Stuck. නියැදිය

TENSION

Spirit within and remaining sin. Blindness. We are most often unaware of our sin. Of course, there are many symptoms of our sin that we may see, but we don’t really see the root of the symptoms that need to be changed. Our remaining sin is so much a part of us. We are so familiar with the sin, and it is so much a part of who we are that we don’t even recognize it. We are basically blind to our sin or to strongholds in our lives. However, we often are not totally without sight. We have enough awareness of our guilt that we hide, hide, hide and cover, cover, cover! However, we view things from a human perspective – the surface symptoms and the justification for them. We cannot see our sin as God sees our sin. We desperately need Him to open the eyes of our hearts because we are blind to the truth – blind to our sin. The gospel of John talks about the darkness and the light. John describes how the darkness hates the light and our fallen humanity avoids the light: “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5).

I think of my previous sin of covetousness and materialism. It had such a strong- hold on me as a young Christian. I was desperate for the things of this world that would give me worth, meaning, and pleasure. I knew the Word of God. I had memorized the verses with my children in elementary school, but I did not hear them. I did not comprehend them. The Word clearly addresses covetousness and materialism. Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” My sin was such a part of me that I had a very hard time really hearing God’s Word or recognizing that it was speaking to me. I felt so inadequate and worthless inside that I looked for anything that would give me worth. I sought significance in a world that was absorbed with self. If I had taken God at His word and seen my sin for what it was, I could have confessed my sin, repented, and been cleansed from unrighteousness. I could have been free! But I did not want to see my sin – nor see it as sin. I just looked for ways to ease my pain . . . buy more stuff!

Fear. It is insidious. It is as quiet as a stealth bomber and as treacherous. Fear is deceitful. It is our enemy, yet we see it as a protector, as an advisor. Fear also entraps us because we don’t like change and we don’t like the unknown. Besides, we are accustomed to our ways . . . Hey, it’s the way we’ve always done it! We would rather live with what we already are because it is familiar. We are afraid that if we start tearing down strongholds, we will be diminished, condemned, rejected, shamed or even destroyed. The Lord already knows this fear is there. He tells us so often in the Bible to not fear. “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe” (Mark 5:36). He wants us to trust Him by looking inside to see what is really in our hearts, to confess what He shows us, and to give it all to Him. He is standing with forgiveness in His arms, yet we hide in fear.