Math may not be your favorite subject, but I am sure you’ll love spiritual math! Spiritual math is where we use the rules of mathematics to solve spiritual problems. For instance, the Bible says that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). So if we take wisdom apart from God it is called foolishness. We could then make an equation with this. Wisdom (w) minus God (infinity) or “∞” (w - ∞ = -∞) is negative infinity, or so far behind zero that it cannot be written out. In other words, negative infinity is infinite loss. However, if you add God to the equation, then you have the opposite result: (w + ∞ = ∞) infinite gain!

Math is actually used a lot in Scripture, like in the prophecy about the Messiah where seventy weeks (70 x 7 = 490), or 490 years, are determined (subtracted) from the 2300 [Daniel 9:24]. Another prophecy speaks about the dividing of time [Daniel 7:25]. Peter tells us to add [2 Peter 1:5]. When John is counting the angels, multiplication is used [Revelation 5:11], and Jesus tells us to forgive seventy times seven (70 x 7 = 490) [Matthew 18:22].

Okay, let’s use math to solve a really big spiritual problem. That problem is sin. According to the Bible, the wages of sin is death. Wages are what is paid when you finish a task and is judged or determined complete. So sin (s) plus judgment (j) equals death (d). Lets put it into an equation: (s + j = d). Now we have the problem stated, but we actually don’t like the result. How can we avoid having this equation as part of our life? Let’s use some more math to solve the problem.

The well-known verse in John 3:16 tells us that God loved us and gave His Son so that we would not die but have eternal life. So if we take sin (s) and judgment (j) and add Jesus (J), we get a different result: Eternal Life (L), (s + j + J = L). Adding Jesus makes sense. However, Jesus did not come just as an add-on. He came to take away sin [John 1:29]. So if we, humanity (h), accept Jesus (J) into our life then He takes away sin (s) and leaves us with peace (P) [John 14:27]. That would be written (h + J – s = P).

Hold on, class is not over yet! We cannot have Eternal Life without keeping Jesus as a permanent part of our life. It is not enough just to have Him forgive us and leave peace in our heart. Without God or infinity there is nothing everlasting. So we must each day add God to our life.

Consider this quote: “The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous one. Day by day God labors for man’s sanctification, and man is to cooperate with Him, putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. He is to add grace to grace; and as he thus works on the plan of addition, God works for him on the plan of multiplication” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 532).

While we are doing the addition, God does the multiplication in our life. You may think that it is worthless to try because you have tried and failed before. So let’s use math one more time to figure this out. If we take two negatives and add them together, we always come out with a negative. That is the rule of mathematics. The saying goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right,” or in mathematical terms two negatives added never equal a positive. We try to add up all the things we do, and it always comes out in the negative.

If this has been your experience, then you should be adding God to your life and not adding up all your own works. When we add God to our life every day, as we just learned, He works on a different level: Multiplication! According to the laws of mathematics, when you multiply two negatives they become a positive. So with God, even the negatives in life are turned into positives! So, don’t forget to add God each day, and He will turn your life into something awesome for Him!

Class dismissed. . . . Oh, and don’t forget to do your heart-work!