The Believer and His Body 645
when we are sick and (2) He will preserve us if we are not sick. In a
word, the Holy Spirit will strengthen our earthly tents so that we can
meet the requirements of God’s work and walk in order that neither
our life nor the kingdom of God will suffer through the weakness of
the body.
This is what God has provided for all His children. Yet how many
Christians day by day genuinely experience this life given by His
Spirit to their mortal bodies? Are there not many whose spiritual life
is endangered by their physical condition—many who fall because of
their physical weakness—many who cannot work actively for God
because of the bondage of illness? The experience of Christians
today does not correspond to God’s provision. Various reasons of
course account for this discrepancy: some refuse to accept God’s
provision for they maintain it has nothing to do with them; while
others know and believe and desire this provision but have not
presented their bodies a living sacrifice. These hold instead that God
has furnished them strength to live through themselves. But those
who truly wish to live for God and claim this promise and provision
by faith shall experience the reality of the fullness of life in the body
as given by the Holy Spirit.
“So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh” (v.12). This verse fully describes the proper
relation between the believer and his body. Countless brethren are
slaves to their fleshly frames. The spiritual life of many is totally
imprisoned in their bodies! They exist as two different persons: when
they withdraw to the inner man they have a feeling of being spiritual,
nigh to God and abounding in life; but when they live in the outer
flesh they feel fallen, carnal and alienated from God because they are
obeying their bodies. Their body becomes a heavy burden to them. A
little physical discomfort can alter their life. A slight illness or pain
will perturb them and flood their hearts with self-love and self-pity.
Under these circumstances it is impossible to follow a spiritual
course.