Boaz—Malaysia

According to Guinness World Records, the Christian Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with over five billion copies published over the 1,500 years since its content was standardized.^[1] By the end of the twentieth century, the Bible had been translated into nearly 325 languages, with parts of it translated into 1,800 other languages.^[2] However, the Bible's broad distribution is inexplicable when we consider the consistent opposition and eradication attempts it has faced throughout history.

The phenomenal preservation and dissemination of the Bible attest to its significant impact on its readers. Along with the cohesiveness of its message, despite having multifarious contributors from across time, place, and socio-political backdrops, this proves that the Bible is indeed the word of God, written through His inspiration (2 Tim 3:16). The Bible's authors describe God's word as having life and power (Jn 6:63; Lk 1:37). Some hold it so dear that they have risked their lives to continue reading, possessing, printing, and sharing the Bible under the threat of persecution.

Despite its esteemed status, we may find that the Bible's message does not resonate with us. We may wonder, "What good is the Bible to me?" Ironically, this thought process has been described in the Scriptures: "Those who are well have no need of a physician" (Mt 9:12b). If we have no need for the guidance of God's word, then naturally, we will not see how the Bible is relevant to us.

SPIRITUAL SICKNESS

If a person is sick but cannot see the symptoms of his illness, it does not mean he is well. Similarly, an inability to see the need for a physician does not mean that a physician is unneeded. The truth is, today, we are all afflicted with an illness that stems from the emptiness in our hearts, which is symptomatic of the human race turning away from God and towards sin. Since there is no God in our hearts, there is a void. In order to fill this void, we constantly strive with all our strength for something that will fill the void and become a substitute for “God” in our hearts (Ps 16:4). That something differs from person to person—some pursue knowledge, art, love, money, or fame. Nevertheless, paradoxically, the more we try to fill the void, the greater it grows (Eccl 1:7–8, 14).

This malaise can be exacerbated by external factors. The world is chaotic, and much of life is fundamentally out of our control; regret, sorrow, and dissatisfaction are part and parcel of the human condition. These feelings, if unprocessed, can manifest as anxiety and depressive disorders (Prov 12:25). The World Health Organization estimates that approximately five percent of the world's adult population suffers from depression (not including the myriad of other anxiety disorders), and more than 700,000 people commit suicide annually, with the number growing with each passing year.^[3]

The methods we use to ease our inner discomfort—whether or not it rises to the classification of mental illness—may not always lead to positive outcomes. For example, we seek comfort and escape in the alternative realities of entertainment, games, and the virtual world. However, media platforms, smartphones, and social media algorithms are designed to trigger our most basic psychological, behavioral, and neurological impulses, causing us to become unhealthily dependent or addicted to them. It has been estimated that 400 million people worldwide suffer from internet addiction, which is defined by compulsive and continued use despite harmful consequences.^[4] [5] 

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD,
"That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD." (Amos 8:11)

Through the prophet Amos, the Bible prophesied our modern predicament—that even those living in abundance and privilege are deeply dissatisfied and anxious. This is because we are deprived of the word of God, whether by choice or otherwise. Only when we realize that the emptiness within stems from the absence of God's word in our lives will we perceive our infirmity and need for Jesus the Physician.

Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4b). God's word is closely related to our existence as living beings. God's breath imbued man with a living spirit (Gen 2:7). His breath also inspired and formed the Bible, the word of life: "All Scripture is breathed out by God" (2 Tim 3:16a, ESV).^[6] Since both man and the Bible are formed by the same breath, they share the same essence. Therefore, to nurture our inner spirit, we must feed on God’s word.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Our physical health is clinically assessed through various instruments and metrics, with cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels being three key health indicators routinely monitored. Similarly, we can examine three aspects of our spirituality—the spirit, soul, and body (1 Thess 5:23)—to evaluate our spiritual health. This spiritual health check assesses how close we are to God and how aligned we are to His word and the likeness of Christ.

Spirit

A conscience that cannot discern between truth and falsehood, between right and wrong, is a sick spirit.

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart. (Prov 20:27)

According to this verse, the conscience acts as a lamp, scrutinizing our innermost thoughts and secret actions, revealing whether they are right or wrong. Hence, when we do something wrong, our conscience is pricked, spurring us to confess and repent.

However, in our weakness, we sometimes ignore our conscience and make excuses for doing what we should not, or vice versa. Each time we allow ourselves to do so, it becomes easier to disregard our inner moral compass. Through this repeated pattern of behavior, our conscience gradually becomes desensitized towards doing wrong. Hence, an unresponsive conscience is a sign of a sick spirit.

Normalizing sin prevents our conscience from functioning as it should, like seared skin losing its sensitivity (1 Tim 4:2). The process is similar to forming callouses on our hands and feet. Skin subject to constant friction will form a thick layer of dead tissue to protect itself. When we experience the continuous pricking of our conscience, we soothe ourselves and ignore the feeling of guilt, developing a thick spiritual callous over time. We become numb to sin, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and deaf to good advice. Like Pharoah's heart, our heart becomes hard when hearing God's warnings (Ex 7:13, 22; 8:19; 9:12, 35).

Indeed, the heart of man is exceedingly deceitful (Jer 17:9). The various excuses and lies we use to justify our wrongs come from within. Since sin entered the world, humanity has lived under its sway (Rom 5:12). Living in a fallen world, man is naturally inclined towards sin, becoming enslaved to sin. We need only look around to see the inherent sinfulness of human nature.

So, how do we return the spirit to a healthy state, able to discern right from wrong? We must rely on the Lord, who searches the heart and tests the mind (Jer 17:10), and be cleansed by the blood of Christ from the guilt of our past sins (Heb 9:14). Through the Holy Spirit, our slumbering conscience is awakened, and our hard hearts are replaced by a heart of flesh, able to sense the pricking of our conscience (Ezek 36:26).

As part of this spiritual transformation and renewal, the word of God acts as the guide and standard against which we measure ourselves to ensure we are on the right track (Rom 2:15). Like a mirror, God's word shows us our actual spiritual state, whether or not we are doers of the word, practicing the perfect law of liberty (Jas 1:22–25). Going deeper than our outward behavior, God's word can also be a scalpel, dissecting between soul and spirit to expose the heart's deepest intention and removing the hidden diseases that evade our self-examination (Heb 4:12–13; Ps 19:12).

In the New Testament, the requirements of holiness far exceed our outward behavior, encompassing even our inner thoughts and the intention of the heart. Human laws can only govern and punish actions and deeds without jurisdiction over unconsummated desire (Prov 24:10–12). However, Jesus tells us that not only should we not commit adultery or murder, we should not even harbor lust or anger in our hearts (Mt 5:28, 21–22).

The standard of God's law can seem uncompromising compared to human law, but it is the absolute moral standard under which our spirit thrives. Following God's word, our conscience will no longer lose its direction but will compel us to set our sights, minds, and actions to adhere to God's will. Only then can we be assured that our conscience and, in turn, our spirit remain healthy.

Soul

A self-centered life is a marker of a diseased soul.

Of the various ways the word "soul" is used in the Bible, the most common conveys the sense of a person's identity, being, or ego (Ps 103:1–2). And like a healthy spirit that is oriented towards the law of God, a healthy soul is one that mirrors or is like God. Conversely, an unhealthy soul is one that is averse to God's will and chooses instead to act according to personal desires. Such self-centeredness and carnality lead to jealousy, anger, and conflict, such as in the case of the Corinthian believers who formed factions and brought one another to court before unbelievers (1 Cor 3:3; 6:6). The more self-centered someone is, the less considerate he is of others' feelings and perspectives, increasing the likelihood and severity of conflict.

Self-centeredness is a rejection of God as King in our lives. We see examples of such diseased souls during the time of Noah when the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and took as wives whom they chose, or the Israelites during the time of the Judges, where everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Gen 3:2; Judg 21:25). These souls acted contrary to what God willed for men, instead choosing to satisfy their flesh. They saw their own lusts and desires as the only thing worth pursuing, superseding even God's law. The people of Israel went so far as to demand Samuel to anoint a king over them, to be like other nations. This was a clear rejection of the Lord God as their true King, who had led them out of Egypt and in their conquest of the promised land (1 Sam 8:5–8).

Today, we see the same human tendency. As the ideologies of individualism and humanism continue to grow in influence, we find that society no longer accepts God's absolute moral standard as universal. In this relentless pursuit of human rights and progress, men's lifted pride has caused them to reject and usurp God as King in their lives. The prophet Ezekiel draws a comparison between the king of Tyre—who was proud because of his riches and wisdom in trade—and Satan—whose heart was lifted because of his beauty, corrupting his wisdom for the sake of splendor (Ezek 28:5–6, 17). With the ever-increasing technological and scientific advancement, souls in these last days have become afflicted with the same terminal condition—imagining themselves as gods (Ezek 28:9).

How can we overcome this disease of self-centeredness and pride? The apostle Paul reminds us that we, who have been redeemed and have had our conscience cleansed, should also put off our old self-centered selves that are driven by fleshly lusts and instead be renewed as new men, created according to God for His righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:22–24).

Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Lk 9:23)

Following Christ is a continual process of self-denial. This means unraveling an egocentric worldview that begins at birth. In How to Win Friends and Influence People, the self-help author Dale Carnegie wrote that the sweetest and most important sound a person will ever hear is his or her own name. Our name may be forgettable to others, but for us, it carries a profound meaning representing our reputation, character, and abilities—our personal "brand." Can we remove our name and ourselves from the center of our personal universe to follow Christ?

The way to remedy this sickness is to de-center ourselves by focusing on God's word and Christ's example. In doing so, we learn to bear the yoke of Christ and allow Him to form in our hearts. Then, we will have the strength to deny ourselves completely, flushing out the old self by being filled with Christ. The space in our hearts may be infinitely vast, but we are selective, at times hating one because we love another. If the heart chooses Christ, we will naturally diminish and exclude our sense of self. Becoming less self-centered and arrogant will also result in less friction and conflict with others. As Christ re-takes His throne as King of our lives, we will naturally rely on Him in all things, and our worries will be lifted.

A soul filled with Christ will be healed from the inside out, transforming from the inward heart to outward behavior and becoming more Christlike as a partaker of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4).

Body

A diseased body is one that is trapped in the indulgence of lust.

The body and its needs are inseparable; unless our body dies, we will always be driven to fulfill its needs. However, while it is normal for our bodies to have needs, if we overindulge excessively and are constantly driven to satisfy those needs, then our needs have become lust and evil desires.

Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexually immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. (1 Cor 6:13)

Addressing one of the most fundamental human needs, Paul quotes a common saying of the time that was used to justify the overconsumption of food. The saying implies that if one does not eat all the available delicious food, one is doing a disservice to his stomach and his body since the stomach is made to enjoy food. While indulging in food seems innocuous, the Bible records many examples of people doing foolish things or committing grave sins just from the simple act of indulging in food. Eve perceived the forbidden fruit as good for food—a delicacy—while Esau, in hunger, sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew. Hence, Paul warns us that even with what seems to be innocuous indulgence, "God will destroy both it and them."

Paul goes on to draw a parallel between gustatory appetite and sexual desire (1 Cor 6:15–18). Both are basic, physical urges—gifts from God to enrich our lives. It is a blessing to eat and drink the fruit of our labor, as it is to live joyfully with one's wife (Eccl 5:18–19; 9:9). But unrestrained craving for food and sex can tip into evil desire, overindulgence, and debauchery, harming us both physically and spiritually.

So, how can our bodies overcome lust?

1. The truth shall make us free (Jn 8:32)

Philosophers and religious leaders throughout history have contemplated the issues of sin and death but without a satisfactory conclusion. Since these great thinkers were mere men, themselves deeply entangled in the flesh, they were unable to overcome sin and death—only Jesus could. Therefore, God’s word not only makes us aware of sin (which these great men could understand) but also gives us the power to overcome sin (surpassing these great men). Only the truth can set us free. True freedom from sin is to live in a world of sin, yet not be of this world (Jn 17:14–17). Every word from God carries power, and every promise and prophecy is fulfilled (Lk 1:37). Even creation was wrought through God's word. How can His word not enable us to overcome the bondage of sin?

2. Put to death the deeds of the body (Rom 8:13)

If, in our lives, we continually yield to bodily desires, we will surely perish. Therefore, we must discipline our bodies, bringing them into subjection, not in the manner of one beating the air (1 Cor 9:26–27). To "discipline" means to strike repeatedly, figuratively, to practice self-control rather than be controlled by our desires—to bring our bodies into subjection rather than be subject to our bodies. This involves strict and consistent efforts to ensure that we are always in control of our bodies and not allow our bodies to drive our actions. Those who live according to the flesh will die, but those who overcome their desires will live. Therefore, we must put to death the misdeeds of the body which stem from our desires.

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (Jas 1:18)

If, over time, we fail to curb the sins born from our desires, they will develop into compulsive behavior. We become entrenched in sin and can no longer stop ourselves. Willpower alone is not enough; we need to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and rely on the Holy Spirit's power to put these desires and deeds to death.

3. Present our bodies to God (1 Cor 6:13b; Rom 6:13b)

After we have been redeemed by baptism into Christ, the ownership of our bodies belongs to God. While we remain in control, our bodies are effectively on loan from the Lord. Though once we used our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, now we offer them as instruments of righteousness to God. Life is not meant for indulging our desires or solely for our physical existence, but to live for God.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1a)

Those who offer their bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord will surely suffer in the flesh, either facing persecution (2 Tim 3:12) or spiritual refinement (1 Pet 4:1). The apostles endured much physical pain and suffering for the sake of the gospel; Paul was given a thorn in his side to keep him vigilant over his own pride (2 Cor 11:23–25; 12:7). To safeguard the body presented to Him, God will at times allow us to suffer the thorns of fleshly affliction or persecutions. Though these bring us momentary pain, they will yield eternal salvation.  

CONCLUSION

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Eccl 12:7)

When our life on earth ends, what will become of us? The Bible tells us that our bodies will return to dust, but this is not the end of the story. The Lord has a plan for faithful Christians when He comes again. Our lowly bodies will be resurrected and transformed to conform to His glorious, incorruptible body and receive our heavenly citizenship and inheritance (Phil 3:20–21; 1 Cor 15:52).

Therefore, life is not just about our flesh; it is primarily about the spirit. The animating breath that brought life to our bodies of dust is the same breath that conveys God's word. While the body can be sustained with bread and water, the spirit cannot survive without the teachings of the Bible, which explains the spiritual sickness under which humanity toils. We must recognize our infirmity and turn once again to the Bible. It is only through strengthening our relationship with God and His healing word that we can revive our conscience, remove the tumor of self-centeredness, neutralize the influence of lust on our bodies, and return to total spiritual health.