As I grew up, one of the sure ways to get people to the theatre was to produce a horror movie. By the 1920s Frankenstein and Dracula had already started sucking people into the seats. Over the years, ghosts, spirits, demons, and magic have had a tremendous impact on drawing some of the largest crowds. Many of our most famous actors have played a sinister role. Today, the same concepts make up the substance of best sellers to kids. Even long running animated cartoons play on the spooky nature of things. Entertainment thrives on the supernatural because people are hungry for something bigger or better than they are — that is until you want to talk with them about the spirit world.

Spirits are hard to get your arms around. We learned a lot of terms in seminary about them, but it’s hard to imagine them or describe them since you cannot see them. While our faith helps us accept that the spiritual world exists, to someone outside the faith, it can just be conjecture or fantasy. I’m sure at some point we would all love to see an angel at work as King Hezekiah and Isaiah did. Here is what happened in 2 Chronicles 32:21 after they prayed: And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the [386,000] fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. Even if you couldn’t see them, something like that would leave a lasting impression. However, we receive a special blessing that those who saw will not receive (John 20:29).

Even if it is hard to get our arms around them, let’s try. In the OT, the word rûach is used 378 times. In the New Testament, the word consistently used in conjunction with “holy” is pneuma. Both carry a similar meaning. It describes a breath-like entity, individual, or one with a rational mind who is invisible and immaterial and yet powerful and superhuman. From these meanings we can deduce that a spirit is like a breath, the wind, or a breeze. It is invisible or transparent, yet nonetheless powerful. It has an unseen strength and courage to go wherever it desires. In time it will tear down buildings, uproot trees, sink ships, and even wear down the hardest rock. We commonly refer to this type of force as “Mother Nature” because nothing man created is able to stand up to it in its temper and fury.

When we consider those descriptions, we have no choice but to get the sense that a spirit relentlessly nudges, pushes, or directs us either gently or with great power. In time we end up in places where it wants us. The reality is spirits — any spirit — can wear you down in time. They have learned much about how to manipulate mankind and our inherent weaknesses in their thousands of years of their existence. I know it’s hard to think about, but as believers we made a choice as to which spirit inhabits our bodies. You chose the one who will enhance what you are created to be, not one who will manipulate you and take advantage of your weaknesses. If you can’t visualize Him to get your arms around Him, don’t worry, because He already has His arms around you! Besides that he has two “backups,” your guardian angels!

Love, Dad