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When you have a loved one suffering from an incurable condition, you will try anything and everything.
Such was the case for me when my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. At the time this was written, we were on a ketogenic diet, he was taking Omega 3-5-7 supplements, he was on medication from the doctor, he was on a strict schedule and getting adequate sleep, exercise and mental stimulation, he was taking coconut oil every day, and I had just put in an order for Bamboo extract.
Was it all helping?
I didn't really know. All I knew is that we had to try. Everything.
If we feel this way about a loved one or friend with an incurable medical condition, how much more about the spiritual condition of our loved ones? How about our own spiritual condition?
You're probably thinking at this point that this is going to be a call to salvation, coupled with an encouragement to witness more... And yes, these are very powerful messages to be learned from this illustration. If we will try anything and everything for our family members to overcome chronic conditions, shouldn't we even more be taking every opportunity to share the gospel, the only cure for the deadly condition of sin? I urge you to consider that very important message today.
This is not, however the only reason I'm writing. Rather, I wanted to focus more on the chronic problem of the sinful nature: "And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway." (Romans 7:18-19 NLT).
I don't know about you, but I can so relate to these verses! Oh, I know I am saved, I know Jesus has forgiven all of my sins, including the ones I continue to commit: "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1 NLT) ... But even my forgiven sins that I continue to commit hurt other people, and they block any fruit of the Spirit from appearing in my life. For example, one dramatic part of my sinful nature is my insistence on control. If things don’t go according to plan -- read "my" plan -- then I get frustrated and impatient. It is pretty impossible to bear the fruit of love and joy and peace and patience and kindness when you are frustrated and impatient! And the poor "victims" around me -- usually my husband -- bear the brunt of my frustration and impatience. How can I go on doing that to the ones I love? Wouldn't it be so much better if rather than "bearing the brunt" of my sinful nature, they could "reap the benefits" of the Fruit of the Spirit?
Maybe you don't struggle with control as I do. Maybe your struggle is with worry and fear. These, too, hurt other people and can also block your ability to bear the spiritual fruit of peace and joy. Or perhaps your struggle is with one of the many addictions in the world. Or perhaps your sinful nature includes insecurity, and your tendency is to lash out at others, even use other people, in order to promote yourself. Or maybe a big piece of your sinful nature is unforgiveness. We all know how being angry hurts innocent people around us, and we all understand how this does not bear fruit unto righteousness.
I could go on, but you get the point. I pray that each of you will sit down with God right now and do some soul searching to identify just what parts of your sinful nature are still hanging around, blocking your ability to bear good fruit.
So what do we do with this "sinful nature"? Do we simply stop worrying about it? After all, there truly "is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:1 NLT).
Some would say this is the correct approach. Why worry about something that is already forgiven and will not condemn you? I would argue, however, that this is no more the correct approach to our sinful nature than sitting back and doing nothing while my husband's chronic condition continues to deteriorate. There is ALWAYS something we can and should do. Even the progress of Alzheimer's can be slowed somewhat through medication and diet. Doesn't my husband deserve that chance?
As mentioned above, the reasons we can't just sit back and do nothing about our sinful nature is two-fold:
- It can hurt other people, sometimes to the point of causing them to sin as well: "But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18:6 NLT); and
- Because it blocks our ability to bear fruit unto righteousness! This is the reason behind Paul's admonition to the Philippians: "For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:10-11 NLT).
So just what are these "strategies" we can use to not fallback into the traps of our sinful natures?
- The first step is to identify them and to want to be rid of them. We can't fight what we don't know we have, and we have no motivation to fight what we don't see the need for fighting. I suggest sitting down with God and allowing Him to reveal to you what fruits your sinful nature bears; and if you aren't horrified by what God reveals, then I urge you to beg God to give you a total disdain for these parts of your nature.
- Secondly, we must realize that help is available: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Cor. 10:13 NLT).
- Thirdly, we must renounce these evils every single morning and ask God to give us the strength to overcome. Especially on days when we know we are our weakest!
- Finally, if we do slip back into our old patterns, it isn't too late to ask God to rescue you. Forgive! Surrender! Reach out for that "way of escape" that God promises!
No, I won't stop trying everything to slow or stop my husband's cognitive decline; neither will I stop trying everything to overcome my sinful nature, and I will praise God this latter is an attainable goal!
In His love,
Lyn Chaffart
Moderator, Associate Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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