Fish and You | Eme's Kitchen Experience

I have a secret: I’m a huge fan of fish. I might never admit it as my favorite food, but whenever I’m faced with a menu, I inevitably choose fish or anything else that comes with it.

Some climes have reservations about certain types of fish. However, since I am not biased towards fish, I welcome every type to my palate, provided it’s prepared fresh and free from unpleasant odors, sliminess, and scales. Despite my enthusiasm for fish consumption, I can’t indulge in it if it smells fishy. A delicious fish can turn out to be unpleasant if not thoroughly cleaned before cooking. The delightful taste of your meal can be overshadowed by the overpowering odor of unhygienically prepared fish.

In my environment, given the abundance of water bodies, we’ve integrated our river fishes into a significant part of our cuisines. Almost every clan has a luxurious fresh fish recipe featuring various sea animals. Although the recipes vary, a common requirement is the meticulous cleaning of the fish. 

For instance, when preparing a river fish, I follow a routine of rinsing the fish cuts in salty water and then soaking them in hot water for a few minutes using a blunt knife to remove the slimy surface. Afterward, I rinse the fish in cold water with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice. Although my method may seem time-consuming, I believe fish, being an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals, is best enjoyed in a pristine state, free from scales, slime, and any unpleasant odors. While I can choose to marinate the fish after this somewhat tedious process, whenever I decide to indulge, the result is always satisfying and aligns with my expectations.

All this talk about fish yet you know what else needs cleansing? Humans.

Humans, born into sin and conceived in iniquity, are in dire need of cleansing Psalm 51:5, but unlike fish, the only solvent capable of purifying mankind is the blood of Jesus. If ablution, baptism, and spiritual practices could purify us, the stain of sin would have been washed away. However, the depth of our sin is so profound that only the blood of Jesus can serve as the appropriate laundry detergent.

Sin can mar the beautiful results your life is capable of achieving. It’s like a foul odor that overshadows the deliciousness of your life, both in this life and in eternity, if you don’t get rid of it through the blood of Jesus. Regardless of your wisdom, wealth, status, and potential, God will not enjoy your life while you live in sin. He loves you so much, yet He wouldn’t enjoy your life with the smell of sin.

Here’s the good news: since your life is best lived in holiness and righteousness before God, Jesus has done the laundry for your sins. All the cleaning required to present you faultlessly before God has been accomplished in Christ. You can share in this divine experience. Allow yourself to be purified, cleansed, washed, renewed, and made whiter than snow, not through the use of hyssop, but through the precious blood of Jesus.‬ ‭Psalm 51:7

As the cook advises the fish to take a taste of purity, albeit not literally, the Lord is currently addressing you, saying, “Come now, let us reason together, though your sins are as red as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as crimson as blood, they shall be as wool.” ‬Isaiah 1:18

This is a call unto purity; an opportunity to be enjoyed by God in a way acceptable to Him just like I did when I savored the deliciousness of my carefully cleaned fish in this delectable seafood okra soup, a culinary delight cherished by the beautiful people of  Southern Nigeria. I urge you not to remain ensnared in the filth and pungent odor of sin.

The choice is yours; please make the wise choice.