Taste

The Bible compares the acceptance of salvation to tasting. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews speaks of those who "have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come" (Heb. 6:4,5). The taste of food can be experienced only by those who actually taste it. Jesus says: "I am the living Bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh" (John 6:51). Only he who has tasted can know Jesus as the good Bread of Life. In other words: only he, who believes that his sins have been forgiven because of Jesus' sacrifice, can understand that the Gospel is good news. Others are not competent to judge.

The Bible warns especially those, who have come to know that the Word of God is good, not to reject it intentionally. If someone, despite being convinced of the truth by the Holy Spirit, rejects salvation and blasphemes the Spirit of Grace, he can no longer be brought to a knowledge of the truth. The sin against the Holy Ghost is a sin to be feared. Often, however, those who have not committed it, fear that they have. If someone is troubled because he fears that he has committed this sin, he can be at peace and return to the Father in the manner of the prodigal son. Those who have committed this sin are not troubled because of it. They have once and for all driven away the Holy Spirit, so that He not longer convicts them of sin or convinces them that they need salvation.

If we have tasted the good Word of God, let us remain at God's table. "Like newborn babes,long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord" (1 Pet. 2:2,3). The devil would like to draw us away from God's table and have us join the celebrations of the unbelieving world. The devil offers fleeting pleasure and with it captivates short-sighted and ungrateful man. Such food is poison and it results in death. But of His own bread Jesus says: "If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever."

Esau sold his birthright for some lentil stew. Judas betrayed his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Many sell the salvation of their souls for money. The most unscrupulous use the cause of Christ to make money. To these self-indulgent people the Bible says: "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?" (Luke 12:20). Friend, do not measure the value of the Bread of Life with money, but rather taste and experience how good the Lord is.