Despite the daily struggles
between the flesh and the spirit there is nevertheless an antidote by which sin
(the desires and passions of the flesh), can be defeated which is, to live in
the Spirit and becoming slaves to righteousness. “For having been set free from
sin and having become slave to righteousness, or slaves of God, the benefit we
reap leads to holiness (free from sin), and the result is everlasting life or
immortality of the human body (Galatians 5:16-17; Romans 6: 18, 22).
Another very important aspect of
the literal and practicality of this life in the spirit is its diametrical
opposition to the life which is in accordance to the flesh. These two ways of
life do not follow the same path, if one heads east the other heads west, or if
one heads north, the other heads south, they do not walk along the same path
because they are antagonistic to each other.
But the crux of the matter is,
both divergent ways of life utilizes the members of our body such as, the mind,
the eyes, the nose, the mouth, the ears, the hands and the feet as instruments to
carry out their mission and so there is a constant battle, a tug of war that
takes place within us as to whom we are to serve with the members of our body. And
so we have the consolation from the apostle Paul saying; “I speak in human
terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your
members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more
lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness
(Romans
6:19).
The reality is, one is either a
slave of sin, or a slave of righteousness. Now, being a slave of sin signifies
that one is of the devil because it is clearly stated; “He who sins is of the
devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of
God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1John 3:8).
On the other hand, he who
practices righteousness is of God, because the Lord is our righteousness and
the admonition we have received is; “If you know that He is righteous, you know
that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.” And; “Little
children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous,
just as He is righteous” (Jeremiah
23:6; 33:6; 1John 2:29; 3:7).
Another very important thing we
should note in facing our greatest challenge is that, a thing is either true or
false, the truth is of God whilst the lie is of the devil and no one can serve
two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he
will be loyal to the one and despise the other. We cannot serve God and mammon.
One is either a citizen of the kingdom of light practicing and complying to the
laws and guidelines pertaining to that kingdom or, a citizen of the kingdom of
darkness practicing and complying to the lawless ways of this kingdom. We
cannot profess to be citizens of the kingdom of light and yet walking in
darkness.
Jesus clearly stated; “And this
is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil
hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be
exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
clearly seen, that they have been done in God" (John 3:19-21).
When one truly knows and understands
what is actually taking place within and around us will realize that, what the
majority regards as trivial matters are actually very profound because in
essence we either give the honor and glory to God or we give the glory and the
honor to the devil. For example, basic things such as, when is the beginning of
a new day, when is the seventh day of the week, when is the beginning of a new
month and when is the beginning of a new year!
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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