COVID-19
Sickness…is the very opposite to wellness. It seems that doctors are more trained to deal with sickness than to address wellness that might delay or actually prevent any future maladies. I’m grateful for the medical profession in America. What would any of us do without proper medical treatment? Right now during this pandemic, these men and women are on the front lines daily, risking their lives for those who are ill from the virus or other issues. Out of 350 million men, women, and children in America today, those who have contracted COVID-19 is nearing 1 million. That’s 1 person out of every 350. I imagine each of us has a circle of influence that equates to 350 or many more.
This physical deadly virus also impacts us emotionally, economically, and even spiritually. It is reported that those who have been practicing wellness in their life probably have a much better chance of either not contracting the virus or recovering and not dying. This would probably prove true with any virus or disease that we might encounter.
Created in God’s image
God created humans with a body, soul, and spirit. He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. He created us in his image. Scripture tells us that God is spirit. (John 4.24) He certainly came in flesh through Jesus the Christ but that’s the only time. He chose to redeem us and make us well. He gave us a body and a soul so that we could engage him and be filled by him and be made whole by him. It’s like a glove. The glove is designed to be filled by a hand. A guitar case is designed in the image of a guitar for the purpose of containing the guitar.
The body, spirit, and soul can all be injured with sickness attacking each part in different ways. First, we must understand that the body is the physical make-up of man’s being; the soul is the mental make-up and the power of man’s being that chooses and decides, and the spirit is the eternal existence of man’s being. The soul and spirit of man never die. Both the soul and spirit are eternally existent. As I was reflecting on this I remember Jesus saying “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10.28 ESV).
Rejoice in the midst of hardship
During this Easter season, looking forward to Pentecost it is good to reflect on what we believe. The gospel is, according to Scripture, “Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead”. As a believer, Christ dwells in you through the power, presence, and person of the Holy Spirit. Our body is decaying and will eventually die but the spirit and the soul will live for eternity as we have been reborn from above through the Spirit in the name of Jesus. Nothing can harm us as our last enemy has been conquered, death.
Therefore, we can rejoice, even in this time of peril. I am reminded of the story behind the great hymn, “It is well with my Soul”. Born and written by Horatio Spafford, a very successful Chicago businessman, out of unimaginable sorrow over his only son dying, and then his four daughters dying on an ocean cruiser with only his wife surviving. Why was it well with his soul; because he had already placed his trust for his peace of soul in the hands of the One who was resurrected for him, and for you and me. Don’t wait until sickness strikes, practice spiritual wellness daily.
“Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 25.12,13. ESV)
We have attached the hymn. Listen and worship the resurrected Lord.
