eFax of Life from CBMC Heartland
Constant Battle
I almost believe in evolution. But first – let’s try this experiment: place your Christmas tree in the middle of your family room – put the boxes of lights, ornaments and tinsel at the bottom of the tree – and then go to bed.
Next morning – if you come out and all the decorations are wonderfully arranged on the tree – then evolution works!
I said I almost believe in evolution. Actually – from my personal experience I more and more believe in devolution (retrograde evolution/degeneration).
Back to the Christmas tree experiment. This time – decorate your tree. Then – simply watch. Over the time your tree is up – the decorations will sag/droop/need to be repositioned (rather then evolve into even better arrangements).
Same with life. My body is sagging/drooping. My vehicle deteriorates. Our home needs constant attention. To maintain or improve virtually any area of life requires constant diligence and effort. From Oswald Chambers (My Utmost For His Highest – Dec. 4):
Life without war is impossible in the natural or the supernatural realm. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual areas of life.
Health is the balance between the physical parts of my body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought.
Morally it is the same. Anything that does not strengthen me morally is the enemy of virtue within me. Whether I overcome, thereby producing virtue, depends on the level of moral excellence in my life. But we must fight to be moral. Morality does not happen by accident; moral virtue is acquired.
And spiritually it is also the same. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33). This means that anything which is not spiritual leads to my downfall. Jesus went on to say, “…but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition.
Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.
Let me repeat those last three sentences:
“I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition. Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.”
Gotta run. Time to go to the gym and work out!
CBMC Heartland, 12/08/03
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