As a believer in Christ, you come to understand that your faith is under constant attack from three sources. One is this world. It is in open rebellion to the ways of God due to sin. Follow the culture and you will be led away from God by the second source; his name is Satan. He used to be an ally of God but he decided he wanted to be God. Well, God doesn’t step down for anybody, not even rebellious angels; read Revelation 12:9. He is the Sovereign, Almighty God whose reign is eternal; read Psalm 90:2 and Revelation 22:13.
The third source is the villain that lives inside of you. It is your flesh, and it loves itself. So much so, that you will automatically feed its cravings without a thought to the consequences. Romans 7:18-20 says, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”
This villain begins to derail you right from your childhood days, and it follows you into your adult years. Until, you let Jesus into your life. The Scriptures speak of the necessity for every person to find and follow Jesus. He is the only way to keep you from being deceived by this world, Satan, and yourself. Romans 7:22-25a says, “I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
How clear do you see the villain that is inside of you? Does it cause you seek God on a more deeper level or do you ignore the Spirit’s promptings?
God wants you to live wisely. He wants you to be alert to what is around you and within you that could cause your faith to recede and fade out. This world will not help you. Satan will definitely not help you, and your flesh loves itself too much. Be aware of what is at stake. Romans 1:21-25 says, “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols… So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired… They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”
The bold text from the passage is the tool that Satan is using against the world and God’s people, which includes you and me. God calls every person to a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. In this eternal relationship, God calls you forth into His presence where He teaches, leads, defends, loves, counsels, guides, and helps change the villain inside of you to son or daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are now an image-bearer of the Living God!
You cannot bear His image on your own. Sin will not allow it. You must abide in Christ every single day. Every morning when God wakes you up, He offers His love, grace and mercy for your day. Before you get out of bed, what do you tell Him? Or do you even think of Him? Does your agenda takes precedence and you ask God for help when you need it? May you never let the villain within dictate your days. Jesus must be allowed to take the reign and lead you forward.
Your wonderful Father will bring you to a place where your body, soul, and mind will say, “I have found home.” His presence is that life giving and sustaining!
Carol J German 