Understanding why I do what I do - and how I can do better

OH MY GOSH! I just had another electrifying experience. I was at bible study, at the church my dad currently pastors. He was teaching out of the book of Hebrews chapter 8 where it gives reference to Jesus as the High Priest. During the teaching, some way or another, everything turned to a conversation about sin. An elder gentleman, who is now in training to be a deacon, made the statement, “as long as we live in this world and this body we will sin.” What did he say that for? Then sprung up this debate about sin and how we have overcome sin, and all that good stuff. From the outside looking in, it seemed as if everyone was attacking him about his statement, or the lack of “their biblical knowledge” (we’ll talk about that later). So at his defense and my eagerness to jump into the conversation I raised my hand. What I said after being acknowledged can only be accredited to ALMIGHTY God.

I said, “In this gentleman’s defense I understand why he feels we cannot live apart from sin. From his stand point he believes that even though we have Christ in our lives we will still fall short to sin because that’s just who we are. Now let me clarify some things. In Psalms chapter 51 verse 5 David writes, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me (NKJV).”So from a child until now I’ve been doing things that have been deemed as “sin” but I didn’t know they were because at the time I was not aware that they were wrong. Would you agree that if while you were driving, didn’t see a speed limit, and a cop pulled you over he technically could not hold you accountable to breaking a law because there were no limits to govern how fast you could go? The same way it is with life. If I don’t have any laws to govern how I live, technically I’m not wrong. Well, when we accept Christ into our life we are then citizens of the Kingdom Of God and there are things/laws/commandments/mandates that govern how we are to live, as Christians, while on this earth. Now the fight comes in when all these years I have trained my soul (i.e. my mind, intellect, will, and emotions)/body to adhere to another standard of living that is contrary to the Kingdom Of God’s. So daily we find ourselves at war with our bodies trying to put it in check because the Bible says I can no longer do those things like: be promiscuous, hate, lie, steal, cheat, and covet; because those ways are not how people/citizens are to carry themselves in the Kingdom Of God. And if we’ll be honest with ourselves we would admit that it’s hard!

But I have a solution to our problem. The Apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans in chapters 5 through 8 on how if we do not walk in the flesh (secular mindset) but in the spirit (God’s way of doing things) we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the wages of sin is death (separation from God). Everyday, Evening, and Night we have to make a conscious decision to do what’s right no matter what we have taught ourselves. If it doesn’t align itself with the Word Of God (Bible) then I can’t follow it; because I’m a citizen of that wonderful Kingdom now and to show my appreciation to God (because I can’t reach heaven through works only faith) I do as He has asked me to do. And in that obedience there is so much. God then showers favor, goodness, and blessings like no other all because we’ve decided to do it His way and not ours. And one day you’ll look up and that habit you used to have a problem with, will no longer be a problem because you have now trained your body to live according to the word of God, keep in step with His will for your life and that’s all you’ll know to do. Again, walk by the word of God and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.”

Stay tuned…