For the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
(Jeremiah 17:9)
In the devotion titled Self on the Throne the paradox between true Christianity and loving and living for SELF was examined. The word of God speaks to the subject of “self” (the flesh). “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…to set the mind on the flesh is death…For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot…those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5, 6, 7, 8). Scripture presents serious charges against Self-ruled hearts and minds, and gives no room for debating this issue. The execrable Self-ruled heart cannot please God, nor does it want to do so.
In stark contrast, the heart of a true Christian desires and strives to know and serve God. It is not a renovated heart, but a new creation – alive in Christ. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)
With all that said, how does the Christian think scripturally about his heart and mind when sin and self-seem to routinely lift up their heads and bare their fangs? Christ rules, but Self never relinquishes control peacefully, and will continually make every effort to claw, scratch, and slither back onto the throne of the heart of even the child of Christ. This is the lifelong warfare within the mind and heart of every Christian. “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15).
However, this is not a warfare with an uncertain outcome. We will be conformed to the likeness of Christ, and all things are working toward that end for His glory. See Romans 8:28-31. In the process of being conformed to the image of Christ, the poisonous weeds of sin and the venomous viper Self, which remain within us, are battled and uprooted. We may at times think that we’re making good progress toward that goal; then, suffering or adversity come knocking on our door, burst in, and shake up our heart and mind. And what do we often discover, — hidden sins, self-love and doubts lying quietly within us still. The Lord’s rod of affliction exposes and arouses them; like vipers they hiss and threaten with venom; like thorny weeds they cling and prick. The battle begins again.
How better for the Lord to be glorified than in our using the graces and weapons that He furnishes. God’s children are all soldiers fitted for battle, not for show. We are as weak as water in ourselves, but in Christ and His power the battle is won.
“…daily crosses and disappointments…convince that we can do nothing of ourselves; all are needful, and barely sufficient to prevent our hearts from being overrun with pride, self-dependence, and security.” –John Newton