The Teeter-Totter

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

In our faith tradition we talk a lot about people getting “saved.”  What exactly happens at salvation?  According to the Bible, specifically in Paul’s teachings, “our spirit man is sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:13).  In other words, when we come to faith in Christ, our spirit, or the part of us that connects to the Spirit of God, comes alive.  We are born-again, saved, redeemed, (welcome to this Christian cliché festival)!  The part of us that knows and responds to God comes alive.  We are no “longer dead in our trespasses and sins.”  

According to the Bible, two classes of people exist:  “Saints and Aints” – those   who have experienced His grace and those who have yet to come to new life in Christ. 

The Bible lends support to the idea that man is a tri-part being.  He is a spirit, who lives in a body and who is guided by his soul (mind, will and emotions).  Those who experience the new birth are hot-wired to know God intimately and to hear His voice.

Then comes the body!   That part of you that stares back from the mirror every morning!  You have to love it.  The Bible discusses body care and maintenance.  Your spirit-man and soul constantly vie for control of the body man.  Yikes!

Now, let me briefly concentrate on the soul.  It’s the one that most preaching neglects to confront. 

Do you remember riding the teeter-totter on the playground at school?  Up and down, up and down!  Always balancing on the middle pole to insure a safe ride.  How many times did you crash to the ground because the other smart aleck decided to bail? 

Picture this:  The middle pole represents the spirit.  One seat represents the soul.  The other seat represents the body.  The middle pole is necessary to direct the seats.  The middle pole functions as an equalizer.  So it is with your spirit.  It is the great equalizer!  If it malfunctions, neither the soul nor the body can function properly.  The soul is governed by the spirit, and the body is guided by what the soul dictates.  Remember, our mind, will and emotions dictate the actions of the soul, who must be driven by the spirit, who derives authority and power from the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  We are complex, yet intricately designed.

When we don’t feed our spirit on the Bible, God’s Word, it derives its nourishment from sources that cannot properly nourish it; and in turn, our soul takes a nosedive (like on the teeter-totter), and our body follows its own path as well.  And believe me, when we are not in line with God’s Word, we get ourselves into a mess, don’t we?

An unhealthy soul is transformed by input from the Spirit.  Root issues, when exposed by the Holy Spirit, are brought into the light of the Gospel and previously held lies are exchanged for God’s truth.  Soul issues of course, can be healed instantaneously; however, most are exposed and healed through process. 

I have just skimmed the surface of a very inexhaustive topic.  And I hope I have whetted your appetite to learn more about this tri-part teaching.  Hope Community offers Freedom Ministry, which explores the “healing of the saved,” and helps individuals come into fullness of life that Christ makes possible. Ask about our next session.