Always Ascending

Our flesh, also understood as our human nature, is constantly seeking to drag us down into the muck and more of sin. The pit of depravity is our nature’s natural habitat and feels most at home when we’re dwelling in darkness. Often times there is a familiarity with the shadows that, though we may despise them, they can feel—easier than walking in the light. If you’ve ever felt that way let me encourage you by saying the reason for that is due to the fact that, it is easier to dwell in darkness. Surely if we are Christians it’s very uncomfortable  and can cause our soul’s to be in great distress.  There is, however,  something about the darkness that a part of us loves and longs for. Paul said it this way in Romans 7.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25 ESV) 

To highlight just how difficult the war within us really is, Paul says this in Galatians 5;

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:17 ESV)

Jonathan Edwards put well by saying that the Christian life is an uphill climb. If you’ve been a Christian longer than a week you know that this climb is filled with jagged edges, rockslides, and sometimes full-out avalanches. It seems that in my own life I’m having to pick myself up off the ground again and again and then gazing up at the precipice before me thinking, will I ever get to the top? In spite of those moments, and in spite of those thoughts I must remember the words of our Lord and His promises specifically aimed at this very struggle.

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV) 

The task before you and I is not to overcome; our flesh, our desires, our sin, or even the world that dangles these things in front of us. For the reality is that Christ has already overcome those things. Our task is to simply climb. One hand in front of the other, one foothold at a time. When the rocks give way under us, wether just a simple slip or what seem like the mountain itself is coming down, we can be sure that we are held secure. For it’s not some flimsy metal clip that holds our rope but Christ the Rock of our salvation, at the top, keeping us safe from falling too far.