When that sandwich, apple and couple of cookies you had for lunch have finally been dissolved by the enzymes and acids of the stomach, it all moves into what is called the small intestine. Although it is actually 20 feet or more long, this long tubular passage fits into a small area in a series of closely overlapping coils. How wonderfully God has designed all the parts of the body.
The upper part of this organ is called the duodenum. Its job includes neutralizing the highly acidic material for the rest of the digestive system to handle. The pancreas, nearby, helps by sending along other fluids, 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 being 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 process the food we have eaten? They all work automatically, helping each other, but never getting in 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, sometimes as long as 100 years.
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 and accepting Him as their Saviour and Lord. The prophet Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:1616Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)). Has this been your experience?
AUGUST 20, 1995
ML-08/20/1995