Spiritual vs Physical
Which is greater, the spiritual or the physical? The divide between these two realms takes many forms. Many decisions in life are made based on logic or emotion, with one prevailing over the other. We have all heard the phrase “mind over matter,” which teaches us that the power of thought can overcome physical limitations. Believers are all taught that our spirit is at war with our flesh, meaning our religious beliefs are in conflict with our temptation to sin. Many religious people are quick to say spiritual matters should always prevail over physical things. Others may say what matters most is what can you do with this one life you’ve been given. Many battles (verbal or otherwise) are fought between these two concepts with no end to the war in sight. Rather than side with one versus the other, I submit there should not be a divide between them in the first place. Understanding the synergy between them can remove the mystery of spiritual things and enhance one’s walk with God.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
The first chapter of Genesis describes the physical creation with the earth as the focal point. Though it is not explicitly stated, nearly all Bible scholars believe that a spiritual realm (the heavenlies) was also created either before or during Genesis 1:1. There are two ways we can interpret what the heavens are in the first verse. First, the heavens can be thought of as the volume of space which is literally the vessel of the physical creation. Secondly, we can theorize that the term heavens in verse one includes the creation of that spiritual or heavenly realm. In either case, it appears that spiritual things were created before physical things. Because the heavens predated the earth, that must mean spiritual things are superior to physical things. Case closed, there is no need for further debate, right? The same Bible also says this:
14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the [physical] body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:14-26
In the previous passage, faith represents spiritual things. Even though you cannot see it or touch it, faith is still an idea that you know exists. Works are physical activities or actions that one does. The works in this passage describe bringing food to the hungry or helping the homeless. These are physical things. What the Bible is saying here is there is a synergy and a codependence between faith and works. Does that same codependence apply to the spiritual and physical realms? Are the spiritual heavens dead without the physical earth? Can either stand on their own without the other? I am of the opinion that both realms were created at the same time. Maybe they are even two sides of the same coin to use a physical analogy. Rather than arguing which is greater than the other, I believe we should draw the same conclusion that the Bible does. You simply cannot have one without the other.
The divide between physical things and spiritual things manifests in different ways. Both believers and non-believers alike need to learn how these entities relate and work with each other as opposed to being in conflict.
Emotion Vs. Logic
Have you ever wondered if it is better to make a decision based on logic or emotion? Logic dictates a decision should be based on reason, knowledge, facts, and common sense. In this case, logic represents the physical side of things. Emotion dictates a decision should be made based on instincts, intuition, and feelings. Emotion represents all things spiritual. Ultimately, neither side is more right than the other, it often depends on the matter at hand whether the scales are tipped to one side or the other. This balance lies at the heart of most arguments… I mean discussions… between males and females (particularly married couples). Typically, but not always, men think more logically while women favor emotion over logic. Again, this is a generalization. What newlyweds must learn quickly is that you need both to make a good decision. This is why men and women work well together and, as the old phrase goes, “opposites attract.” Having both in tandem is better than one always prevailing over the other.
The Heart Vs. The Mind
This same conflict can be described as the heart and mind being at war with one another in a person. This moves the conflict away from being between two people with opposing views and changes it to the inward struggle we all face internally when it comes to making a decision. The mind is a powerful thing, but the heart wants what the heart wants. How do you decide when the two are opposed to each other?
Many people consider the brain to be the most important part of the human body. Yes, all thoughts and motor functions come from the brain. Interestingly enough, scientists have now discovered things about the human heart (the organ) that make it measurably more powerful than the brain. The electromagnetic field produced by the heart is 5,000 times more powerful than the brain. The heart has an electrical field 60 times greater than the brain. Does that mean the heart is greater or more important than the brain? Maybe. But I don't think you would trade your brain for your heart anytime soon. It is nice to have both in proper working order.
The Spirit Vs. The Flesh
The two previous examples are more philosophical in nature. When you begin to talk about one’s spirit versus one’s flesh, the debate takes a more religious turn. The Judeo/Christian worldview considers mankind’s physical flesh to be inherently sinful. Our physical nature is temporal and corruptible while our spiritual nature is considered to be eternal and holy to God. The scripture teaches us to forsake our flesh so that our spirit might draw closer to God. The Bible plainly states the two are opposed to each other.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:17-25
Does this mean we should forsake all physical things and focus solely on spiritual things? Our job as believers is ultimately more complicated than that. God desires that we overcome the temptations of the flesh. Living or walking in the spirit is not about what we do in life, but rather how we live our life. It does not mean we simply ignore our physical lives. By keeping His Commandments and walking in His word we show that our spirit can overcome and direct the actions of our flesh. In these turbulent days, it is essential that our spirits stay high and encouraged to motivate our flesh to do what is right. When the spirit is strong the flesh is weak. If your spirit becomes broken, your flesh (and the temptations that come with it) will take over. Therefore, we rely and call upon the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and emotions instead of our own spirit. The Spirit of the LORD cannot be broken.
Spirit and Truth
The Messiah spoke of many great things during His physical ministry on this earth. Perhaps one of the most unique exchanges He ever made was to the Samaritan woman at the well.
And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Yeshua, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Yeshua said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Yeshua answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?” Yeshua answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” He said to her, Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Yeshua said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Yeshua said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Yeshua *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:4-26
The most obvious question with this story is why did Yeshua speak so plainly about being the Messiah? In other parts of the Gospels, Yeshua was cryptic to say the least when asked if He was the Messiah. But to the Samaritan woman He spoke definitively. Why? I believe the Messiah was appealing to the spirit in the woman but using physical evidence and verbal testimony to confirm what she was feeling in her spirit. I spoke earlier of women being more emotional (spiritual) than logical. He did not tell her He was the Messiah to answer a logical question, but instead told her in order to stir her spirit to believe. It is no secret that women are more in tune with the moves of the Holy Spirit than men. As far as the Messiah is concerned, these words could only have been said to a woman.
Yeshua began this conversation by contrasting physical things with spiritual things. He spoke of the difference between the physical water in the well and the spiritual living water that He provides. He then spoke of true worship not being based on a physical place but instead on the spiritual nature of how one should worship Him -- in spirit and truth. Worshipping Him in spirit falls in line with everything we've already been talking about. But what about truth? Scripture says truth is established by two or three witnesses. In a court of law, truth is established by evidence. Truth is a spiritual construct that is proven and established by physical evidence. Once again, the scripture is not forsaking all things physical, but is showing that it works hand-in-hand with the things of the spirit. John also wrote in his first epistle how interconnected spirit and truth are by stating they are inseparable.
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Yeshua is the Son of God? This is the One who came by water and blood, Yeshua Messiah; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 1 John 5:5-6
Spiritual things and physical things exist simultaneously in the creation of God. What God has created to be together cannot and should not be separated or even be thought as separate or opposed to one another.
Even if the heavenly realm was created first, or the heart is more powerful than the mind, that doesn't make our physical lives any less important. Even though the spirit is called upon to overcome the works of the flesh, we can't stop the functions of our day-to-day lives waiting only for the Spirit of God to speak to us. In the command to walk in spirit and truth, the word walk is just as important as the words spirit and truth. Our faith requires action. God always meets our physical needs so that we might execute the spiritual call on our lives.
Spiritual and Physical Preparedness
So now for the million-dollar question. How shall we prepare for the coming of the Lord? Should we prioritize physical preparedness with camping gear and go-bags? Or shall we focus on spiritually preparing our hearts and minds for the coming tribulations with study and prayer? The answer is yes.
Every generation for the last 2000 years has been looking for the coming of Messiah. Many Jews believe the Messiah has not yet come, while Christians are looking for the second coming. Both are seeking the Messiah. All are vastly unprepared for His return. Is the bridegroom (Yeshua) going to come if the bride (Israel) is not ready? No. Talking about the coming of the Messiah without actively working to prepare the Body for His return is like having faith without works.
Getting ready isn’t just about physical preparedness; there must also be spiritual strengthening for the challenges ahead. Some might say that if we only focus on the physical preparation, then the Lord will take care of the spiritual stuff. But everything I have said in this article proves the two cannot be separate. There is a responsibility upon us as believers to prepare ourselves both physically and spiritually. We also cannot rely on acts of God and world events to shape us into who we need to be. We cannot say, “when the Great Tribulation comes, then the bride will start getting ready.” That responsibility as believers remains, regardless of what is going on around us.
So how do we spiritually prepare ourselves? We do so by examining the other side of the coin. We all know our basic physical needs as human beings. They are food, water, shelter, and clothing. Yes, there are Biblical examples of God meeting every one of these needs when delivering His people. We must still take responsibility for knowing these needs and preparing our families to be ready if suddenly the availability of those things comes into question. Even the most secular of people now recommend and believe in having a bug-out bag on hand. The point of this article is not to address how to meet those needs in a tribulation scenario. The point is to teach you to not focus so heavily on physical preparation while neglecting your spiritual walk. Let us look at the four physical needs that I stated above and draw out the spiritual parallels to those physical things.
Food
Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3b
We must be spiritually fed every day just like needing food to eat. We receive this nourishment by ingesting the word of God. His word strengthens us and lifts us up in our weakest moments. Just as you can grow weak and lethargic without proper nutrition, a lack of spiritual nourishment can lead to spiritual lethargy. This is why reading scripture regularly is so important. It should be no surprise that devout religious men pray three times a day just like most people strive to eat three square meals per day. Also, don't miss the fact that the works of the Spirit in the book of Galatians are called fruit.
Water
Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Because it is an essential element of survival, it is a fitting representation for the Spirit of God, which is imparted to us to live. The Hebrew word for heavens, hashomayim, has mayim (water) as its root word. It is not lost on me that two-thirds of our bodies are made of water and two of the three parts that make us who we are (soul and spirit) are intangible and could be considered heavenly in nature. We need the Spirit of God to be flowing through us in everything we do every day. Natural water is also what cleanses us. Internally, water flushes toxins from our body. Externally it removes any unclean thing attached to us. In both cases, we need the Living Water that comes from God to wash over us inside and out.
Shelter
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
The Lord is our refuge. We can dwell safely in the shadow of His wings. Just like the children of Israel in Egypt had the blood on the doorpost protecting them from the angel of death outside, we too need the covering of the blood of the Lamb which protects us from death. Placing the commandments of God on our doorposts, the Mezuzah reminds us of Who protects us. The Messiah (The Word which became flesh) also said He is the door. No one comes in except through Him.
In life, we need shelter to protect us and our families from weather and other hostile forces that would put our lives in jeopardy. In the tribulation, that shelter can be pre-planned, but ultimately, it is the Lord who determines if it holds together or is lost.
Clothing
Ephesians 6 teaches us about the Armor of God. We must clothe ourselves with the spiritual abstractions of God: Salvation, Righteousness, Truth, to protect ourselves spiritually. These things protect us from the direct attacks of the adversary against us as believers of God. We need to be putting on the Armor of God daily just like the clothes we wear. Spiritual concepts like righteous and truth are not tools in bag or accessories we wear only when the occasion requires. They are a daily covering for our spiritual nakedness. Just like the clothes and shoes of the Children of Israel that did not fail, the covering of the Lord will never fail you.
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.. Isaiah 61:10
These four needs must be met every day. As you physically do them, your heart should mediate on each spiritual parallel. Think/speak of the Word of God while you eat. Picture the Spirit of God filling you while you drink or washing over you as you take a shower. Think of God as the Creator and protector of your house as you go in or come out (this is what the mezuzah teaches us). Think of the armor of God every time you are in your closet or at your dresser mulling over what to wear. These are just some of the ways you can balance your spiritual life with your physical life. Having this balance will prepare you for the time coming when this topsy-turvy world turns on its head.
Conclusion
To overcome every challenge we may face in life, we must be spiritually and physically balanced. Every good decision uses logic and emotion. If your heart, mind, body, and soul can align for a common goal, nothing can stand against you. Unfortunately, we are not ‘one’ as the Lord is One. We are imbalanced. When the tribulation comes, your knowledge alone won't save you. Your camping gear alone won’t save you. When the darkness comes, the fool among us will brag how many batteries they still have and then promptly die from fear for lack of spiritual preparedness. Only those who have prepared their body, soul, and spirit to best of their ability will be able to stand in that day. Then the Lord and His mighty hand will deliver us. By the time we figure out how to truly balance our spiritual lives with our physical lives, God will have made a new heavens and a new earth. I pray when that Kingdom comes that it won’t take long for our new bodies to learn the balance once again. In the meantime, He has given us both physical and spiritual tools to survive and thrive in our current lives. The hour is now for the true worshipers to worship the Father in spirit and truth.
