Peacetime Mindset Versus Wartime Lifestyle
Many of us are operating under a peacetime mindset. We are dilly dallying around with the things that are hindering us in life. We are just players wasting our life. We are all in thrall to things that affect our daily life.
Let me share with you some examples to consider:
—Strong desires for food, caffeine, surgar, chocolate, alcohol, pornography, money, entertainment.
—A few more: the praise of people, approval of others, power, fame.
—Some stingers: racism in our souls, sluggish indifference to injustice, apathy towards poverty, complacency concerning abortion.
These are our enemies. This is where many of people are just players. Murmuring and complaining about their struggles and failures. These are all sins that hinder us in our walk not just in life but for eternity. How do we deal with these sins? By becoming warriors. God is looking for true and faithful followers. Jesus said this about dealing with things that enslave us to sin.
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire.” —Mark 9:43-49
This startling language is not meant to promote self-mutilation, but instead stresses the importance of cutting sin out of your life. Painful self-discipline is required of his true followers. Giving up a relationship, job, or habit that is against God’s will may seem just as painful as cutting off a hand, but Christ is worth any possible loss or discomfort. Nothing should stand in the way of faith. We must be ruthless in removing sin from our lives now in order to avoid suffering for eternity. Make your choices from an eternal perspective.
Remember, nobody goes or is going to hell because of Satan. Sin sends people to hell. Be a warrior and kill and fight sin in your life and you will beat Satan down and keep him at bay in your life.
