It doesn’t take long upon picking up the newspaper or turning on Fox/CNN news to see our world is plagued by wars. Conflicts that turn to battles with costly bloodshed are now bolstered to life in widescreen HD images. We can easily see the depravity of man offers only pain, separation, death, destruction and hopelessness. It’s easy to see…to lament and paraphrase our feelings with comments such as “what is this world coming to?”.
Yet the wars raging in this world are simply a symptom. For the greater war is unseen…waged deep within the spirit of each of us. Paul said: “for the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God”. (Romans 8:6-7) Sin in our lives is inevitable. We will sin and we will fall…period! Grace allows us a pathway of conviction, humility, forgiveness and redemption. The Spirit, in contrast…offers LIFE!
But the war within is deceiving all too many – for the truth is: if you are in the flesh…you cannot know, please, worship, study, pray or seek the Father’s presence.
Recently, while speaking about the church, David Platt said: “It is dangerous to give sinful people what they want”.
Sin and direct disobedience to God’s Word has found it’s way into the pews by people who are ravished with Biblical poverty. The war is claiming victims, who in reality, have no idea they have sold out to the possessions of this world and have built an altar of paganism founded on a God of their making…not the Christ of the Gospels.
There’s a war raging…and those closest to the steeples have the most to loose.
There’s a war raging…a war of deception, intrigue and false truths where only God’s Word can bring absolution!
There’s a war raging…and those who seek to give their lives away…will find it!
May we all be challenged by Jesus’ haunting words in Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose His soul”?
Psalm 49:5-9: “Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. Inescapable victory is offered in surrender and complete resignation to the Lordship of Christ.”
Everyday is a battle…every moment a choice. Deny the flesh…embrace the spirit…and LIVE!
And wow…what a life that is…
