The Appetite | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 15, 1877

The Appetite.

We see a wonderful adaptability in all the works of God to the accomplishment of the ends of their creation and to the perpetuity of their existence. This is especially noticeable in all living beings. How beautifully has the Creator designed all the different parts of the frame-work of each to fulfill its particular office and serve the especial purpose of its being. Indeed, we see in these things a mighty argument to prove the existence of an intelligent, creative mind of infinite wisdom, with corresponding power to carry out its conceptions of what was fitting and necessary.

His creatures would want to see different objects, behold the light of heaven, and gaze upon the beauties of nature; so eyes of wonderful construction and ingenuity are furnished. But in such places as the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, where no ray of light penetrates, the fishes have no eyes. His creatures need to listen to nature's sounds; so ears of wonderful workmanship are given them. So also of the senses of smell and touch, the proper organs are provided. And as the wonderful machinery of life wears and wastes with use, and consequently would need replenishing, and as many of the substances with which they would come in contact would be unfit for the system, nature's Creator implanted taste with which proper substances could be discerned. The gratification of this taste lies at the foundation of the appetite, and it seems evident that this sense was to exercise a most important influence in deciding what should enter the stomach and be incorporated into the system. When man was pronounced "very good" at his creation, no doubt all his senses and tastes were in harmony with what would be for his well-being. He would naturally love those things that would be for his benefit; and yet, in man's case, reason was also to have a voice in deciding what should be eaten.

Man was led astray through the appetite. The forbidden fruit seemed "good for food" and would not have been rejected merely by the taste. Reason had an important part to act in deciding whether to take it. In fact, the whole moral nature was deeply interested; and had the appetite been obedient to these, far happier had it been for our first parents and the race. No, it never has been the exclusive province of the taste to determine what should be eaten. And especially is this true since it has suffered such terrible abuse. No reasonable person will deny that the appetite is a creature of education. As a general rule, it will crave those things to which it has been accustomed in early life.

It seems a wise provision of nature that we can learn to love what we have provided for our food. Were it otherwise, man, in many circumstances under which he is placed, would find it difficult to accommodate himself to them. But now, while there are national peculiarities of diet as well as individual, by means of this power he can place himself in almost any position and put up with it.

The Creator evidently foresaw the contingencies under which man would be placed and gave him this accommodating power. But oh! how terribly it has been abused. When we see the abominable perversions to which the appetite has been subjected we can but wonder at its capacity in this direction. It seems strange to a person whose appetite has never been perverted that man can ever learn to love the taste of tobacco or alcohol. And yet it seems that those things most distasteful, naturally, get the strongest control in the end, until the most powerful effort is required to abandon them. Nature at first turns aside with loathing and abhorrence, then submits and becomes fully enslaved. Can any sane man say that appetite thus abused and enslaved should be the sole judge, and we submit reason and judgment to its dictation? But how reasonable that this power of accommodation should be used for good purposes, to overcome bad habits and establish good ones instead of the contrary.

Thus the moral and intellectual element in our nature can work in harmony with the appetite and the whole man receive benefit. Man must be happier thus to have all the elements of his nature in harmony with each other. Let us then use our reason, look around us, and break up our bad habits, bring the appetite into proper subjection to the higher nature, and thus find true enjoyment in life, and answer the end of our creation.—Sel.