Don't miss out on these and the blessings that come with knowing them. Keep in mind that the main reason God gave us the words in the Scriptures is so we can know Him. The Bible is the almighty, loving, invisible God revealing Himself to us. Apart from this revelation, we could not know Him.

The opening chapters in Genesis show us the beginning of our human race, and they unveil much about our Creator. Read them.

We learn great things about God in the midst of His dealing with Israel as He talks with His friend Moses on Mount Sinai,

And Jehovah comes down in a cloud, and stations Himself with [Moses] there, and calls in the Name of Jehovah, ⁶ and Jehovah passes over before his face, and calls: "Jehovah, Jehovah God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth, ⁷ keeping kindness for thousands, taking away iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and not entirely acquitting, charging iniquity of fathers on children, and on children's children, on a third [generation], and on a fourth."

—Exodus 34:5–7 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

In 1 Kings 22:19–23, and in the first two chapters of Job, God gives us front-row access to events in His throne room in heaven. Enjoy the show.

Wisdom can be found throughout the Scriptures. Proverbs 22:7 says, " ... the borrower is slave to the lender." This has caused me to be mindful of the pitfalls of financial debt in my life. Who wants to be slave to a banker or Visa?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Jeremiah 32:27. God said to Jeremiah, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" What is your answer to God's question? Mainstream Christianity teaches that saving all people is too hard for God. Who are you going to believe? The Scriptures will cause us to think about what we really believe. God's words will affect us.

Paul wrote in Romans 5:18, "Consequently, then, as it was through [Adam's] one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through [Jesus'] one just award for all mankind for life's justifying" (CLNT). All mankind was condemned by Adam's offense. All mankind was justified by Jesus' work. And in Romans 11:32 he wrote these mind-blowing words, "For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all" (CLNT). God will be merciful to all! Does that give you hope?

I could go on and on. Read the Scriptures for yourself. Putting your eyes on God's words will benefit you.

Spoiler alert

I have many pet peeves.
Here are two. I'm peeved by people who talk through movies (not the actors, but those who are watching with me). I'm equally peeved when someone tells me what's coming next in the movie.

Well, I'm about to point you to the end of Scripture's story and all the awe-inspiring details. I know, that makes me a hypocrite, but I can't stop myself. It's just so good!

The last book of the Bible—the book of Revelation—is not the end of the story. It is not the most distant point in the future that God reveals to us.

Here are the most distant events that God has unveiled for us. They are given to us by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20–28.

20 Yet now Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing.
21 For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead.
22 For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified.
23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ's in His presence;
24 thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power.
25 For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy is being abolished: death.
27 For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him.
28 Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.

—CLNT

How encouraging is that? God will be "All in all!"

Is there anything there that you've never seen before? Or maybe never noticed in the way you just did? I'm regularly seeing new details in Scriptures that I have previously read several times before.

Hopefully reading this passage encourages you to dive into all of God's words. The truth of eggs can benefit our taste buds and stomachs. God's words can also benefit our minds and emotions by giving us love, faith, knowledge, hope, peace, contentment, joy and so much more.

Learn from faithful teachers

The Scriptures aren't always easy to understand. Searching them is an ongoing endeavor that will reward your effort. Keep in mind that the ultimate purpose of the Scriptures is to show you God and His Son so you can know Them better.

Read from a good translation of the Scriptures. I strongly suggest the Concordant Literal New Testament, and the Concordant Version of the Old Testament.

God has provided people to teach us. Two of my most trusted teachers are A.E. Knoch and Martin Zender. I've learned a great deal from these faithful men, and you can too.

I encourage you to download Unsearchable Riches. It's a publication that's been going since 1909 and contains articles by A.E. Knoch and other good teachers.
________________________
Photo credits:
- "Egg in a metal spiral egg cup." © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY 2.5
- "Reagans in the White House theater" By Unknown - Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40054480 (words added)

The ultimate purpose of the Bible

 

Some people beat the Bible. Some thump it. Some read it. Some ignore it. Some believe it. Some scoff at it. Some treat it like an idol. Some twist it. Some follow it. Some try to debunk it. Some use it as a good luck charm. Some misquote it. Some quote it correctly. Some use it to promote their ultimate purpose. Etc. ...

What is the Bible's ultimate purpose in our lives? Does it even have a purpose? 

What do you do with the Bible? What should you do with the Bible?

Jesus said to His future killers ...

Some Jewish leaders were giving Jesus a hard time, and wanted to kill Him, because He'd healed a man on the Sabbath and was calling God His Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus said to them,

"You have never heard [God's] voice nor seen His form, ³⁸ nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the One He sent. ³⁹ You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to Me to have life." (John 5)

In verses 39-40 Jesus reveals to them, and to us, the ultimate purpose of the Bible (Scriptures).

The Bible testifies about Jesus. But filling our head full of facts about Jesus isn't its ultimate purpose. The truth the Bible reveals to us about Jesus is given by God to help us come to Jesus so we can have life. Not just the physical life you are currently experiencing, but spiritual life from God - spiritual life you can only get from Jesus.

You can dissect the Bible your whole life. But if you refuse to come to Jesus to have life, you've missed out on the ultimate purpose of the Bible.

God's goal for us is to know the Bible and know Jesus. If we only know the Bible, like Jesus' future killers, we have this ...
 

Knowledge puffs you up with pride ... (1 Corinthians 8:1 - NCV/New Century Version)

And where does pride get you? The Bible says,

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. (James 4:6 - NIV)

Stuck in the womb ...

The spiritual life that Jesus gives us when we come to Him is like a brand new birth. It's a fresh start. It's a new beginning that transforms and transfers sinners, who are all former enemies of God, into His family as His adopted children.

Those puffed up with knowledge get stuck in the womb.

And this new birth is absolutely essential to experiencing the life Jesus gives.

Jesus said in John 3:3 to Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader,

“I tell you that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (CJB - Complete Jewish Bible)

Like a baby leaving the cramped darkness of the the womb and coming into the spacious freedom in the light outside, the sinner is transferred by Jesus from the kingdom of darkness (a "womb," if you will) - where they are encompassed and enslaved by sin -  into the freedom of the kingdom of light.

In the same way that a baby knows only the womb, those without Jesus aren't aware that they are living in a confined dark place. It's all they've ever known. Satan has blinded them so they think the life they are living is the only available option. They've never experienced life outside the restrictions of sin and darkness. They are, in a sense, dead to the reality of life in the light, and all that comes with it.

Like a baby eventually outgrowing the womb and having to exit, a sinner will outgrow darkness and sin. The dark womb of sin will no longer be satisfactory. Sin and all of its consequences wear out their welcome and are no longer attractive. The individual must have room to grow. Through the drawing of God, the sinner begins to seek new surroundings and a new life - the sinner begins to seek after God.

... but not stuck forever

Eventually - whether in this life or the next - the sinner is carried out of the dark and into the freedom of light by Jesus. Jesus said,

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die. (John 12:32-33)

Jesus was lifted up from the earth on the cross. The completion of the first part of His statement guarantees the completion of the second part - drawing all to Himself. The word draw in this passage literally means to drag. The same Greek word is used in reference to a fisherman dragging to land his net full of fish (see John 21:11).

God will use His spiritual forceps (and biceps) to drag you out of the spiritually dark womb and into His kingdom of light. God will use love, kindness, power, consequences, judgment and whatever else He needs to use to drag you into His family. And once you're there, you'll thank Him for it.

The way is too narrow for fat heads

Jesus said in Matthew 7:14, "the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life."

God, Who opposes of the proud, refuses to deliver big-headed people from the darkness of the spiritual womb. They must first be humbled, and their heads shrunk. And this will happen, one way or another.

"... whoever promotes himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be promoted." (Matthew 23:12)

Humble yourself, or be humbled by God. Then your head can fit through the narrow way that leads to life. 

Let's be honest - the dark side can be fun

I've lived in the darkness of the spiritual womb and in the light. 23 years on the dark side, 24 in the light.

I'd be lying if I said sin wasn't fun. Some of it is. But some sin being fun doesn't make any sin right.

The fun meter can't be our only measuring device in life. From my experience, and the experience of millions of others, sin eventually wears you down and loses its shine. But while the shine remains, even if it has dulled considerably, we don't want to leave the darkness.

This leads us to another reason Jesus gives as to why some stay in the womb of darkness.

"This is the judgment—that light has entered the world and men have preferred darkness to light because their deeds are evil. Anybody who does wrong hates the light and keeps away from it, for fear his deeds may be exposed. But anybody who is living by the truth will come to the light to make it plain that all he has done has been done through God." (John 3:19-21 - PHILLIPS)

Some refuse to come into the light because they prefer the darkness. Satan offers a lot of attention-getting stuff to keep us in his dark kingdom. He keeps us from the light until God breaks into our life and opens our eyes and mind to see the truth of the awesomeness of the light. Until then, some quite enjoy the dark.

Who has power over you?   

We humans tend to think we have unhindered free will, and that no one tells us what to do.

When Jesus humbled Saul, the fat-headed Pharisee, and brought him into the light, He gave him this mission,

"I send you to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God Himself, so that they may know forgiveness of their sins and take their place with all those who are made holy by their faith in Me." (Acts 26:18 - PHILLIPS)

Those in the darkness Saul was sent to probably didn't think they were under "the power of Satan," but they were.

As Chief Deceiver, Satan doesn't want you to think he's even real. If he can anonymously have power over you, and keep you believing you are the one calling the shots in your life, then he's got you right where he wants you - in the dark and under his control.

Do you want to be under Satan's power or God's? There is no third option.

Satan isn't your friend. He wants to keep you from God and all that God has for you. He does this through deception.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4 - NIV)

BUT, here is the remedy,

... the holy Scriptures, which can open the mind to the salvation which comes through believing in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15 - PHILLIPS)

For we must never forget that He rescued us from the power of darkness, and re-established us in the kingdom of His beloved Son, that is, in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:13 - PHILLIPS)

God uses the Bible to open our minds to the truth of Jesus, Who can give us life and rescue us from the power of darkness.

More important purposes of the Bible for you

Once a person comes to Jesus and gets life, they should continue to read, study and interact with the Bible. Unless you're a perfect person, you'll need to be in the Bible your entire life to continue growing.

The Bible is used by God for our ongoing transformation into the likeness of Jesus. 

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, The Message)

My experience is that when God uses the Bible to expose my rebellion or correct my mistakes, He does it gently. Though the truth He sometimes reveals to me hits hard, I don't feel beat up. That's because His ultimate goal for me is good. And His motive for correcting me is His supernatural love for me.
 
The Bible goes where no blade has gone before - to the very depths of our soul. 

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Do you realize that when you read the Bible you are reading the only living book on the planet? It's not just ink on paper in your hands. It's the living, supernatural words of Almighty God right in front of you.

Here's how God uses the Bible in my life. I'll read a passage in the Bible that I've read dozens of times before. But on this occasion something jumps out of the words that I've never seen before. The words on the page didn't magically change. God opens my mind to understand the Scriptures in a deeper way. He uses ancient words to reveal new things to me as He chooses - as He sees that I'm ready for deeper understanding as I grow. I also believe that these "growth spurts" wouldn't happen if I ignored God's words in the Bible.

We grow in our relationship with Jesus as we live day by day with Him. Talk with Him, study His words in the Bible, do what He says. As we do what He says He blesses us. And when He blesses us and we experience His work in our lives, our faith and knowledge grow.

... you should grow in grace and in your knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18 - PHILLIPS)   

Never stop growing.

Sincerely,
Wes

P.S. If you don't already know Jesus, what are you waiting for? Call out to Him today - right now. You'll be amazed at life in the light of Jesus' kingdom.