God speaks to us unceasingly through the events of our life, through the firmness with which he negates our petty human ordering of it, through the regularity with which he disappoints our plans and our attempts to escape, through his endless defeat of all our calculations by which we hoped to become able to do without him. And little by little he tames us, he draws us into relationship with him. Then one day, when we are helpless on a bed, stopped dead by some reverse, isolated by some misfortune, crushed by a sense of our own powerlessness, one day he brings us to the point of resigning ourselves to listening to his language, to admitting his presence, to recognizing his will. And we realize then that he had always been speaking to us.
~Louis Evely (1910- )
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.
~ from 1 Peter 4
Oh beloved it is true. We are deep in battle. The crash and howl of demons and their lies screech and moan against the armour of this fool (and yours if you did not know it.). It is, perhaps, easier to see and feel in an Asian megacity dominated by the demon Allah, and his minions screaming hate and spittle over the minarets nearly every period of the day. These fallen super-beings are exceedingly good at pouring lies and anger and dissention and lustful thoughts into any situation. Their ability to mimic the mental sound of our own mental voice is stunning (though not perfect.)
For these liars only have one chance to convince us of our horrible situation. They must convince us that our fleshly self is still the one and only voice worth listening to. They must convince us that we are still some sort of fallen and wretched mess to get us to buy into the fiery darts of thoughts they are launching into the cortices of our soulish mind. And sometimes this works for a moment.
And then too, we still inhabit the flesh stained by sin and death. The new creation we are is not yet swallowed up in the final victory. Even those who generally rest and live and move and have our being walking in the power He has given us can – by very implication of the word victory – can fail in our striving to enter the rest He has for us.
Now, as the pressures mount in our lives, from both external spiritual attack and the flesh so near to us, we can sometimes feel like we need to escape the pressure. And this is true. We must find a way to get away from dangers and temptations. But the escape of which this writer writes, is the kind of escape where we are tempted to deviate from the path He has set before us, and find comfort in our own strength.
The euphoric recall of our fetid past sometimes pops up in our minds.
Maybe a couple drinks wouldn’t be so bad.
It’s just a picture. We aren’t really touching her.
We could just ask the doctor for a prescription.
Oh, just one more piece of cake.
She(he) is just a friend. No need to tell the spouse.
Maybe we’ll just go to the mall.
We’ll just sleep ’till noon today.
Anger is just venting the pressure others have put on us.
It makes sense to be fearful in this situation.
And on it goes. These thoughts build as the stress we fail to manage builds in our lives. The temptation to revert to old ways (even though they never worked) always presents itself. And we often feel like we are about to reach for the lever that will open the hatch…
Don’t do it beloved. There is no need. All is well.
For even though the flesh is near, and the devil smashes with hammer upon the breastplate of righteousness G_d gives us – and the helmet of the salvation He has placed on our head – there is a new mind inside the limitless protection the full-armour provides. And the voice of this mind is the mind of Christ.
This voice is quiet.
Strong.
Eternal.
Deep calling unto deep.
Gentle.
Noble.
Joyful.
Determined.
Real.
Is this voice Him? Or is it me?
Yes.
And suddenly we know there is no need to go anywhere else. For, in Him, we have already won. We are already free. And the lie of our escape-hatch thinking is that it was not the escape, but the trap we once knew.
Rest beloved. All is well.
