Fork in the Road

Matthew 15:24-26 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Romans 8:12-13 - Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Luke 18:29-30 - "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no-one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

Yesterday I talked about how we need momentum to push to breakthroughs in our lives. One cannot happily be a couch potato and expect to become a marathon runner. One must run and run often, building endurance and perseverance when the body and mind says, “No more!” Nor can we wallow on the couch of sin and self-indulgence and expect a spiritual breakthrough in our lives and circumstance.

Sin and self-indulgence will compromise and slow the spiritual momentum required for our break through. But if we nourish the vision and cultivate the habit of pressing on to the higher calling, we’ll be inspired to forsake our sins and focus on the glory and joy of the Lord’s victory.

It occurred to me that sin and self-indulgence are like the two evil step-sisters from the tale of Cinderella. Where you find one, you’ll find the other; both wrapped up in ‘self’ and not caring how it affects others. You can clean and dress them up but they are still ugly, hateful and willing to sacrifice others to satisfy their own needs.

Titus 2:11-15 goes on to say…”For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

We cannot straddle the fence and live in both worlds – that of one seeking to live out Titus 2, following after Christ’s example and the world of sin and self-indulgence. One brings momentum to a higher spiritual breakthrough and the other leads to death and destruction.

Romans 8:12-13 - Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

That about says it all.