God has created the world in such a way that physical realities have spiritual counterparts. We understand our Lord in terms of a shepherd caring for and protecting us, his sheep. We understand the church in terms of a body, consisting of many parts with many duties, all important for good health. We conceive of Christian living in terms of a tree bearing fruit. The Gospel itself is portrayed in terms of marriage. God has not left us in the dark—the whole world is filled with his glory.
In the realm of health and wellness, it is commonly understood that you are what you eat. While a never ending selection of diets makes it clear that there is no consensus on what’s best, you won’t find many people advocating for a diet consisting primarily of Doritos, Reese’s Cups, and milkshakes. If you eat like junk, you’re going to feel like junk.
This is as true for your soul as it is for your body. If you are what you eat, then it is also true that you become what you behold. That is, where you direct your attention will in turn direct your life.
The Old Testament teaches that those who make (and worship) idols become like them (Psalm 115:8). Paul tells us that we are transformed into the image of God’s glory as we behold it (2 Corinthians 3:18). No one can deny the pervasive influence of the things we consume on the way we dress, talk, and even think. If you regularly consume spiritual Doritos, then don’t be surprised if you’re spiritually sick.
In a world filled with distractions—many of which are designed to addict us—we will not fix our eyes on Christ by accident. It will take a conscious effort to set down our spiritual junk food in order to be nourished by God through prayer, godly fellowship, and the revelation of his Word. Yet we must make this effort if we desire a healthy soul. We are called to be imitators of God after all (Ephesians 5:1). And you can’t imitate what you don’t see.
