Life and Death

Colossians 2:13,14 You, who were dead in your trespasses . . . God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the debt . . . nailing it to the cross.

The predicament of the drug addict is similar to that of others. The drug addict wants sobriety sometime. Right now though, he just wants the drug more. Likewise, the food addict does not want to be overweight, but right now he just wants to eat.

We seem to be of two minds, one desiring life and the other, bent on destruction. Unfortunately, the destructive pursuit delivers immediate pleasure and calls in a louder voice.

In today’s passage, Paul explained that as Christians, we have undergone a spiritual transformation from death to life. We were restored to God when our sins were nailed to the cross with Christ.

This is not some far off truth that I will appreciate only after death. This is a blessed reality for here and now. My sins have been nailed to the cross and I bear the burden of their debt no more. I can and should live in this spiritual reality, investing my time, effort and life into my very real relationship with the father. This is my life purpose.

My problem is the immediacy of my defective flesh nature. Though I should live with my mind focused on my spirit life, my flesh life is profoundly distracting. I want sobriety, health, purity and love, but my flesh distracts with drug, food, lust and resentments.

Because of Christ’s sacrificial death, I am free to live in my spirit life, but God allows me to continue to pursue my flesh. He does not choose for me and He does not force me to spend time with Him.

When I feel the weight and shame of my addictive, destructive behaviors, I must blame no one other than myself. Then, I must do whatever it takes to abandon my flesh and desperately pursue my life in the spirit where I am forgiven and free. This is life and death.