sinful nature

Kamikaze Sin

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I’ve worn glasses for my entire adult life. And I’ve discovered a huge secret that probably anyone who wears glasses has also learned. Not only can we see better when we wear our glasses, but they can instantly get a smudge when we haven’t even touched the lens. I’ve never understood how that happens, but I’ve recently figured out what causes those annoying smudges that are not there one minute and impossible to miss the next. There must be invisible kamikaze drones that spray an undetected substance when they are in the vicinity of eyeglasses. That’s the only explanation I can figure out that makes sense.

I’ve never met a person who intentionally smears the lens on their glasses. If anything, we work hard to keep them clear so our vision is not compromised. But it’s a never-ending task. I don’t know about anyone else, but I find myself cleaning my glasses multiple times a day.

I’m perfectly content with my new theory. I just need some evidence that it holds true. If anyone has proof of life of these drones, please feel free to message me. Just as the drones in New Jersey appeared out of nowhere, so do these drones. I’m not sure if it’s a government plot to disrupt the life of glass wearers or some other nefarious plan.

In our daily lives, it seems there are times when a temptation comes out of nowhere and we “unexpectedly” sin. We may have to decide instantly how we will respond to the temptation staring us in the face. If we give in, we may try to defend our actions by blaming it on today’s culture. Everyone is doing it, so it’s ok. Those sins that come out of “unexpected” temptation could be categorized as kamikaze sins. They catch us unaware and, for some reason, we aren’t prepared to reject the temptation. So we give in when we have vowed not to. Perhaps what it amounts to is that we’re not steady enough on our spiritual feet to say no. We’re willing to risk eternal separation from God for a moment’s pleasure, to save face or acceptance by others we hold in high esteem.

But. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Think about that. We don’t want to offend others, but we’re willing to offend God. At a moment’s notice, we may be tempted to steal or lie. Or any number of sinful acts. Why do we do it? Oh. We’re all born with a sinful nature, that’s for sure. And perhaps, in our inner life that no one but God sees, we dwell on things that displease God. And then when we are tempted, we show no resistance. After all, it’s been on our mind for days. And the opportunity to act on that thought is right before our eyes. How can we turn away and say no?

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) Romans 8:3-9

Sin is a taboo subject these days. Even when we know we’re sinning, no one wants to admit they’ve offended God. Because when we admit it, then we have to do something about it. We either ignore God’s warning and continue on with our lives, or we repent and turn away from sin. It seems it should be an easy decision, but we’re selfish people and we want our way in life.

I’ve read recently that sin is autonomy. We choose to live by our own law. We decide what is permitted or not in our lives. We decide what’s right or wrong. We don’t hand that heavy responsibility to God, who has already determined right and wrong for everyone. Mankind wants to be free of God, so we crown ourselves as our own god. And we don’t let anyone or anything tell us what to do.

But when we believe there is a God, we hand over all the ownership to God. He defines the rules. He determines good and evil, and we must bow to his measures. Then when we feel the gaze of God upon us and our sin, we become very, very uncomfortable. Being confronted with our sin moves us to a decision of repentance or rejection of God.

Oswald Chambers writes in his classic devotional “My Utmost for His Highest”, “have you made the following decision about sin — that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life, once you decide that sin must die in you — not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified — just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world.”

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 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. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 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. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:14-25

If you haven’t chosen to repent of your sins, today is your day. Jesus will welcome your prayer of confession and repentance and forgive all your sins. He will give you a new heart and a desire to please him. You can pray the following simple prayer that Billy Graham used in his crusades to invite people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.

If it is difficult to get right with God, it is because we refuse to make this moral decision about sin. But once we do decide, the full life of God comes in immediately.

Oswald Chambers

Rebelliousness

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My refrigerator door appears to have a mind of its own. When I want it to stay open, it closes. When I want it to close, it stays open. Not wide open, but open just enough that food could spoil if it went unnoticed. And it seems that the older the refrigerator gets, the more the door wants to stay open when I try to gently close it. What’s with that? I guess I didn’t realize that refrigerator doors can think for themselves.

I close the refrigerator door thinking it’s closed shut, and then I turn around to see it standing open. It seems to taunt me to push it harder. But in the past only a gentle push was necessary. And it’s not that I’ve lost my strength. It seems that the door just needs a harder push. But why? When did it change? And why did it change? I don’t understand.

I like to think that I’ve always treated my refrigerator well. But. There is the fact that I don’t clean it out properly on a regular schedule. But I do sometimes wipe smudges from the door. And I keep the fridge full of food. It doesn’t ever stand empty. At times it’s even overflowing. So, what’s the problem? I’m sure I’ll never know.

Do the hinges on refrigerator doors need to be tightened over time? If so, who does that? How would that even work? The rest of the appliance seems to be in good working order. So why not the door?

The door doesn’t realize that as the owner, I am the one who decides if it stays open or closed. I choose to keep the door open so I can load and unload food or clean it out. Or I choose whether to close it to keep the food from spoiling. It’s my decision. The door has no say in the matter. It must do as I choose. I guess I should be thankful that it can’t open and close on its own. Or there would be trouble.

It may seem strange that I’m writing about unruly refrigerator doors. But imagine if I was writing about a rebellious teenager. Or a screaming toddler. Or an obstinate employee. Or a wayward spouse. Or a sinner who constantly turns their back on God. Or myself. How would the scene be different?

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. Romans 8:7

It isn’t surprising that the world is full of rebellious people. We are a rebellious lot. We have a stubborn streak. A selfish streak. A know-it-all streak. A mean streak. You can call it what you want, but we’re full of trouble. We have sinful desires and impulses that cause us to make bad decisions. On our own, we live in hostility to God. We don’t honor him. We disregard his commands.

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

If we have not allowed God to be the God of our lives, then we are hostile to him. Our sinful nature is at war with God Almighty. You may ask what the sinful nature it. It’s that inherent part of a person that sins and disobeys God’s will. We all have it. We’re born with it. We can’t cut it out of ourselves. And it will dominate us if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to control us in every way. We will be under its control.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. Romans 8:5-8

The problem is that we can’t remove our sinful nature. But when we surrender our lives to God, we can refuse to let it dictate our lives. We can follow God’s lead as we live out each day. The power of the Holy Spirit in our lives is greater than the evil spirit can ever be. As children of God, we can live free of the pressures of our sinful nature. When we bow in submission to our Savior, Jesus Christ, we allow him to be the driving force in our lives. If you haven’t already, surrender your life to Christ and repent of your sins. Don’t let sin control you.

The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4

Sinful Nature

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It started out so innocent. Or so it seems. They want their child to go to an elite college. So they find ways to beat the system. They find ways to bump kids who have earned their way into that school. Bump them off the list by paying for a slot for their own trust fund child. Forging college entrance exams. Posing for fake sports photos. Slipping money under the table. For what?

For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. Luke 8:17

We think we’re above the law.  At least, we hope we’re always one step ahead of the law. More than anything, we hope we won’t get caught by the law.

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. Genesis 6:5

I know someone who is quick to lose his temper. He says words others hope he later regrets. He speaks out of turn. He has a high opinion of himself. He walked out of work and didn’t return for a week. No word on when he’s coming back. Just walked out. Then walked back into work the next week as if nothing had happened.

Oh. He did it more than once. But on the third try, it backfired. He is no longer employed. He pulled the same punch one too many times. Now he is facing the consequences. Shame. Regret. Remorse. Embarrassment.

What is it that causes a person to be unkind or untruthful? What is it that causes someone to bully or hurt others? Why can’t we be good? Are we born that way? Are we born to naturally be selfish and hurtful? Can we change?

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I got her text. She was asking for personal information about a former coworker. Information I didn’t know and wouldn’t share if I did. She was scheming to find out the scoop on everyone she worked with. Gossip is the name of her game. And I decided I wasn’t playing.

What is it that causes people to naturally turn toward pleasing themselves? What causes someone to want to do wrong? Are we doomed to be this way? Are our souls totally corrupt with no chance for redemption?

Oh. We are born with the desire to please ourselves. From day one, we are bent on getting our way. That one bite of fruit by Adam and Eve turned our hearts away from God and onto ourselves. Their disobedience caused a world of hurt for everyone who came after them. And boy, have we continued down a path of wrongdoing.

But that one bite doesn’t have to send us to hell. We have a way paved to heaven for us. We have a path that is narrow but it is open for all. And on that path, our sins are washed away. And that desire to sin. That desire to have the world revolve around us can be removed. If only we choose life in Christ. If only we repent and ask forgiveness of our sins.

Oh. It’s not a one man fight. It’s not a fight you can win on your own. It’s a fight fit for a king. It’s a godly fight. Really. A fight for your life. Your eternal life. And it’s a fight that has already been won. We can claim the victory in four simple steps.

  • Confess your sins to God
  • Ask God to forgive you
  • Accept his love, forgiveness and mercy
  • Reject sin and live forgiven

Oh. When we confess our sins, we don’t have to name each one. Believe me. There isn’t enough time. And God already knows them anyway. He’s just waiting for us to come clean and repent. Then he erases those sins away. As if they never happened. 

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:18-19

Thank heaven for God Almighty.