The Mystery of Creation: Chapter 3: Understanding the Trinity: Practical Application: Body, Soul and Spirit

Practical Application: Body, Soul and Spirit

                And so, to give you a practical application of what all this looks like...

                A person comes home from work.  The flesh takes a look at a piece of cake and says, “I want that cake.  I’m tired and hungry and that’ll make me feel better.” 

                The spirit replies, “You know you shouldn’t eat that cake.  Not only will it make you gain a few pounds - and you have high cholesterol, I might add – but you know your spouse was looking forward to that last piece of cake when they get home.” 

                You see, the spirit is processing not only data about the body but also data about people in the person’s life.  The spirit is always looking out for the body trying to keep it from doing things it shouldn’t do so that it will live long and have a better, happier life.  It is trying to give the person wisdom in the current situation.  It is also trying to remind the person about the feelings and thoughts of others.

                Now the soul comes in.  It hears both sides of the story and makes the final decision.  The soul’s judgment is final – though often the body will appeal that decision to try to get at least one or two last little attempts in to get its way.  So the spirit feels the desire of the body to eat that cake and communicates it to the soul.  The soul also hears the arguments from the spirit as the spirit relays its own feelings on the matter. 

                “My spouse won’t mind,” the flesh argues.  “They are trying to be healthy anyway.  They don’t even like chocolate cake as much.  I want that cake and I am hungry.  I worked real hard today.  I want it!  I deserve it!  Gimme!  Gimme!  I want!  I want!”

                The spirit then shoots back, “But you could have all sorts of other stuff that your spouse doesn’t care about as much, and your spouse told you specifically that they wanted that cake when they get home.  If you eat it you are just going to make them mad and it’ll cause a fight and you’ll never hear the end of it.”

                Finally, the soul cuts in.  “That’s it!  I’m eating it.  I’m tired and hungry.”  And like a bolt of lightning the decision is made.  The spirit obeys the soul and orders the body to eat the cake.  The cake is eaten, the body is temporarily satisfied and when the spouse comes home…the battle really begins!

                This is why people are always “talking to themselves.”  This is why we draw cartoons about angels and devils tempting us, one on either shoulder.  The devil actually represents our bodies, our flesh, and the angel represents our spirit.  This is why the Bible says we are made of a soul, spirit and flesh, and our flesh is always at war with our spirit and even our soul. 

                Yes, our flesh wars with our soul too, because how often do we say to ourselves when the temptation is not in front of us, “I am going to stop eating poorly” or “I’m going to stop taking those drugs” or “I’m going to stop smoking” or “I’m not touching another drink.”  Then the temptation comes in front of us, and our soul caves in to the demands of the flesh.  The evidence points to all of this as being true.  We, like God, have a body, soul and spirit.

                The only difference is that, unlike God, our bodies, souls and spirits are obviously at war.  (Well, there is another difference which is that God’s body and soul are swimming within the ocean of His eternal Spirit which stretches throughout space and time, and even His body, the Word, defines all things and therefore is in all things, thus meaning that His Soul, the Father, is truly connected by the Spirit and the Word, to all things.  Remember, like a computer, God’s energy is everywhere.  Since we are contained within our bodies, our spirits only go wherever our bodies are, not the other way around.)  God’s body, the Word, His Soul, the Father, and His Spirit are all at peace with each other and have always been at peace with one another.  They work together in unity and harmony forever without end.  They never fight over issues.  If one says, “Let’s do this,” the others say, “Sounds good.”  There is never a contention between them.

                Does this make sense?  Of course!  They would have to be in unity for the universe to exist.  If they were at war with one another then they would destroy one another.  Even as we destroy ourselves more often than not because we war with ourselves over what we should eat, say, etc. so God would destroy Himself.

                Thus, the Bible is true in saying, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.”  (Deuteronomy 6:4.)  However, it is also true to say, as the New Testament points out, that God is Three Persons in One, the Holy Trinity; The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He is One eternal entity because the Father, the Word (the Son) and the Holy Spirit are always of one mind and of one heart and of one will.  God is three distinct personalities all wrapped into one collective being, just as WE are made up of three distinct personalities; the Id, Ego and Superego (as Sigmund Freud called them) or the Body, Soul and Spirit (as the Bible calls them).