12/04/2023
Are you concerned because you are constantly at war within yourself? Does it bother you that there is a struggle going on inside you between good and evil, holy and unholy, or salvation and damnation? Well, take heart because although this conflict is the natural state of man, we have a champion who not only helps us realize the good within ourselves, but helps us to achieve victory over the evil by having already defeated sin for us.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."”
John 16:33 ESV
These words of Jesus bring us great reassurance. We often limit this verse to simply meaning physical tribulation, but it speaks of much more than that. Everything that comes against us in the physical world has a direct impact on us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually... while our troubles come against us in these various ethereal ways they also have a determined influence on our physical wellbeing. All of these attributes are interwoven, and they are so tightly intertwined that it is impossible to pull on one of them without moving the others.
As I read my morning devotional message today I was pleased to hear Oswald Chambers speak to this constant internal struggle. He spoke to its existence, but didn’t say too much about how we might combat it. Here is what he said:
“Life without war is impossible either in nature or in grace. The basis of physical, mental, moral, and spiritual life is antagonism. This is the open fact of life.” - Oswald Chambers
This struggle is as natural as taking our next breath... there is nothing wrong with you when you are constantly having your faith challenged, facing hardship, or struggling against bad thoughts. This is what it means to be alive, and God doesn’t want us to be without the tribulation... He wants us to confront and defeat it. This is what strengthens the various natures within us; our bodies, our minds, and our spiritual beings.
Each year I must take a flu shot because I work for a healthcare company. This is a small injection of the dead flu virus, but it triggers my body to produce antibodies that will be ready and waiting should I come into contact with the living virus. I would argue that this makes my body stronger, but for a short while I do feel bad. Even though I might run a slight fever, the shot prepares me for what lies ahead and protects me from a greater case of flu.
The tribulations in our lives are much like the flu virus, they challenge us in every manner... including our faith. They can be like a full blown virus, or like an inoculation that we get in order to trigger a small reaction within us that prepares us for the greater fight against the living flu, and helps us win that war...
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'”
Revelation 2:7 ESV
A few years ago I had cancer. Being sick affected me in a physical sense; it made me feel terrible, and as I fought it, I also found that I had to fight against depression, and malaise. While determining how I would involve my faith in the struggle I continued facing these challenges. In the end I was able to defeat my cancer. I thank God for this every day, because one of the greatest outcomes of my battle against cancer was the victory I experienced in my faith. By confronting adversity in our physical world, we are able to marshal our spiritual forces, and by leaning on God we find the comfort and healing we need to claim victory. These inoculations of hope and faith, strengthen us and later allow us to walk with others as they face various cancers in their bodies.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV
I love these verses from Proverbs. They tell us to that by leaning on God in a spiritual manner that we also receive moral and physical healing... “turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” This is a reinforcement to our understanding of how God has constructed us. We are not meant to be spiritually or physically alone. We aren’t meant to know only good either, but to understand what bad is, and how to overcome it. We experience mental turmoil as the result of these life challenges, and in the end we are stronger in all aspects of our existence... physical, mental, moral, and above all else, spiritual. Jesus Christ is our spiritual flu shot in a world that is rampant with evil, and physical disease. He strengthens us and through Him we grow strong and find eternal life.
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:22-23 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the hardships in my life because they draw me closer to you as I seek help in my times of distress. I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who is my inoculation against sin, and my preparation in the battle against evil and various physical and mental challenges. Holy Father, it is by your grace I have been saved, and in your mercy I am comforted. Give me peace and rest in you Father, and as the larger troubles emerge in my life, let me build upon the resolve I have been preparing in you... and defeat them by your presence. I am not alone Lord; you are ever with me, and in me. Give me strength on the day of battle, and lead me to victory through Jesus. In this I praise your name, and in this I lift your banner high for all to see. Holy, Holy, Holy, art you my God and Lord.
Rich Forbes