That’s a scene from the movie Tomorrowland. Of course that metaphor has probably been told a thousand different ways for a thousand different scenarios. But first and foremost, it’s a spiritual truth:
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
Our flesh is always pulling at our shirts, jumping in our faces, snarling in our ears. It doesn’t like to hear no for an answer. And saying no is good, but if we don’t say yes to the Spirit, that vacuum will beg to be filled with something.
That word walk in Galatians means “…to live, follow (as a companion), go, be occupied with…”
We are privileged to have as our Companion, sun up to sun up, 24/7/365 (or 366 as the case may be), the Holy Spirit. When we walk with Him, follow Him, obey Him, the vacuum will be filled with all things pure, and good, and holy.
When we feed the spirit inside us with prayer and reading God’s Word, we will starve that beady-eyed, snarling flesh. We’ll start noticing the fear and anxiety has silenced, and in its place is divine fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Light and hope in place of darkness and despair. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
Not only do we need that right now (as always), but that’s what the world needs us to have. It needs to see there’s another, better way. It needs to see Jesus.