Philippians 3:7-11
There´s a war that rages inside each of us. Outside of the Christian realm, we refer to it under moral terms: a battle between right vs. wrong or good vs. evil. But for those who consider themselves children of God, the issue is obedience. The battle is between the spirit and the flesh. And just like every good book or movie, where the good guy must overcome immeasurable odds, so we too, must overcome the flesh in order to step fully into the obedience that God has called us to.
The bad news is that unlike the movies you have seen, the battle for obedience will not be won in a ninety minute span of time, resulting in a happily ever after. This battle, you will have to fight everyday for the rest of your life.
On the one side, is the flesh. It´s your house you live in, the iPod you run with, the bed you lay in at night. The flesh is all you hopes and dreams and your plans for the future. On the other side is obedience to the spirit. To be obedient is to be willing to follow God, no matter the circumstances, no matter the cost. (Before I go on any further, I must explain that there are times when the spirit and the flesh are in alignment. There are times when the Lord calls us to places that line up with our hopes and dreams. Being obedient doesn´t always mean that you have to give up everything.
But what if it did? What if God asked you to give it all up–could you? If being obedient means leaving friends and family, quitting a good job, giving up your dreams of being married with 2 children and a white-picket fence–could you let that go, and be obedient to Christ? In theory, we as Christians would love to say yes…but I challenge you to really think about it. What in this world do you love most? What is your greatest desire? Could you give that up if it meant being obedient to Christ?
Coming on this race was an act of obedience. God asked me to leave my home, my friends and my family, and follow him for a year. And now the battle rages. What if the Lord´s will for my life is always lik this? What if his will doesn´t include a bed, a car, weekly starbucks drinks, or hot showers? My flesh cries out in agony–I don´t want to give up my comforts from home. And the Spirit cries out in joy–yes Lord, I will follow you anywhere! And daily, the battle rages.
It is an inevitable truth that your walk with Christ will include times that God will ask you to do something difficult, something that you don´t want to do. There is no possible way to prepare you for when that day comes, for the inner turmoil it will cause or the distinct feeling that you heart is being ripped out of your chest, as you muster up all your strength to utter the two simple words: yes Lord.
And somehow, contrary to all sense of logic, it´s all worth it. Every heartache, every tear, giving up your friends and family–it all pales in comparison to the joy of following the Lord. Because you see… we find our hope in the Lord–a hope that does not and will not dissapoint us (Romans 5:5). A hope that will be enough to carry you through anything.
1 Peter 5:10
