Growing up a sensitive and creative boy, I experienced rejection from guys my age. I longed to fit in or have a good, guy friend. Loneliness drove me to pray for more friends than I “knew what to do with.” I would ultimately find that connection in the gay community. Sex was the currency I exchanged for male intimacy.
After years of living a selfish, sexual life of “my body, my choice,” I came back to Jesus. He challenged me to surrender my heart, my will and even my body to Him. The bible served as my guide. 1 Corinthians 6:19 posed deep, searching questions. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” Paul wrote divinely inspired statements: “You are not your own” and “You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6 gave me a holy view of sexuality. It also set a behavioral precedent of self-control in my life. This blog isn’t about SEX. Sex was just my most out of control area, but by no means the only one.
I awoke one day thinking, if my body is not my own sexually, then surely other areas of my life require submission. If my sexy parts are surrendered, but my mouth is unfiltered, then action is needed. If all my parts aren’t totally surrendered, then my Christian walk is like Jurassic Park; electronic gates flung open, slowly coming back one by one, leaving the facility TOTALLY AND UTTERLY UNSECURE. Proverbs 25:28 “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.”
As Christians we are works in progress. We have to be aware of our shortcomings. We must gage our reactions to trauma and understand that we have not “arrived.” Is our anger raging? Is our sadness keeping us in bed, away from people and nursing another bottle of Pinot? Are we using our mouths to bless or curse God’s other creations? Are the gates to our hearts wide open while emotional alarm bells ring out? Do we have any shred of “I give a…care” left that will allow us to cry out to God?
God says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But just like me, without scripture to guide you, you get trapped, because sin seems normal. Especially, if you are living a life based on human emotion, rather than the spiritual standard of the bible. Wake up brothers and sisters. Christians are called to be light in a dark world. The bible is our weapon against the darkness; our witness to the lost, yet we haven’t hid God’s word in our hearts. If Google search went away many of you would preach “Jesus Wept” on repeat.
God is calling us to a life of surrender and submission. What areas of your life are out of control? Emotions? Self-control? Self awareness? Prayer time? Bible reading? Whatever it is, God doesn’t care where you start. He just wants you to begin again. Include Him in your day. Share what He has done in your life. If He hasn’t done anything for a while, do a system check, find the disconnect and get back online. Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost. That was once us.
God’s word speaks of obedience. God’s heart speaks of relationship. If there are areas of your life that are out of control and hopeless, don’t marinate another second in the viscosity of sin. Stop letting sin, even the littlest one, drag you under. Heed the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” --Matthew 11:28-30
Salvation isn’t the Lottery, with one random winner. It’s more like the Welfare system; readily available to everyone in need.