The War of The Invisible

It's hard to believe just looking at it. Everything seems so clean and nice. What a wonderful place! Yeah, well, it looks that way because they haven't let the kids in yet!!

A battle is about ready to begin in this room. The victims will innocent children. Most will be defenseless against an enemy that cannot be seen but we parents send our kids in anyway. Why? Good question!

How many of you have ever had a sick kid? Wow! Every parent's hand just went up! You probably have all heard about the invisible enemy in our classrooms - germs. They're everywhere.

Why did God create germs? Probably for the same reason he invented mosquitoes. I have no idea why God made them either yet they are a reality.

"16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." - Colossians 1:16

There is good news in our invisible battle with germs. God has power over ALL things. Even the invisible. That's why He made scientists and doctors and researchers who spend their time trying to get rid of troublesome little friends. Germs.

All of us have another invisible enemy. Satan. We can't see him either but he is just as frustrating to deal with. He has already invaded the world we live in. Although we can't see him he leave a lot of symptoms in his wake.

There is a cure for this sickness. Just like a vaccine against an illness, Jesus provides the healing power in our battle against Satan. When we become a follower of Jesus God's Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. We become changed. Changed so much that we can actually live forever.

So why aren't more people lining up to get their Jesus shot? Another good question. Part of the reason is we're already infected. Satan effects our judgement and stamina. But another reason we don't get the help we need is because God is invisible too. If we would only open our eyes and see.

"17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." - Ephesians 1:17-23

The Parable of The Germ

My wife is currently battling a bad cold. She's coughing, sneezing, has a runny nose and her energy level is WAY down. Still, she tries to do things around the house but the stamina just is not there. She is extremely weak.

The reason she is sick is due to a germ. A virus. Her body is fighting against it and, thanks be to God, will win against it, eventually. God has given our bodies the ability to fight and stand up to infection . . . to heal itself from the creatures and forces that attack it.

Our spiritual lives operate in much the same way.

One who has no faith in God is, by definition, spiritually dead. One who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is said to be "alive" in Christ. They are born again. In order to be "born again" you must first die.

"I am the living one. I died, but look--I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave." - Revelation 1:18

Examine the common cold and compare its characteristics with that of sin in our lives.

• When we get a cold our energy is depleted. Sin depletes our energy and enthusiasm for God.
• When we get a cold we don't feel like eating. Everything tastes blah. When we have sin in our lives we don't feel like praying and God feels far from us. We feel blah.
• When we get a cold we want to stay by ourselves. When we are well spiritually we want to go to church to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
• A cold can lead to death if not taken care of. So can sin.
• When we have a cold we sometimes have to go see the doctor. When we have sin in our lives the only thing that can help us is the Great Physician, Jesus.

"23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

If there is sin in your life make an appointment to see The Doctor today. Life is so much better when we are healthy. It is WAY better if we are spiritually healthy and we know that we will never die. :)

The Great Physician - Deas Vail