Leviticus 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
This passage of scripture gives us a direct and plain command from God against the ingestion of any animal fat or blood. The word "Perpetual" means from generation to generation, as long as time shall last. The Lord does not always explain up front His reasons for giving us certain instructions, nor is it always necessary for Him to do so, for in order for any meaningful relationship with God to exist, we must cultivate the habit of believing Him and trusting His goodness.
Obesity has now become an epidemic here in America, and this problem has largely to do with what we eat and drink, prominent amongst which is the ingestion of animal fats which can be found in many products like butter, cheese, milk, ice cream, and many different kinds of meat. Now The Lord is not telling us to go empty our refrigerator in a frenzy without the knowledge of healthful replacements, but what He is instructing us to do is to reason from cause to effect, and also to make the needed changes by His grace where applicable.
Animal saturated fats are very difficult to be processed by the human body, and therefore when they are ingested, they usually take up permanent residence in various locations like the hips, thighs, and belly, and are extremely difficult to get rid of. Furthermore, the older we get, the more the problem seems to plague us, and if it is not arrested whilst it can, it will shorten our lifespan and the quality of life we could otherwise enjoy.
In order for us to better understand why weight loss seems difficult, we must be aware that a build up of fat in our arteries, restricts the flow of blood and thus causes us to feel much more fatigued and weary, than a person who has far less fatty cells, and this in turn causes us to lose motivation to exercise or perform any physically demanding activity. It is highly ill-advised for an adult to consume any more than approximately 36 to 100 grams of fat per day, depending on height, gender, weight and caloric intake, according to the USDA. But it is even better for us to stay at the lower end of the scale in order to reduce the risk of heart failure, stroke, and permanent obesity.
One Big Mac burger sandwich contains 29 grams of fat, and one Wendy's bacon hamburger contains 56 grams of fat, so it is not easy to see why weight loss is becoming more and more of a challenge, since many of us ingest several of these products daily, together with french fries, milkshakes and cheeses. The Hamburger came upon the scene of action during the time of global industrialization, when much of the working class were not able to prepare good meals, because of the obvious constraints of time. Originating in Hamburg Germany, the Hamburger sandwich was fried oil or animal fat, and usually served along with fried eggs and cheese. It then made its debut here in America in the early 1900s and has ever since become a staple of American cuisine.
But what may be popular and approved by the masses does not always bode well for healthful living, and so many of us have now become hooked on the legendary Big Mac and fries, that we just can't seem to let it go. God wants us to investigate the availability of healthy alternatives to fast foods and if we were to return to the original diet given in Genesis, we will find that weight loss will come by much easier than many of us realize. There are those who have lost over 300 pounds of body fat, just by eliminating those saturated fats and calories found in animal products, and if they can do it we can do it too, for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls upon us to implement healthful habits of living so that we can finally win the battle of the bulge. Let's read:
Leviticus 7:22 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. 24 And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.
God knows what's best for us, so let's trust His dietary plan, so that it may go well with us and our children. God bless!