In a World Gripped by Sin
Sin, most likely the word that makes all of us cringe a little or quite possibly offended by its use. What do I mean when I say that? You see, we would like to do the things we want and more often than not, we really don't like it when anyone tell us that what we are busy doing, is in actual fact wrong. The world we live in has even changed many of its laws to not "cause offense" to many minority groups. Here I can think of two major laws that have changed dramatically in the last two decades or so: abortion and marriage laws.
What is wrong and by whose standard? I'm glad you asked, let me give you my perspective. I am a Christian and I believe in the Triunity of God meaning God the Father, God the Son and The Holy Spirit. I believe the Bible as the infallible Word of God, written by humans, inspired and authored by The Holy Spirit. The summary of my faith is what is known as the Apostle's Creed which is the oldest Christian statement of faith. This then means that I use The Bible as the absolute Truth and thus God's standard for what is considered sin.
Important to note: My faith was not always as strong as it is now and so far, the best personal change to come out of my confession to sin. I have been "practicing" religion for a long time, seeing that I come from a Christian home. I went to Sunday School and mum would go to church often and dad would come along too most times. What I experienced after my confession, was not "religion", but a faithful God who was there to pick me up and mend my broken heart. I have since submerged myself into the Bible and Prayer, all to grow in a relationship with the Father, His Son and The Holy Spirit, something I have never done before. This is what the Bible calls, putting on the Full Armour of God, Ephesians 6:10-17, equipping me to 1. Submit myself to God, 2. To resist the devil, so that 3. the devil will flee from me (James 4:7)
Let me move to the topic of my own personal sin. When I confessed to my wife and my world came crashing down, I experienced something I have never experienced before: introspection. Whenever I would treat my wife badly or we would fight, I would always have a reason, a justification for why I acted or reacted in a certain way. This time, I had a very clear perspective of all my own actions and sin, that contributed to our failing relationship. The only explanation I have for this is here in:
"But all things become visible when they are exposed to light [of God's precepts], for it is light that makes everything visible." [Light here means the Holy Spirit]
What I believe to be the root of all my "Evil": SELFISHNESS. I am convinced that most problems in marriage, and other parts of your life, will have their origin from selfishness, the own me. What I want, what they did and said to me, I'm hurt, I'm offended, what I'm experiencing, self gratification, self pleasure, lust, even jealousy and envy starts with selfishness. Let's take one example which fits right in:"self pleasure" - I would think about sex after seeing or thinking about something (the devils tactic used so effectively; temptation - as mentioned in here) I would then not wait until I got home tonight to have sex with my wife, I would go to a toilet and pleasure myself. The consequence of course is that our sex life grew cold and took intimacy with it. The worst part here is that my wife absolutely loves to have sex and the intimacy is very important to her and I denied it to her by my own selfishness. Just so you take note, not having sex with your spouse leads to more sin, as Paul says in:
"The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have [exclusive authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her] and the likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him. Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control."
Let's take a look at what the Bible says about selfishness and I will only quote a few passages:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves."
"For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another."
"You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires."
If I could give you a word of advice, if you want to have joy, peace and love in your life, you must "die to self"
"So put to death and deprive power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]."
Living only for yourself will have devastating consequences and by doing so, you will rob yourself of a great life God has planned for you.
Prayer
Dear Jehovah-Jireh, thank you for the blessings that I have in my life, thank you for giving me a spirit of power to resist all worldly temptation so that I may not sin against you and those I love. Thank you for the redemption that was offered to me by Jesus dying on the cross. I am now a new creation in Jesus, raised in new life. Please now forgive my sins and transgressions. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me to live the life You have planned for me. Let me think less of my own needs and more of others. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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