Posted on 01/09/2016 5:00:43 PM PST by matt1234
I did not intend to imply that we can manage our own sinful desires without Christ or that legalistic performance would be sufficient apart from being “In Christ”. Rather my intent was too often people focus too much on dealing with the source of their temptations, outside themselves, rather than see that it’s often times their own desires which create the environment to sin....
It is true...sometimes you simply “flee”.....as we are encouraged to do.
Words of wisdom.
It makes sense that the enemy will try all the more to keep you from something if it stands to be a big gain for the kingdom.
Him tipping his hand like that is enough to keep me going.
Not just a big gain for Gods Kingdom.....but for the individual by resisting....who generally will not realize that gain until the battle is won....
CS Lewis in *Screwtape Letters* made the point that when the person is just at the point of thinking they can’t hang on for one more minute, the battle is usually just about over.
That it’s the enemy’s goal to get us to capitulate just when the end is in sight.
What a great post, caww! I especially think your last sentence was chilling in its truthfulness. Thank you for sharing.
I pretty much agree with you, but one thing I always like to make clear is this:
The only EVIL that exists in this world, exists in mankind.
Well, I hope you will be open to a change of mind at some point in the future. The Bible has a lot to say about the source of evil and about our enemy. To borrow a little from C.S. Lewis, there is something like a ‘mind’ behind the outward expressions of evil in our world. It always seem to oppose all that God’s righteousness stands for. Now days, it’s easy to see how it appears to be coordinated and growing. People can fight against evil but we can’t truly overcome it apart from God’s empowerment through his Holy Spirit living in us. I just hope you take the time to examine the scriptures and what they say about you and I and our condition apart from God’s grace (and his love for you) if you haven’t already. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” i.e., our efforts to improve out own condition and that of our world are futile without the acceptance of his sacrifice for our sin and the direction and the strength he provides. As Mark Twain stated, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” Humanity keeps making the same or similar mistakes over and over again. Don’t want to preach but encourage you to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Jeremiah 29:11 - stated regarding Israel but we can be “grafted into” Israel by faith. Salvation is of the Jews but we have a chance to be adopted in through faith in Christ’s finished work.
I think everyone has their own struggle to deal with. My issue is bitterness. The more I pray on that, it seems the more struggles and heart ache come my way. If I give in to it, things become worse. I'm tired of struggling. I try handing it over to God but selfishly I take it back and try to deal with it on my own. Sin is just something we all have to encounter in this life. Thankfully, we have Jesus who has paid the price for our sins and we don't have to "work" our way into heaven.
Thanks for your concern, and for the detailed info.
I'm open to a change of mind every second of the day.
A minor retort: The description given by C.S. Lewis sounds almost like the 'monster' in the classic science fiction movie "Forbidden Planet".
A major rebuttal:
As Mark Twain stated, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Humanity keeps making the same or similar mistakes over and over again.
If you are trying to say that what Mark Twain said is true, why did you follow it up with a sentence that totally contradicts that ?
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