“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19).
These verses make it crystal clear: the godless have one thing as their destiny - destruction. The reason? Their god is their belly.
If you’re wondering what that means, it is this. Feelings, biblically, are rooted in the stomach area. It’s where emotions that often drive us are housed.
Meaning feelings have become God to the godless. Whatever I feel must be true. Even if it’s contrary to God’s clear directives.
“Their God is their belly” also represents humans who worship physical pleasures – instead of God himself – the Creator of pleasure. They worship God’s gifts rather than the Giver of all that we enjoy.
Healthy living comes when God rules over every part of us. Our passions. Lusts. Pleasures. Feelings. Emotions. When this happens - God controlling all our desires - we obey God no matter what we may personally desire or feel.
May we learn from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, a word to all of us for all times.
And when the facts about God’s truth inform our mind, our feelings will rightly follow.