This is another of my why, oh why’s. I probably can write an entire book on ‘Why’s?’.
“For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent).”
[Romans 7:15]
The Message Bible states it perfectly [Romans 7: 14-22]
“I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”
Paul’s ‘confusion’ about his plight definitely mirrors our own. To be totally frank – I am relieved that Paul wrote this because there are times that though I have no answer for my own behavior, at least I know that I’m not the only one that faces this fight. And ‘fight’ is an appropriate description because that’s what is happening. Our enemy has once again somehow gotten a foothold into our lives and is attempting to seduce or tempt us. Until we reach our true home in heaven, we will always be in some skirmish.
However, the question is… is there an answer to this plight? Even if we know the problem, what can we do???
“I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” [Romans 7: 24-25 MSG]
Paul talks about the whole armor of God that is ours, thought WE have to put it on and then Paul gives his reasons for doing this:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground,…”
[Ephesians 2:12-14]
Though this will sound fanciful, I believe our ground is us – who we’re becoming which is not what the devil wants. Can we be successful against the devil? Of course… though he tries to tell us he is more powerful and sometimes we buy into his lies. But the Lord tells us:
“For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.” [2 Corinthians 10: 3-6]
Notice that our weapons are not carnal. The devil would like us to believe that, though he is invincible… he’s not. And when in any war does the opponent tell us what weapons we can use?! Point being… if we are feeling why oh why we will buy into the lie that the devil can defeat us. We moan about doing what we do rather than focusing on what we CAN.
What are we looking at? Ourselves? Our why’s? Our enemy? Our Lord? From the feelings, from the thinking, from the temptations, from everything that is attempting to separate us from our source? The Lord is always with us. Turn to Him and tell Him what’s happening – He already knows but wants us to seek Him so He can work with and for us to gain our victory! But please… never let how your feel or your frustrations stand in the way of overcoming. While my particular method of resolving this conundrum/dilemma may not be yours, I think I can say without hesitation that our path will be the same, the only path – Jesus.
