September 30
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
“’There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 48:22)
When one reviews the likely consequences for immorality, and when one considers the gentleness and kindness of the Lord, it is surprising that Christians fall for pornography and immoral behaviors. I truly believe that any of us who choose immorality over Christ really just don’t get it at all. We are trading that which brings rest and peace for that which destroys and torments us.
We are deceived into thinking that walking with Jesus is boring and dull and that the way of the flesh is exciting and stimulating. In reality, it is just the opposite. We may think that Jesus is a harsh, condemning task master, unhappy with us and punishing us, whereas the flesh is an exhilarating alternative to a dreary existence. In reality, these impressions are totally turned around. Do you recall reading missionary stories, where in an effort to keep people fearful of them and not want to listen to them, lies and rumors were spread about the Christians that they were kidnappers and blood drinking cannibals, dangerous to health and family. In reality, it was just the opposite, and those who spread these lies were far more cruel and dangerous than the missionaries who came with medicines and healing skills.
The lie that Jesus is boring and the flesh is exciting is a lie to keep you away from Christ and keep you going back to the flesh time after time for excitement and stimulation, when in reality that is what is killing you.
It is Christ who is exciting and stimulating and the flesh is boring and monotonous and dull. Furthermore, when we turn our backs on Christ, we forfeit, for a time, His peace – that wonderful, exciting, restful PEACE of God! We not only do not experience His peace, but we enter a period of time when we have even more anxiety and unrest than normal due to our acts of wickedness.
Christian men and women, WAKE UP! Our Savior is a MUCH, MUCH better Master than the flesh. The flesh is demanding and abusive. The consequences of serving the flesh are destruction, loss, and ultimately death. We have it all wrong when we believe the lie that the flesh will provide a refreshing reprieve from the tedium of this life. The truth is just the opposite! We have to learn to think the opposite in our minds when we are tempted by the flesh and its enticements. We need to realize that Jesus is our Gentle Master Who takes care of us and brings us rest and peace. The flesh and its lusts when gratified outside of God’s laws will never bring peace, only a terrifying expectation of judgment and loss. And don’t be deceived by Satan’s propaganda that Jesus is harsh and drudgery to serve, or that the way of evil is exciting and fun. Nothing could be further from the truth.