In this life we’re only given three choices to make:
- To live or to die
- Freedom or bondage
- Having free will to choose the truth of a lie
So answer me this: why is it that, while we have these choices in our short span of existence we always choose to be bound and die? Well, lets take a deeper look at this dilemma. First let’s take a look at three major causes of this dilemma:
A. Lust
B. Desire
C. Disobedience
Take a closer look at letter A, Lust. When it comes to lust, all of us at one time have had a battle with this old friend, and I use this term very loosely, due to the fact that in one situation or another, it has lead us down a very slippery slope where we gave lust our undivided attention and our obedience without question. We have done almost every imaginable thing lust has showed us.
1 Corinthians 10:6-13
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Other scriptures associated with this are James 1:14-15, Galatians 5:16-21.
Now let’s look at letter B, Desire. Most of us have some form of desire whether in our souls or our bodies that has lead us to either do unscrupulous things or have some unscrupulous ways, just to attain a desire, born of the flesh.
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Now the last letter. D is disobedience. This is one of the profound topics throughout the whole Bible, and is the number one failure of man and woman. Going back to the beginning in the garden of Eden where woman was told what not to do and she did and man did no better, following
her into disobedience resulting in both, as kids, being kicked out of the garden. Even to this day, we walk in disobedience and carry others with us.
Ephesians 2:2-3
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Roman 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
In my conclusion, Colossians 1:23-28
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Lastly read Roman 12:2-3 which says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
For additional reading, look at Philippians 2, Mark 8:35-37, and Roman 12:2.
