Most people know that humans and animals inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. A widely believed idea is that we humans take in life-giving air and expel deadly poison and waste. But is this true? Not exactly.
His Kingdom
When we inhale, we take in a mixture of only 21% oxygen, 1% carbon dioxide, and a whopping 78% nitrogen. What about when we exhale? When we exhale the mixture is changed only a little: 79% nitrogen, 5% carbon dioxide, and 16% oxygen. This means that the air coming out of our lungs still contains much more oxygen than carbon dioxide.
Therefore, mouth to mouth resuscitation is possible. The air that comes out of mouths still contains enough life-giving oxygen that, by using CPR, we can bring a person back from clinical death to consciousness.
Many of God’s people wonder how God could ever use them for any useful service in His kingdom. They reason that, “God cannot use impure vessels. My mind has impure thoughts. My heart is poisoned by anger and racist feelings. When I speak in God’s behalf, will not the Scripture I have studied be tainted as it comes from my heart and mouth? Will not poison spew from my lips. For I am flesh, and I battle sinful nature every day. Certainly, nothing good can come from my heart?”
Work In Progress
It is possible that our limited minds, and the presence of evil in our hearts, may potentially darken the gospel when we share it. But there remains enough light in our message to give sight to the blind and show the way to eternal life. We are all “a work in progress” and will not experience perfection until God Himself completes His work in us at the resurrection. But our fallen nature is no excuse for keeping silent and withholding God’s message of light and love.
The book of 2 Kings relates the story of four lepers who fled their city of starving people, only to stumble upon a storehouse of food and wealth. As they stuffed their bellies and danced among their new-found treasures, their minds went back to the dying people of their city. “We are not doing right,” they said to each other. “For this is a day of glad tidings and we are keeping silent” (2 Kings 7:9). Maybe we are imperfect, and our messages will not always be perfect. However, do not let these factors keep you silent, for this is a day of glad tidings.
PRAYER
Dear Father in heaven, I confess that I am a flawed vessel. But I am Your chosen vessel no less and You have made me for Your service. Please use me to share the light of Your love and salvation with those who are hungry in heart. Amen.
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
