In the 1970s the world was introduced to the game Dungeons and Dragons. In this (sometimes addictive) role-playing game, each player takes on the persona of an imaginary character, interacting with other characters in various situations, with the goal of gaining power over obstacles and others in a fantasy world. Never having played it myself, I can only guess what that feels like. But I considered how a thirst for power and domination drives Satan, and all he has achieved through deception.
Look at the world around us. So many deceived people live in a figurative dungeon or cower in the shadow of various dragons, all the while insisting, “This is the best! This is real freedom!” And yet they exist in a fantasy world. They have believed a lie.
Living in sin is not freedom. Addiction to food, drink, drugs, sex, or any number of behaviors leads to guilt, frustration, and sometimes even despair, apathy, or, sadly, a life of complete selfish indulgence. That’s not freedom; it’s bondage! We all know this deep down because we keep trying to improve ourselves. Countless programs, books, and companies confirm this truth—from diets and AA-type groups to radical behavior modification techniques. We know we’re wrong and we want to be better. Sin makes people miserable!
The apostle Paul bemoaned humankind’s constant struggle against sin in Romans 7. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate (verse 15). But he then pinpointed the core issue: For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not (verse 18).
God also knew this about human nature—our inability to free ourselves from sin. For that reason He sent Jesus to rescue us from our hopeless state. He knew we desperately needed a hero!
But unlike the typical story hero, our Savior Jesus does not merely rescue us from a life of bondage. He also empowers us to live in victory. Trying harder is not the biblical path to victory. In Romans 6 Paul explains that believers have died with Christ in baptism and have risen to new life in Him. Therefore, as new creations we have new power to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies. Because we are already risen with Christ, we can put to death the deeds of the flesh (Colossians 3:1).
But the key is in the knowing. If we think we’re the same old people we’ve always been, but with a ticket to heaven someday, we’ll remain in the same rut of fruitless thought and action as before, saved but stuck. However, once we know and believe that we’ve been made new, we’ll start to conform to our new identity in Christ. We’ll not only develop a distaste for sin but also discover the strength to turn from it.
Although our battle with the flesh will continue as long as we’re alive, we can expect more and more victories because Christ has given us His power. This is not mere fantasy or role play. This is our new reality.
Thank you, Carrie – very helpful insights and reminders. 🙂