There is much in vogue these days.  One arena that certainly is not, however, is Biblical knowledge.  It is a well documented fact that we current Americans are the most Biblically illiterate generations ever in our history.

Whether one believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God or not is a mute point.  It is still the best selling book in the world.  More civilizations have been influenced by it than any other writing.  Spend some time reading it, and try to deny it does not see into the ‘heart’ of man better than anything else written—ever.  Want a starter?  Here are a few quotes from the book of Proverbs:

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  Prov. 1:7
• For the Lord gives wisdom.  Prov. 2:6
• From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  Prov. 2:6
• Happy is the man who finds wisdom.  Prov. 3:13
• The Lord by wisdom founded the earth.  Prov. 3:19
• Put perverse lips far from you.  Prov. 4:24
• Ponder the path of your feet.  Prov. 4:26
• He who  walks with integrity walks securely. Prov. 10:9
• The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor.  Prov. 11:9
• …he who hates correction is stupid. Prov. 12:1
• The righteous man regards the life of his animal.  But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.  Prov. 12:10

 

These keen human insights go straight to the heart of man, like it or not, and they were gleaned from just the first twelve Proverbs!  A man, or woman, cannot hide themselves when reading from this book.  The words shine straight through us as if we were a little piece of glass from front to back.  It is sobering, and beautiful.

So what does all this have to do with eating meat?  Just this, it is our own sin that caused the killing and eating of animals.  Our ‘original sin.’  That is, the very first sin committed in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve.  When they disobeyed God and ate “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, God said,”…for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden.  It was because of God’s love for us they had to leave.  They were not to be trusted again, and God did not want mankind to be eternally dead by eating from the Tree of Life.  This would have kept mankind forever in our sin.  So, because of love, He sent us away.  Yet, He clothed us before we left (another act of His great love for us).  How did He clothe us?  “…the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”

That was the first shedding of blood—for our sake, for our benefit.  Blood represents life.  Animals were killed for our sake;   Jesus Christ died for our sake.  This is all accepted by faith for those that believe.  The same faith that is exercised every time we drive a car, sit on a chair, eat at a restaurant, put money in the bank, get married…and on, and on.   We do all these things out of faith.  Think about it.

Ever since that fateful day meat has been a regular diet of mankind, and their skins were our clothing.

Here at the farm,  steers are raised for beef.  These animals are very well kept. This takes much time, effort and money.  They have a good life.  All except for one day.  It is very hard on us when that day arrives.  The quiet of the woods offer sweet consolation to a sad heart when the cattle are hauled off.  It is the hardest part of this work.  Reread the last quote in the above list again, for it is our guiding light.

Here is a thought to those who question why we eat meat.  Who would be willing to keep the loads of animals that sustain us just to feed and clean up after them all the twenty to thirty years they live?

This is why this farming family says grace every night.  We are very well aware of the sacrifice the steers have to make for our good.  And we are especially thankful for the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made for us on the Cross.

Happy Blessed Easter.

 

Know the farmer.  Know the farm.

Homemade is best!