The premise of my blog as a whole is to investigate the human soul and discover how to live as God intended in spite of the chaos and conflict around us. Even secular people know that if we don’t deal with our inner world as human beings we will also never deal effectively with each other.
The world in the 20th century has tried to discount the spiritual aspects of humanity and failed miserably. Global wars and destruction of whole cultures have forced humanity to admit that with all our knowledge and technology there is a spiritual aspect to man that must be addressed or we will drive ourselves mad. The question then comes down to which spiritual teaching has the answers to the many conflicts we find ourselves struggling with? Each religion declares they have the answers, but it seems most fail to deliver the goods that so many are seeking. For me, after investigating many religions, I have found Christianity the most reliable teaching and path that both delivers and transforms the dilemma of the soul. However, that does not mean that the conflicts in our lives cease to exist.
All too often Christians think they can avoid conflict by coming to Christ. They are often told that when we come to Christ we will experience the “Peace” that surpasses our understanding. Who wouldn’t want a life full of that kind of bliss and contentment, but as we mature in life we realize in this world conflict exist even in the life of a Christian. The apostle Peter, one of the original twelve disciples that first walked with Jesus, made a striking challenge to believers in his day.
1 Peter 2:11
“Dear friends, I warn you as “temporal residents and foreigners” to keep away from world desires that wage war against your very souls”.
Peter is saying a lot in just one sentence. First, he says we are to look at ourselves as only “temporary residents.” If we have truly yielded to Christ as our Lord and Savior we have realized this world is temporary and is passing away. The Book of Revelation states there is coming a new heaven and earth in which righteousness is the standard and not corruption. How many believers keep the correct perspective of being foreigners in a foreign land? The idea is constantly being pushed upon to reject such a notion and embrace this world as all there is or will be.
Secondly, Peter states that the world is actively trying to persuade us to its way of thinking. He states that the world tries to recruit us through our desire for temporal things rather than eternal things. He even uses the term “war” to illustrate the intensity by which the world tries to convert us to its way of thinking.
The apostle Paul used similar words when he wrote to his disciple Timothy about pursuing good things in his life. He stressed that good character doesn’t happen but must be fought for.
1 Timothy 6:11-12
“But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to eternal life to which God called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses”
First, Paul states that Timothy should “run” from the things that are evil. Have you ever considered that some things in your life are not evil to others and vice a versa? Take chocolate for instance – some people crave chocolate so badly they can’t stop eating it or buying it. That would be evil to them. It’s the thing that enslaves us and binds us to live contrary to what God desire. Take the guy that is obsessed with cars. He spends whatever he can to have the best of whatever brand he loves. It doesn’t matter that he can’t afford it so he buys it anyway and doesn’t have money for things that truly matters. The list could go on and on. Evil can be something good to one person and yet bad for another.
Secondly, Paul says we should pursue a godly life with Christ. Just going to service once a week is not pursuing. Paul is saying to “run” from one thing and “run” to the other. Many Christians assume that when they yielded to Christ that God would do all that is necessary to make them successful in life….. only to find that the conflicts in life were just as real as before Christ. The difference is that by walking with Jesus daily they would be living for the things that are eternal and they would find victory in their conflicts because they were holding the hand of Jesus tightly.
Thirdly, Paul says to “hold tightly” to eternal life. This aligns with what Jesus taught his disciples the night before going to the cross. He instructed his disciples to “abide” in him or they would lose their connection to life.
John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
There is a war being waged right now for our very souls. If we are diligent in walking with Christ and running from evil, God will cause us to be overcomers, but this is not automatic. It requires our participation as Jesus and the apostle instructed.
Questions:
Have you forgotten about the war for your soul happening every day? Ask for forgiveness and run to God.
Is there something that is robbing your soul of God’s grace now? Confess it and seek God’s healing.
Pastor Dale
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