The Battle Within

As seen in VV and the HEARTbeat

The Battle Within

            Most of us can attest to the stress and strain this past year has had on us.  Every day we had to ask ourselves, “Is it safe to go to our favorite restaurant?”  We questioned every move, shied away from informal gatherings in the home of friends, or sequestered ourselves from family altogether.  The emotional battles have taken their toll.

            What would say if I told you there was a battle raging inside your body that you didn’t really think about nor could see?  It is the battle of the bacteria!  There are millions of bacteria living inside your body, specifically in your digestive system.  In fact, the ratio of bacteria cells to human body cells is 10:1. As an example, if the human body was made of 1 million cells, there would be 10 million bacteria cells residing in it!  It is kind of creepy to think about, but there is a purpose to them.  So how do you explain the battle?

            Inside your digestive system there are good bacteria and bad bacteria.  When there is a balance everything is fine.  But when there is an imbalance, such as too many bad bacteria, we develop many different kinds of digestive ailments.  It has been in the last decade where correcting this imbalance has become widely known, and it is done with probiotics.  They come in many forms such as oral vitamins.  But we have been taking in probiotics for years by eating foods such as cheese, yogurt, pickled vegetables, and others.  Since we know this battle exists, we can now have an impact on the battle within, and have success!

            But what about the spiritual battle within?  Have we been exposed to this type of battle over this past year?  I propose to you the answer is a resounding “yes”!  Because of the pandemic, we have found different ways to worship like video broadcasts, small group gatherings, and drive-in church.  However, these methods only bind us together electronically.  Make no mistake, the enemy would like nothing more than to divide us or single us out to weaken our relationships with each other and to our Heavenly Father.

            WWII bombers would fly together for protection against the enemy.  Schools of fish swim together for greater protection and to confuse the bigger fish.  Christians meet together to encourage, help, and to be helped by other Christians.  The writer of Hebrews tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…”. No matter how strong our faith is, the enemy WILL come after us if we don’t surround ourselves with Godly people.  If Satan tried to tempt Jesus when He was alone in the wilderness, don’t think for a moment he won’t try with us.

            Don’t let fear keep you from gathering together.  Even with the pandemic, you are safer in church with other Christians than alone outside of it, for eternity sake!