The Wonders of God’s Creation
“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:18-20.
When that sandwich, hard-boiled egg, stalk of celery and piece of pie you had for lunch have finally been dissolved by the enzymes and acids of the stomach, they move into what is strangely called the small intestine, although it is actually twenty feet or more in length. This is made to fit into a small area in a series of closely-overlapping coils. (How wonderfully God has designed all the parts of our body).
The upper part of this organ is called the duodenum. Its work includes neutralizing the highly acid material for the rest of the system to handle. The pancreas, nearby, helps by sending along other juices, as does the liver, which also has numerous other duties.
After more thorough breaking down in this part of the body, the food continues downward in the small intestine where complete and final digestion takes place. It is here that vital amino acids are produced from the proteins that are in the food we eat. Tiny blood and lymph vessels in the walls of the small intestine can now absorb this food. It is carried into circulation to the liver where final refining takes place. Blood, enriched there with protein molecules, glucose, amino acids and other components goes into the general circulatory system. All of the cells of the body are fed with this nutritious product.
The food residue, having now yielded up its storehouse of nutrition, passes into the large intestine—the colon.
There is now nothing left but waste, and when this has been eliminated from the body, the entire process has been completed as far as these organs are concerned. Isn’t it remarkable how these complex parts of the body take care of the food we have eaten? They all work automatically, helping each other, but never getting into the way of one another. Only God could create such a plan, put it into operation, and have it continue day after day keeping the body alive and active.
Food that we eat takes care of our needs for a little while. But Christ, our heavenly food, gives eternal life to any who come to Him, willing to admit they are sinners, accepting Him as their Saviour and Lord. In the book of Jeremiah (15:16) the prophet said: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Why not ask God to let this be your experience, too.
ML-08/03/1980