| The Comfort Of Human Nature! |
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| Written by Khimani A. Williams | ||||||
| Friday, 01 May 2009 | ||||||
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A man is caught betraying his marital covenant and he is excused
by his wife and others because ‘he’s a man’ and ‘that’s how men are’. A
woman lashes out at a friend and humiliates her during a disagreement
and she feels justified because she was angry. A child lies to her
parents and thinks that it is ok because the truth would have gotten
her in trouble. These are just three examples of people excusing
themselves and others because of their ‘inability’ to do what is right
when it matters most – in the most difficult circumstances. ‘The flesh
made me do it’ is their disingenuous plea, in a bid to circumvent
responsibility or avoid confrontation.
I admit that
confrontation and guilt can become an unpleasant burden, but it is one
worth carrying, or better yet, surrendering to the Lord, who is able to
forgive and make reconciliation. A face-to-face standoff with ourselves
often reveals our unwanted ugliness and sinfulness, and this is not
what we like to see. But instead of using our humanity as an excuse
when we do wrong, we must admit that we are human and recognize that
Jesus Christ can save us from the works of our hands.
The Apostle Paul admitted to his frailty when he penned: “For
I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for
to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I
find not.” [Romans 7: 18]. Let’s be honest; we are humans,
sinners, and because we are sinners we sin. But it is not God’s will
for us to please the flesh and disobey His Word. He clearly told us, “Wash
you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine
eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the
oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. [Isaiah 1: 16 –
17].
Living for Jesus is no easy task. It means that we have to deny
ourselves of the evil and corruption in us that gives temporary
pleasure, and pursue a deeper knowledge of the One who saves us. “Whosoever will come after me,” Jesus declared in St. Matthew 8: 34, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
And that is what He requires of us: that when our flesh says that we
should sin, with His Word hidden in our hearts we must not give consent
and say ‘NO!’
It is almost as if we are caught between a rock and a hard place,
in a war where the Spirit and our flesh wages against each other. One
desires the world and its passions, the other seeks to please God, but
if we “Walk in the Spirit” we will not “fulfil the lust of the flesh” [Galatians 5: 16].
I know what it is like to not want to confront me when I sin and
to deal with the guilt, but I also know that God forgives and restores,
and that we can grow in faith as we are disciplined by Him. Being human
is one thing, but God wants you to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” as this is a “reasonable service”. [Romans 12:1]. God is not asking too much from us when He says we must live a holy life, because without holiness no one can see Him. [Hebrews 12:14].
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity
of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to
uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your
members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the
servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye
then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those
things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants
to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6: 19 – 23
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