God's allowed me to notice that there is a common misconception in the circles of the wounded or abandoned (so basically all of us). Wronged people have a hard time believing that humans can permanently change for the better. Why should they believe any different? Time and time again their failed relationships have proven that humans are untrustworthy creatures. The older they get, the more scorned they become as our spouses leave them and our business partners betray them. It is only natural to take the cynical approach so that they may guard their hearts and protect their loved ones from the same pain.
Unfortunately, this falsified protection they feebly use as resistance becomes the source of power for The Liar (aka Satan) and his cronies. Automatically they find themselves becoming more and more cynical of human behavior -- and rightly so, if they dare to turn on the news. Trusting humans becomes dangerous, almost laughable, and will most certainly lead to destruction. The intentions of any kind-hearted individual are tainted by the sins of those who came before him or her. The bold pronouncement of a newly inspired teenager to say "This is wrong; I will change!" is greeted by rolled eyes and an illegal promotion of "safe" underage drinking by those who "know better". Those who attempt to change from their negative ways are seen as doomed to repeat their actions; worse still are those who believe that such a person could change -- how naive! It is better to expect failure and guard against making it worse than trying to stop it. After all, it's just their personality type -- it's in their blood, their hormones! We can't change who we are.
Hopefully you're starting to see the lie in this.
Our society places the expectation of failure on our heads before we even attempt to change for the better. A common phrase I hear is, "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic". I believe the original purpose of that phrase was to keep alcoholics out of temptation -- if they believe they are "fixed" and able to drink and control the urge, they will inevitably fall back into their old ways and destroy what they have worked so hard to achieve. It is smart for alcoholics to recognize their weakness and avoid it. I have no issues with this phrase. The issues I have are the lies that have latched themselves onto an idea like this. Let me replace "alcoholic" with something generic, like "sin" itself.
What would you say if I said "Once a sinner, always a sinner"? There is something fundamentally wrong about that statement! The Bible completely contradicts that statement over and over. Just read Romans 6 and you will know what I'm talking about. Romans 6:6-7 "our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, for he who has died is freed from sin." or Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." and the wonderful Romans 6:22-23 "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NASB translation) Praise be to God, once we accept Him as our Savior we are cleansed from our life of sin!
Now, since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), it is definitely required to flee from temptation the way alcoholics do. The Bible says to "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18) We are even told that we can "resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). What amazing grace God shows us! He changes what was once rotten flesh and replaces it with His purity and light. God patiently teaches us how to change for the better in His Image, and when we pursue Him with all of our hearts, that change is permanent.
Remember: just because God has delivered you from sin does not mean you can flirt with that area of temptation. My mantra might turn into "Once a sinner, forever tempted". Perhaps you are finding it difficult to change and resist temptation in the first place, even when seeking Christ. Take heart, for "no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (italics mine) There is no temptation that you cannot overcome if you are truly seeking God's righteousness. You must rely completely on God and flee temptation; you must believe that God can change your heart! The Lord will not turn away from you or give up on you, so you can trust Him even when you cannot trust humans.
Sometimes, however, the problem lies with the admission of sin in the first place. My friend, do not fall into the trap of believing that God's commandments do not apply simply because He created you to be a sexual being, or because you're young, or because He has "bigger" things to worry about. There is no society too civilized to be convicted of sin.
God can and will change your heart, your personality flaws, your mind -- if you let Him! Allow the most trusted and faithful Lord of the universe to heal your wounds and lavish you in His love. Come into His presence on bended knee and ask Him to reveal to you how you can change permanently, so that you can properly reflect the character of Christ. Then Satan's lies can be destroyed by Truth and non-Christians will be inspired to know why we, as recipients of God's grace and transforming power, are more trustworthy than the average joe.
When God's people earnestly seek Him, only then can we transform the world. This is change I can believe in. It is God-driven, and God-inspired.
This is my prayer; will you join me in it?
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