Part one of the MACHO! series focused on anger. This second part will focus on lust.
There is an ugly battle going on in the mind. It's a dog fight (sorry, ladies, not a cat fight). And it's certainly not a disagreement between the flesh and Spirit. It's WAR. In Galatians 5:17 it says,
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
The book of Romans 7:21-23 sheds light on this issue a little clearer,
"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
So, it's war and it's brutal, winner-take-all. And this battle is taking place in our minds. You see, our bodies don't act of their own volition; that is, we're not like plants that simply react to the sunlight and move toward it. Nope. Our minds first make a decision to look at a passing woman or at a picture in a magazine or to go surfing on the web. The Bible says,
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" (Proverbs 23:7a, KJV)
So, the body follows the mind and its decisions. And the heart of the matter is the heart. Who can know the heart? Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:"
It's a terrible one-two punch: The heart lusts; the mind decides. To be sure, the consequences are tragic when the body follows the mind: Sin is the nail in the coffin. The book of James 1:13-15 clearly warns:
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
In other words, don't blame God when it hits the fan. If you don't think it won't, here are a couple of promises from the Good Book:
1. "Ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.", Numbers 32:23
2. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.", Galatians 6:7
Brothers, I quote Scripture so that you can look it up yourselves and see that I'm not making these things up. Read God's Holy Word for yourselves. Is God a liar? No, He isn't. And for those of you stupid enough to say there is no God, He has something to say to you too:
"But the fearful, and unbelieving [my emphasis], and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8, KJV).
Don't say I didn't warn you, brother man.
But, if you're wondering how to overcome this battle for the mind that occurs in the mind then I have the hope you've been looking for; His name is Jesus Christ. If you believe that He is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins and invite Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior then you will be saved (from judgment and hell fire) and the Holy Spirit will indwell you, guide you, help you and comfort you.
If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired then all you have to do is pray and believe in Jesus Christ. The book of Romans 10:9-10 states, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
God promises. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)
So, what are you waiting for, man? Today is the day of salvation!
