This too shall pass. The lust of your eyes, those items of the world that may not consume your attention, that may not attempt to draw you away continuously, those items that may only have received your mind’s thoughts by a quick glance, this too shall pass.
The lusts of your flesh, at times that seemingly never-ending passion, that is passion unwarranted, undesired, yet present and at times impossible to control. Your old sinful nature that travels with you wherever you go, never resting, always attempting to get you to return to the world of carnal pleasures. This too shall pass.
Pride, the most hated and despicable beast, screaming incessantly, “I can, I will, I am better than!” Telling you that humility is the way of the weak, that by your own will, your own strength, your own power, you will rise above every trial and tribulation, that your efforts are not only recognized as worthy of acceptance, but should be lifted up by all you meet. This too, my brothers and sisters in Christ, will pass.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30)
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14)
We yearn for that which we cannot have today, some try to deny these truths, others are consumed by their own inadequacies, while still others, the ones who understand and accept them as truth, fall upon the face of their heart continuously as they walk toward that strait gate, pleading for His help, accepting with joy His mercies, and waiting patiently for the day when all this shall pass away.
The struggle is real, the battle continuous, moments of calm and peace occasionally only, and then the storm begins to rage again.
Some who follow the Lord Jesus Christ do so in constant tears, belittling and berating themselves continuously, never good enough, never obedient enough, always consumed with the thoughts of never being what He has called them to be. Striving for their own righteousness instead of accepting the truth of 2nd Corinthians 5:21.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Some accept the truth that sin will always be a part of their life, that the battle will always continue until they are called home, but it does not break their hearts, they see no reason to repent in dust and ashes, for in their mind they believe there is really nothing they can do about it. They simply wait for it to pass and exert no real effort to repel those attacks of the flesh, or of our adversary.
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)
Violently despising all that does not glorify the Almighty, detesting vehemently all within us that could even in the most minor way dishonor the Living God. Living with the knowledge of our two natures, resisting actively and with intent that which does not lift up His Holy name. And waiting patiently for the day when all this too shall pass.
The mind that serves Christ hates with all its soul the flesh that serves the law of sin, the duality of those who have been born again my friends.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9)
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you those rare places on the path to your eternal home that afford a moment of rest from the work set before you, places where you can view the battle, as it were, from the outside for a little while. You will see the truth that one day, all this too shall pass.
