You’re Not Helpless Against Sin
A few years ago, I used to wonder how I will ever deal with sin. I used to repent and seek forgiveness only to go back to the same sins again. I would then come back to God after sinning and would do a more serious prayer and hope that it’s over. That I will not sin again. Only to be disappointed in a few days’ time. I would still go back to the same sins again. My heart was wailing inside me. How I wished someone or something could come and assassinate the sinful nature in me. I longed for redemption and deliverance from this undesirable state. I really desired to obey God fully but would feel weighed down by my sin. I actually thought that God would not use someone like me. That such people like me were not fit for the King’s service. I would think to myself that everything is wrong with me and I’m too far deep into my lies, secular movies and music and pornography.
My sinful state made me tremble whenever I heard or read the word ‘heaven’ in my Bible. For I knew that my state compromised my heavenly candidature. The mention of ‘hell’ shook my heart really hard. I finally had a breakthrough and victory over sin and have been living as a vessel that is set apart for God’s noble purpose. I live a happy life now, but it has been quite a journey to this point. I’m always grateful to God for the victory over sin, the truth that has continually put me on a path of total freedom and obedience to God.
This was my case but I believe that there are others who have been in such a situation. There are those who are currently in this exact situation. Those who are deep in sin, thinking to themselves that they are too far gone. That they are helpless and can do nothing about the situation. So, they continue in that path of sin knowing very well that it leads to hell. When confronted with the truth about their condition, they respond “you don’t understand”. To them it is easier to give in to the demands of the flesh and blame other things and people for the consequences of a sinful lifestyle. In some weird cases, they may even blame God.
Satan, who is like a roaring lion, is always on the hunt, looking for vessels to live in. He dwells inside and executes his schemes from within that vessel. He destroys that vessel and when the person dies, Satan doesn’t die with him or her. He moves out and his hunting mission continues. He implements his manifesto by always tempting those who are not members of his kingdom. And when he finds an opportunity, he does his best to retain his catch. He diverts attention and reflects the blame and sticks to the mission. This is what he was doing in me. He was on my case and was determined to retain me.
My struggles with sin were partly due to the fact that I didn’t bring all my woes and concerns to the One Who is capable of offering the ultimate help. I tried on my own and failed all the time. I thought more repentance will work, it didn’t. I tried praying more and still the downward spiral continued. With the victory I now have, I now know that any sinner is not helpless for there is an ever present help in the Helper. There is hope for redemption for Someone Who rules the universe is ever ready to deal with sin – Jesus our Lord and Helper. He got me out of the mess and got me a new life. Something changed in me. How I approach life, how I see sin and myself has since changed. I stopped relying on my own ways and abilities. I stopped assuming that I will make it on my own. I embraced the Cross. I stopped going to places and associating with things that tempted me. Serious discipleship has taken place in me. The journey has been worth the effort.
Some believe that once they are born again, it is over. That they will never sin again. They believe that they don’t have a responsibility to watch out for their lifestyles. That since they are born again, all will be well. They then get disappointed when they find themselves deep in sin yet they call themselves Christians. I believe that the believer has a very big role of relying wholly on the grace of God and refraining from sinful activities. That he is responsible for his eyes, ears, mouth and legs to ensure that any of the organs don’t lead the believer into sin. He has to continually renew the mind so that it agrees with scriptures. The believer has the responsibility to guard the heart, to pray and come to Jesus for help at every point. The answer is the Cross where Jesus crushed the power of sin and set men free. Look to the Cross, not to yourself and find the help to live in victory.
****Peter Kale (not his real name) is a missionary serving among an unreached people group in Northeastern Kenya
