“Put To Death The Longings Of Your Earthly Nature!”

“Put To Death The Longings Of Your Earthly Nature!”
A friend told me that when he was a kid a gruesome murder was committed in their village. His father recounted how he joined the crowd to see the corpse when it was discovered. He was standing by somebody who turned to him and exclaimed, “Ba Mfon, how can somebody or some people be so wicked to commit such a heinous crime?” Some time later when the murderers were arrested that man was one of them. My friend’s father said he lost his appetite for the whole of that day when he learned the man was one of the culprits.
There is a wide expanse between appearance and reality. It is not always as it seems. Sometimes we think that observance of rules, rituals and self-denial are the true path of spiritual growth. Any attempt to grow spiritually through these efforts is as impossible as a body part developing naturally while it is severed from the head.
Paul writes that “such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence”
We are not put right with God because we submit to basic principles of the world with its rules of “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These are perishable “because they are based on human commands and teachings”(Col.2:16-23).
It may look good that we live under servere man-made rules, but that is not necessarily how God has called us to relate with him. These are all for appearances as opposed to reality. The reality is found in Christ. The supremacy of Christ over deceptive human-based thinking cannot be gainsaid.
If it is by human effort we may not gain eternity. That is why God’s unbounded love and amazing grace cleanses us of sin.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink…” We died to sin with Christ and we have been raised with him. Let us set our hearts on things above where Christ is seated and not on earthly things.
My friend, do not strain yourself on what lacks any value in restraining your sensual indulgence. Rather, “put to death…whatever belongs to your earthly nature…”
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit guide me away from regulations that have an appearance of wisdom. Let me focus on Christ the Reality. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!