I Peter 2:11
"Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul."
Our true nature in this life as long as we are here on earth waiting for the coming of our Saviour, are exiles and sojourners. Hebrews 13:14 says "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek a city that is to come."
Our portion is not in this life, yet the passions of the flesh which abides in this world has its principle in us. In our everyday lives there is an invitation for us to indulge to its desires and sin. It offers us pleasure followed by destruction. And we see many christians, including ourselves, falling as prey to its trap, and its deception has led others to want to turn back from their calling, because of their guilt and shame. Sin conceals God's forgiveness and mercy and it will leave you hopeless and wandering with nowhere to go.
Are we missing out on something here? I think yes. "...abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul..." There is a war happening here, deep in our souls. It happens each time the passions of this world collides with our passion to live for God, and each time that it happens, one of the two has to die.
All of us have besetting sins and weaknesses and we groan inwardly for our full redemption (Romans 8:23). But as long as we are here on earth as exiles and sojourners, we must make war against its passions.
"Put to death what is earthly in you" (Col. 3:5)
A holy violence against sin and its deception. Spare no mercy against sin even though it tries to convince and persuade you with words as sweet as honey and as smooth as oil. Each day is a war. Each moment is a war. In every thought there is a war. In every surge of emotion there is a war. There is a war in our eyes and the things we look at. As Puritan John Owen puts it, "Cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you."
Fighting at your side,
Pastor Jonathan
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