(Romans 6:2) “By no means! How can we who died to sin still
live in it?”
Considering the Lord Jesus’ lessons we
glean from scripture; it is extremely refreshing when the Word of God is
enlightened to our minds. When understanding, it is as if a light switch has
just been flipped; Christianity is most surely alive and it is refreshing to
drink from the waters of life! God the Holy Spirit is the greatest of helpers
as He teaches us all things pertaining to God and His kingdom; He opens deeper understanding
of the Word of God to those who search it out.
Why is it important for the Christian
to pursue holiness? It seems like such hard work at times! If this is the way
you feel, like I once did, then we lack understanding. If we neglect this high
calling and habitually remain in our sin, we will only ever be as effective as someone
handicapped, always relying on others for help! If grace becomes license for
our sin we have once again been tricked into believing a lie! This trap has
ensnared me for far too long, but by the grace of God, “no more” is my cry!
After a miraculous conversion about
twenty-seven years ago, where the mercies of God carried me through such a
radical about-face from so many sinful habits without any effort at all. However,
before long a lack of carefulness cause me to fall victim to the same sins all
over again. I could never understand that if I was now no longer class amongst
the sinners: as I was now sanctified by the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice, He had paid
the price for my sin and having understood that my debt had been paid in full. This
is irrevocably true! - Why did I now have the urge to sin all over again? This
then is the reason: - Just as a toddler learns to take their first steps
leaving the immediate care of their god, mom! There will come a time in every believer’s
life that they too will have to learn to stand and walk in this vicious world
of sin. It is not as if the Lord forsakes us, He is always with us, but there
must come a time where we must make our own choices. Will we go there, mix with
those people or partake of this and that. The less careful we become as
Christians the harder the lessons will be! Thank God that His grace has not
only been extended to the strong per say but also to the weak, to those who
kick against the pricks, those who think that they are strong enough to swim
against the current. What a great merciful God I serve, He never gave up on me,
but pay careful attention, there must come a time in a believers life that they
themselves say, “enough folly, I’ve done it my way long enough, please Father
God forgive me for my stubbornness and renew a right spirit in me, so that my
life may now be about your will and no longer my selfish misguided wants”.
How much pain have I had to endure
because of my foolishness; a shattered femur, HIV, insolvency and divorce…!
ENOUGH!
I serve an awesome God, He has
mercifully heard my cry and for this I am forever thankful!
Let us look at the account of the
paralytic in the book of Matthew; “And behold, some people
brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he
said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your
sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to
themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their
thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your
hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins
are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But
that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise,
pick up your bed and go home.”” (Matthew 9:2-6)
Once our sins have been forgiven we will be able to
rise up and walk in newness of life, overcoming the sin that once enslaved us, but
if we neglect God’s call upon our lives and habitually go back to our old ways
we will once again find ourselves incapable of walking freely in the Spirit.
And before long we will find ourselves needing others to carry us on the same stretcher
we clung to prior to salvation. Just like a dog returning to his vomit! Where
confusion will be the order of the day!
Sin handicaps us, but if we look to God for grace to
overcome sin, before long we will be running with our sister “peace” in the
lush meadows of His freedom! This is the lesson we must all learn along our
journey and the sooner it hits home the better! Sin has been conquered by the
blood of the Lord Jesus; let us take revenge on that which held us captive for
so long. Let us trust our God as we learn to approach His throne room of grace
with complete confidence, knowing that His grace will suffice in any given bind
we find ourselves in! No longer slaves to sin but freed souls indeed!
Signing off
Tyrone
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