Science is overrated as a method for studying creation. This is because science can, at best, explain half of creation: the half that is seen. It cannot explain the unseen part of creation, and that part is just as vast as the seen part – and far more lasting. In fact, that which is seen of creation is temporal, but that which is unseen is eternal. For example, the body without the spirit is dead. That’s how we know a person is dead: the unseen part is no longer there to animate the seen part. The body decays but the spirit lives on and moves on. Science is valid and important – just not adequate to explain all of creation.
We always need to be thinking about creation in two dimensions: seen and unseen, physical and spiritual, visible and invisible, flesh and spirit. An over-reliance on science causes us to ignore the spiritual dimension which is even more important to our well-being. Just because science has invented for itself telescopes to see things too far for the naked eye and microscopes to see things too small for the naked eye does not mean science is seeing anything other than what can be seen. An entire realm of creation – in fact, the more permanent part of creation – remains outside the scope of science. This science-only view of creation is most commonly called naturalism and it dominates the thinking of society at large – even among many of those who call themselves spiritual. Why is this?
The physical world is distracting. So “out of sight, out of mind” – unless we do something to resist natural urges. This requires discipline of mind and of will. Such discipline takes mental work. And we must be willing to do without certain pleasures in life to think the right way. In fact, we must be vigilant in seeking the best long-term consequences, not giving into the constant temptations to prefer instant gratification. But there’s a shift in thinking required that is even more fundamental.
Most sin is committed in secret. That is, when we humans do wrong, we generally try to do it when no one is looking. However, God sees what humanity does not see, for humanity can see only the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Therefore, while the sin might be secret from other people it is not secret from God and therefore it is not secret in the realm that really matters. That our sin was kept secret from everyone else in the world does not mean that God will not judge it. This is all deemed to be of little importance to the mind set on walking in the flesh. By disallowing God and the spiritual dimension in which He dwells, such a fleshly mind is free to indulge in whatever pleasures it wants. But the mind that wants to please God can overcome temptation by walking in the spirit, thinking every thought in the watchful eye of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – Jesus Christ.
The thief has no problem resisting the urge to shoplift when he’s in full view of an armed guard. If that thief were to walk in the spirit, he would see Jesus Christ as the armed guard everywhere he went – and he would become an honest man in the process. But he has to love – not just fear – this armed guard for the process to work properly.
If we believe there is a world of the spirit, why do we still walk in the flesh? Probably because it’s easier to conform to the way everyone else is thinking. But this is your fork in the road: walking in the flesh like the mass of humanity will keep you in bondage to your own selfish desires while walking in the spirit gives you freedom from sin because you never want to disappoint the One who gave His life for you. Which road will you take? Which road leads to the better life? Which road was paved with the blood of Jesus Christ?
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11/27/25
The Duty of a Man 