Balancing our Physical & Spiritual Natures

My days are often spent studying the scriptures as I prepare for talks that I am asked to give. Then at night to relax before bed, I will take a few minutes and catch up with things on my phone before I fall asleep. A few nights ago, I read some scriptures instead and I randomly turned to John 1:5 and read, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” I didn’t understand the verse, but I was curious, so I took the time to look at the footnotes. In them I learned that the light is referring to Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. I learned that darkness is the evil or sin that is found in the world. I then turned to the scriptures about “comprehended it not” and read:

1 Corinthians 2: 12-14
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; Comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
D&C 45:29
But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

These scriptures taught me that the reason darkness cannot comprehend nor see the light (or Jesus) is because it is only through the Spirit that one can know and understand our Savior. I felt enlightened as I thought of these things and then fell asleep.

The next morning, before reaching for my phone and getting out of bed, I read these same scriptures, and I was blessed abundantly as the Spirit taught me more.

I thought of how Heavenly Father has both a spirit and body of flesh and blood and how before we came to earth, we were his spirit children. Because he loved us, he wanted to give us all that he had. So, after we developed our spiritual natures to a point, and with our consent, we were given bodies when we were born on earth. This allowed us to continue our learning and growth through experience and it is the only way we can become like God someday.

Here on earth, it is easy to develop physically because we have unending needs, appetites, and passions that demand satisfaction. The busyness of the world, hobbies, and addictions can distract us from our purpose, which is to learn to balance our physical bodies with our spiritual natures. It is only through the spirit that we can understand God and his Son Jesus Christ through who we can receive our salvation and exaltation. Perhaps this is why in Psalms 46:10 we are told to be still and know that I am God.

I am grateful for what the Spirit taught me and I was glad that I didn’t reach for my phone that morning like I often do. As always, the battle of the physical and the spiritual is never ending. However, the secret to lasting happiness and peace is to search for that balance between both of these beautiful God-given natures and it is also one of the purposes of life.