Most people know they need to care for their physical bodies. Millions, perhaps billions, of dollars are spent each year on soap, toothpaste, vitamins, medicines, exercise equipment, etc.

When the body becomes injured, one goes to the doctor or even the hospital to make sure things are alright. This only makes sense, as without proper upkeep and care the body will wear out sooner than expected.

Seeing how much is done to keep the physical body healthy, it must also be seen that there is a need to make sure the spiritual part of man is healthy also.

There is one to who all should go for a spiritual checkup: Jesus the great physician. He supplies the needed care for spiritual well being.

“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31, 32).

Sin is the great ailment that plagues mankind. Sin will cause spiritual death if something is not done to combat its effects.

James wrote, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:12-16).

The care that Jesus offers must be accepted by the “patient.” Just as one can refuse the words of a physical doctor, they can also refuse to heed the words of the great physician.

Sadly, so many today are doing just that – refusing the only medicine that will save their soul. God created man in his image (Gen. 1:27) and gave man the power to choose between obeying and rejecting his creator.

In caring for our physical bodies, one tries to avoid situations that may cause them to become sick or injured. This same idea should be continued when dealing with the soul.

In caring for the soul one must also avoid contamination. Sinful things should be avoided, as Paul warned in the letter to the Galatian Christians: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

These works of the flesh will cause one to miss heaven. These items are a “cesspool” of danger for the soul and must be avoided.