The choice of life

In the Old Testament dispensation, the Lord gave the children of Israel a choice between life and death and said to them; “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30: 19).

Similarly, today, in our New Testament dispensation we have the choice to either live and walk in accordance to the flesh or to live and walk in accordance to the Spirit for we have been duly instructed saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:16-17).

This way of life is so literal and practical that we have been further instructed saying[LJ1] ; “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25).

As one can clearly see, these two ways of life are in conflict and contrary with each other and this battle takes place in the mind of every individual and what is also very important to note is that, the members of our body namely, the eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, ears, hands, feet are the instruments which both the Spirit and the flesh use to accomplish their purpose.

So let us try to understand the difference between the way of life which is in accordance to the Spirit and the one which is in accordance to the flesh.

1.         THE WAY OF THE SPIRIT

The way of life in the Spirit is the way to the abundant life which Jesus came to give us as He clearly stated saying; “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11).

 This way of life which Jesus Christ brought is called the way of the Spirit, meaning that, it is not by our might, nor by our power, but by the Spirit of God. It is described as the narrow and difficult way; which leads to life, and only a few will find it. It is the good tree which bears good fruit, and cannot bear bad fruit. It is the way in which one invests his/her time, energy, and resources by sowing in the Spirit, and reaps Everlasting [abundant] life.

Hence the reason why Jesus Christ admonished His disciples saying, “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, you cannot serve God and riches [mammon]”. Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; neither about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

He also asked us to consider the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field respectively (Matthew 6:24-30).

So why do we suppose that Christ gave us this admonition? It is to remind us that He, as the good shepherd provides for His people. To this end, He encourages us by saying, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?

And see how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these: now, ‘If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So, do not worry saying; “What shall we eat? Or, “What shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For the pagans (Gentiles, those who do not know God) run after all these things. And your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:31-34).

It is for this reason we are admonished to, “Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that we may become blameless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world” ‘For it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13-15).

Our objective is to meditate on doing what is good as we have been duly admonished saying; “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy --- meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Although it is Christ in us who does the work nevertheless, we are not robots, we are creatures of choice we are to decide whether we want to surrender everything to Jesus Christ and say like the apostle Paul; “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me,” And, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:13).

What we need to understand and take into consideration is the fact that the way of life in the Spirit is as literal and practical as the way of life which is in accordance to the flesh and that they are contrary to one another and we are to make the choice.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

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 [LJ1]