Lit Torch Publishing: One Simple Word

What if someone came up to you and said they had a problem and wanted some help?

What if you agreed to help that person?

And what if they told you that the problem they had was with pornography?  They confessed that they were spending hours on line viewing pornagrpahy.  They had purchased pornographic books and movies and they were even considering swinger parties and were fascinated with the idea of wife swapping.  Maybe they were not considering the idea of swinger parties but they are out of control in their desire for pornographic material.  They informed you that what started out as just looking at Playboy magazines has escalated into a pervasive habit that has seemingly taken them captive to thinking about nothing but women as sex objects.

Would you revoke your response to help them?  Would you be disgusted by this confession?  Maybe you would wish that whatever pain, angst, or problems they were having were deserved because of this sinful behavior.

Maybe the person is “just” into viewing porn online or “just” has a few x-rated videos.  Is this acceptable behavior?  More importantly can you offer this person help from the Scriptures?  2 Timothy 3:16 states that “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”  Is this true?  Should we turn to Scripture first?  What passages in the Bible would you reference?  Would you even label the behavior of looking at pornographic material as sin?  Or would you argue that this behavior is natural?

If you are not a born again Christian, this article will probably not make sense to you.  The things I am about to discuss are spiritual in nature.  The Bible states that “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 1:14).  You may read this article and deem me a fool as I lean on the statutes of God to explain a major problem in our society today.  Or, you may be inspired, encouraged, or possibly convicted of this sin in your life.  Either way, it is my prayer and hope that God will use this writing to bring glory to Himself and set many people free from this sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1).

Problem

There is a problem in our world today.  The main problem is that many of us “have exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Rom 1:25).  The exchange has been made just like a used car salesman selling a lemon of a car to an unsuspecting customer.  We are quickly replacing words in our vocabulary to diminish sin.  As a matter of fact, in most social groups sin is no longer called sin.  Biblical words are being replaced with more politically correct phrases.  Adultery is no longer called adultery but instead it has been replaced with “having an affair.”  Homosexuality is no longer called homosexuality but deemed an “alternative lifestyle”.  We have become so polluted in our thinking and reasoning that pornography is not seen as fornication or lust.  It is not wise to let the world shape our values and thoughts.  God has given us instruction through the Bible to take every thought captive and make it obedience to Christ (2 Cor 10:5).  Lusting after women and viewing them as mere sexual objects is not what the Bible teaches.

When the Apostle Paul wrote that “they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Rom 1:25), “he was referring to the willful substitution of an immutable truth for a specific falsehood.”   The Bible teaches that Christians are to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another; so that you may not do the things you please” (Gal 5:16-17).  A person that is choosing to indulge in pornography, masturbation, or lustful endeavors is walking in the flesh.  God has given us the power to walk in His Spirit and we are told to “clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and not to think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Rom 13:14).

There is a battle that exists within ourselves.  The battle of seeking to please our flesh over God.  Your flesh vs. your spirit is the battle.  To succeed at winning this fight, we must become dead to our flesh and hunger and thirst after righteousness.  OK, how do we fight this fight you ask?  The first step involves prayer and recognition of the battle ahead.

Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63).  It is important to understand Satan can appeal to lust, but he did not create it.  It is already in us.  The book of James reveals this process from a spiritual perspective:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren (James 1:13-16).

“Solomon said, ‘For the lips of the adulteress drip honey, and smoother than oil is her speech.’ (Pr 5:3)  This phrase describes how the devil presents temptation.  Honey represents promised fulfillment.  The temptation seems irresistible because it is laced with the deception that the act of sin will bring about tremendous pleasure and satisfaction.  The smooth oil represents the craftiness of the enemy.  He knows when we are at our weakest moment.  He does not mind waiting for days or even weeks if it means a greater defeat for the Christian.  Paul twice speaks of the ‘schemes of the devil’ (Eph 6:10, 2 Cor 2:11).  The demonic forces of hell are fully camouflaged and extremely calculating, they launch the perfect illusion, timing each consecutive attack ‘to steal, and kill, and destroy’ (John 10:10) God’s property.”

I will admit that I was extremely naïve about the seemingly ubiquitous problem of pornography with most men.   What is even more shocking is that this problem has entered the church.  “A recent survey taken by Promise Keepers revealed that sixty-five percent of the men questioned reported the regular use of pornography.”   Pornography seems to be a very common and very hidden sin among men.  For some reason this sin seems to go unchecked and unconfessed.

In his book At the Alter of Sexual Idolatry, Steve Gallagher gives three reasons men keep this sin hidden.  “First, sexual sin is shameful to admit.  In our society, a person can be glorified for being a ‘Don Juan,’ but just about any other sexual behavior that is out of control is looked upon with suspicion and even disdain. . . Secondly, even though our society does not consider fornication or even adultery shameful, these sins are considered big ‘no-no’s’ in the evangelical movement.  A woman can have a terrible habit of spreading gossip in the church, a man can be obsessed with his work at the expense of his family, or someone can be extremely critical of those around them, but these, as well as many other sins, are overlooked in the Church. . . Another factor that contributes to a man keeping his sin covered, is that it is fairly easy to live a double life of outward religion and secret sexual sin.  Drugs and alcohol affect a person’s ability to function.  Most are unable to keep this kind of a habit secret.  But with sexual addiction, a man can be a president, a celebrity, even a famous evangelist, and still maintain a façade of responsibility.”

The bottom line is that viewing pornography and lusting after women as sexual objects is sin.  I really do not know at what point our society became numb to this.  However, as I become more biblically literate, I understand “the more a person becomes involved in sin, the less he sees it.  Sin is a hideous disease that destroys a person’s ability to comprehend its existence.  It could be compared to a computer virus that has the ability to hide its presence from the user while it systematically destroys the hard drive.”   The Bible says, “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17).  “Darkness is the devil’s domain.  Those who refuse to come into the light about their sin are choosing to remain in darkness.”   What we think about will generate our feelings and then our feelings soon become actions.  It is by the grace and mercy of God that men get “caught” in this sin.  Shame and exposure can bring this sin into the open to bring restoration.

Getting Help

We have to understand a few biblical concepts to put our finger on conquering this sin through victory in Christ.  First, “the root of habitual sexual sin stems from the heart, not the past.  One of the great fundamental teachings of the Christian faith is the doctrine of the depravity of man.  While man was made in the image of a holy God, his nature became corrupted when he fell into sin in the Garden of Eden.  Since that time, there has been no one righteous, ‘no not one’ (Rom 3:10).  We are depraved beings who crave that which is appealing to our carnal natures.  It is natural to desire that which is sinful and unlawful.  The truth is that even people considered ‘good’ are not really so.  They are not inherently good as Carl Rogers would have us believe.  We, as a fallen race of people, have a natural propensity toward sin and rebellion against our Creator.”

Understand that sin is warring within you and it desires to overtake you, but you must master it (Gen 4:7).

First, as a general rule, it is very important to have strong Christian fellowship in your life.  Many people can quote 1 Corinthians 15:33 which says, “bad company corrupts good morals.”  However, they leave out the first part of that verse which says, “Do not be deceived:  bad company corrupts good morals.”  We will become like those we hang around, do not be deceived.  Have you ever noticed that you will begin to use the same words and gestures of those you hang around?  We are strongly influenced by those we spend time with, the books we read, the things we hear, and by the things we see.  Build godly relationships in your life with people that desire to please God by obeying His commandments.  A true friend will encourage you to follow the Lord Jesus in all things, especially in regard to purity.  Pray that the Lord brings true friends into your life that care about your spiritual vitality as a number one priority.

The Bible says, “ the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel” (Pr 27:9).  A real friend is showing love to his brother by rebuking him of his sin and “restoring such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1).  The restoration comes by showing the wayward brother his offense and teaching him about what pleases the Lord (Eph 5:10).  Holiness and not even having a hint of sexual immorality in our lives (Eph 5:3) is what the Lord desires.  Many men run toward “accountability groups” to get help.  “It is helpful to a certain extent to open up with other people about one’s struggle.  But there is a biblical principle that is far more powerful in its ability to change lives.  What men greatly need is to be discipled.”

God has equipped us to counsel one another from the Scriptures.  Romans 15:14 states, “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”  The Lord desires for us to counsel one another from the Scriptures.  The word admonish in this passage is from the Greek word “noutheteo” which means:  to admonish or warn or to counsel.

Biblical counseling uses God’s Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to change desires, thinking, and behavior in people’s lives that are contrary to the Scriptures.  The Bible tells us that God’s “divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).  Nouthetic counselor Jim Pile from Grace Bible Church in California writes, “biblical counseling seeks the sanctification of the Christian.  As pastors, we want our people to look like who?  Jesus Christ.  With all the theories and models out there—among secular theories and models of psychology—they can’t even agree on what man should look like, but we, as Christians, know that we want people to be like Christ.  So, it’s a process of biblical sanctification: for the glory of God, to look at people’s pattern of sin and to help them to discern what to put off—to renew their minds through the Word of God—and what to put on—to replace sinful habits and thinking—so that they’re able, then, to go out and effectively teach others also, what they learn.”

We must realize that we are accountable to God for our sin.  It may surprise many to find out that the word “accountability” is not mentioned once in the Bible.  Steve Gallagher writes, “The concept is in Scripture, but not in the weak way in which it is currently used today.  Instead, the biblical concept is that of being discipled.  Listening to good sermons and reading interesting books can be helpful, but what the immature Christian needs most is for a mature saint to take him under his wing, so to speak, and bring godly instruction into his life.  The spiritual growth that is necessary for the man who is in the grip of sin will not come about by simply talking with other struggling men, nor will it come by acquiring more head knowledge on the subject.  It only comes through true discipleship—Christ-centered discipleship.”

Freedom

I meet people all the time that talk about what they are going to do with their lives.  People love to say “someday I will . . . run a marathon . . . write a book . . . travel to Europe . . . learn another language . . . “  Most of these people let talking replace doing.  We even have clichés in our society to describe this sort of behavior.  We say “talk is . . . cheap” or “actions speak . . . louder than words.”

There seems to be two groups of people in this world:  those who are curious and those who are serious.  Those who are curious simply talk about what they are going to do and really have no intention of doing anything. For them, talking replaces doing.  The second group consists of those who are serious.  Those who are serious are doers and their actions speak volumes.  I love working with those that are serious and quickly find that they are doers and not mere talkers (James 1:22).

If you are caught in the sin of pornography, you need to get serious and fight to get out.  Think about this analogy “of a boxer who is being pummeled in the corner by the other fighter, when suddenly, he has had enough and comes out swinging!  This must also happen to you.  You must shake off that complacency and come out swinging!  Is this not what the Lord was saying through the prophet Joel:  turn, fast, weep, mourn, and rend?  These are action words which describe someone determined to get what he needs from the Lord.  Winning this battle will require this kind of serious commitment.”

Counselors who tell you that you must spend the rest of your life in support groups and in therapy “do not understand the transforming power of a repentant heart.  Many of them will never know about repentance because they will not allow themselves to be broken by God.”   The power of God works through the power of His Word.  Nouthetic counselor Jay Adams talks about the importance of focusing on the Word of God in counseling to teach a person how to change bad habits to godly habits.  Adams writes, “The Spirit works through His Word; that is how He works.  It is by willing, prayerful, and persistent obedience to the requirements of the Scriptures that godly patterns are developed and come to be a part of us.  Using the Bible every day disciplines.  Disciplined, biblically structured living is what is needed.  Structure alone brings freedom.  Discipline brings liberty.  People have been brainwashed into thinking the opposite.  They think freedom and liberty come only by throwing over structure and discipline.”

Discipleship, not accountability, is what a person needs.  “As the person’s mind becomes reprogrammed with Scripture, living by a biblical standard will come easier.  The truth of the matter is that a person really only “knows” the Word to the degree that he is living it.  Again, that takes time.  As the believer immerses himself in biblical teaching, he will find that it is affecting hundreds of decisions he makes throughout the course of a given day.”

Let me give you five steps to obtain victory in this fight against lustful thoughts, pornography, and sexual sin:

1. Repent of your sins
   • Godly sorrow will produce repentance (2 Cor 10:7)
   • Confess to the Lord and to another brother in the Lord (1 John 1:9, James 5:16)
2. Restructure your life away from sin and toward godliness
   • Throw away all magazines, movies, and subscriptions (Heb 12:1)
   • Take different routes to work away from porn stores
   • Flee sexual immorality every time this desire arises.  Physically run away from it if the situation presents itself (1 Cor 6:17-20)
3. Get discipled by a mature man in the Lord
   • Contact your church elders or deacons
   • Ask other Christian brothers who they are being discipled by and ask to be part of their regular meetings
4. Know God through His Word (Col 3:16)
   • Meditate on the Scriptures pertaining to purity and taking every thought captive (2 Cor 10:5-6, Ps 1, Matt 5:8, 1 Thes 4:3, Eph 5:3)
   • Memorize passages to quicken your mind toward what the Lord desires (2 Tim 3:16, John 17:17, Eph 4:17-32)
5. Pray for the Lord to further shape and mold you into the image of God’s Son (Rom 8:29, John 3:30)

Move from the camp of being curious to being serious.  May today be the day you come out fighting like a boxer.  Furthermore, let me give you some encouragement and hope in knowing that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance (1 Timothy 4:7-9).”

I wish you all the best as you continue to train and grow in godliness and learn to have victory through the power of God in this area of your life.

For further help or assistance, I highly recommend the following books and organizations:

• At the Alter of Sexual Idolatry by Steve Gallagher
• The Walk of Repentance by Steve Gallagher
• Visit www.purelifeministries.org
• National Association of Nouthetic Counselors.
• To contact a nouthetic counselor in your area visit www.nanc.org.
• Also, Mount Carmel Ministries has a wealth of resources available to help a person have victory in Christ in many areas of their life.  Visit:  http://www.mtcarmelmin.org/resources/resources.asp

You vs You

You have a problem.

How’s that for a conversation starter?  Would you like to slap me in the face now or later?  Or would it be best to dump the drink in your hand over my head?  Either way, before you slap me or pour that drink over my head, please allow me to explain.

I may not ever meet you but one thing I can know about you is that you’ve got a problem.  Yes, you’ve got a very big problem.  Guess what?  I also have this problem.  It is a very big problem.  Not only do you and I have this problem but everyone who is a born again believer of Jesus Christ shares this problem.

Let me be clear in articulating this, you are the problem. As Pogo stated, “we have met the enemy and it is us.”   You may say, “Me?  The problem?”  Yep, the problem is you.  In other words, it is actually your flesh that is the problem.  When you get saved, your spirit is born again and will live forever; however, your flesh is going back to dust for in dust it was created.  Before you were saved, the Bible says that you were a slave to sin.  When you became born again, you became a slave to righteousness.  This is going to need some explaining.

The Bible states, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching which you were committed” (Rom 6:16-17).

To be more specific, we all have a serious problem.  Sin is the problem.  We were slaves to sin but once we became born again there is a greater hope acting within us that allows us to be victorious in this daily battle against the evil living within our flesh.

Do you know how to fight this battle?  I hope so.  Wouldn’t it be great to become more schooled in the teachings of Christ rather than the teachings of this world?  This article will examine the war we fight with sin and lean heavily upon excerpts taken from Kris Lundgaard’s book The Enemy Within.

Two Different Battle Plans

The teachings of this world seek to please the flesh and the teachings of the Bible seek to nourish your soul.  Two different desires are at work within your body.  The Bible tells us to, “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Rom 13:14) but to, “destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5-6).  We must receive our instruction from the Word of God and learn how to walk by the Spirit so that we do not carry out the desire of the flesh (Gal 5:16).

Now, I have some good news and some bad news for you.  The good news is really good and the bad news is really bad.  Here’s the bad news first.  You are a sinful, wretched person.  Those might not be the kindest words you would like to hear from me; however, they are true.  There is nothing good in you other than Christ.  Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63).  We are not to boast in wisdom, strength, or wealth (Jer 9:23-24).  Our only boast should be that we know and understand our Lord and His commands, words, and statutes bring us into a deeper knowledge of Him (Pr 8:10-11).  Through our knowledge of God, we begin to see how holy, pure, awesome and amazing He is and how He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3).  The really, really good news is that we have the Bible to teach us how to navigate along this journey called life.  This is not only good news, it is great news.

Let me let you in on a little secret, the struggle with sin is normal.  It’s part of life.  Once you grasp this, you will then stop trying to find a hidden cause for sin.  Once you became born again, your life is no longer dominated by sin.  You are a new creature created in Christ Jesus where God has prepared good works in advance for you to do (Eph 2:10).  2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor 5:17).  As Jim Achilles from Grace Bible Church in Hollister writes, “The Christian is a cleansed person.  His life is new, his position before God is sure, his sin is forgiven and he’s been given the power of the Spirit of God.”

Here’s some more good news:  God knows you.  He knows you are full of sin, but greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

The battle we all fight is with our flesh.  The battle of our flesh warring within us.  Warring within us.  This is strong language.  The Apostle Paul writes, “I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.  For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.”  This struggle will continue until we die.  Paul says, “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want” (Rom 7:19).

The question I have for you is, “Do you know how to fight this battle of You vs You?”

If so, great.  Let’s swap notes.

If not, keep reading and we’ll look at what the Bible teaches us in order to have victory against the enemy within.

Sin

Sin makes us an offer.  The offer is usually glittery, seductive, and tapered to attempt to satisfy those things that can never be satisfied through the things of this world:  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16).

The book of James tells us how sin works, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16).

Sin is in you.  It is in your flesh and it wants to be pleased.  However, there is only one thing that can satisfy our soul.  It is the surpassing knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ.  By knowing God we want to know more about His ways, His Kingdom, His righteousness, His love.  Colossians 2:3 says that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”

The first step to combating sin is to renew your mind in the Scriptures (Rom 12:1-2) and to find out what pleases the Lord (Eph 5:10).

We must learn to use our mind and train it to focus on what is most important.  “If you want to overthrow a fortress, start by knocking out the watchman—if he can’t warn the others, you will easily breach the wall and carry the day.  The flesh plies deceit to knock out the watchman of your soul:  your mind.  Each of the faculties of your soul has duties before God.  The mind is the sentinel, commanded to watch carefully over the soul by questioning, assessing, and making judgments:  ‘Will this please God?  ‘Is this according to God’s Word?’  If the mind determines that an action is right, the affections should then fall in line and desire, long for, and cling to that which the mind said was good.”

“The pleasures of sin are the rewards it offers—rewards most people will sell their souls for.  Hebrews 11:24-26 hints at a battle for the heart of Moses:

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

The contest was between the law of sin and law of grace.  The rewards offered to Moses by sin must have been great:  honor with the Egyptians, wealth beyond anything he could see among the people of Israel, the intellectual delights of debating with the top minds of Egypt, the sensual pleasures of fine food, women, and entertainment.”   These are powerful temptations for most men.  Moses chose wisely and forsook the pleasures of sin and was obedient to the Lord through this test.

Kris Lundgaard writes, “The law of sin doesn’t work on us from the outside.  We carry it in us.  It’s not a written law, simply directing us by decree.  It is inbred—working, compelling, and urging us from the shadows of our hearts.  Paul calls it ‘sin living in me’ (Rom 7:17), the evil that is ‘right there with me’ (v. 21), ‘another law at work in the members of my body,’ and ‘the law of sin aw work within my members’ (v. 23).  In verse 18 he says, ‘I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.’”

Friends, sin is a major problem.  It is at war with our Spirit.  We must understand this to find our victory in Christ and by obeying His commands.  “Never think for a minute that the war against sin is over in this life.  There isn’t even a cease-fire.”

Your flesh will deceive you.  It will trick you.  This battle we wage is within.  Victory rests in obedience to the Scriptures and letting God’s Word “judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12).  The believing Christian has a “new mind—even the mind of Christ (Rom 7:25; 8:26; 1 Cor 2:16), and new desires for the things of God (Rom 7:18; 2 Cor 5:2; Heb 13:18).  Yet, God’s work in this renewed heart is unfinished (1 John 3:2).  The mind can’t see clearly as it will (1 Cor 13:9, 12), the desires can be entangled (Gal 2:11-13), and the will can’t fully do God’s will (Gal 5:17).  The flesh in the believer remains unsearchable and deceitful.”

Sometimes we think of the flesh as our enemy; but it only hates us because God is in us, “The flesh wars against the Spirit” (Gal 5:17) in us.  The flesh’s hatred of God explains a lot.

“Which is easier:  to sit with a bucket of butter-soaked popcorn and watch Tom Cruise on the big screen for two hours, or kneel and pray for five minutes?  Tom Cruise wins hands down, because there is literally no competition.  What the flesh hates is God, so it resists anything that smacks of God—especially communion with him.  You can feel the hostility of the flesh whenever you approach God—it makes real love for him into work:  digging around the Bible to find a juicy new insight to impress your small group is like sailing the Caribbean, but poring over the Scriptures to find the Lover of your soul is like skiing UP Mount Everest.”

The great thing about having the Scriptures to guide us is that we are “instructed to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:12-13).  God wants us to live, think, and act differently than those who are not saved.  “You must understand this:  the flesh weakens conviction against sin by separating the remedy of grace from the design of grace.  The flesh works to make you forget the design (that you are saved to be holy) and think only of the remedy (if you sin you’ll be forgiven).  It preaches half a gospel (a twisted gospel) to us:  ‘Go ahead and indulge—it’s already paid for.’  Those who fall prey to such deception are evidently many, since the Scriptures go to such lengths to condemn it (Rom 3:5-8; 6:1-4, Jude 4).”

The flesh is fighting to drive every thought of God far from our minds and it wants to be filled with the ways of this world.  “The flesh knows a mind cannot be fixed both on God and earthly things (Col 3:2; 1 John 2:15).  The main ploy of the flesh is to slip worldliness into the mind under the guise of necessity.”

“Imagine a man starting off in his business with his heart set on honoring God in all his ways, then being led astray.  He gives a tenth or more of his profits to the kingdom, and God blesses his work.  So he works harder, makes more profit, gives more to God.  This looks and feels like God’s blessing, yet his hard work and the demands of his success start to encroach on his time in the Word and private prayer.  He meditates more now on his quality control than God’s control of his life.  The tunnel has been dug under the wall, and it caves in, exposing his heart to the deeper deceit of the flesh.”

The flesh is deceitful beyond comprehension and uses subtle tactics of taking what is good and please to God and using it to squeeze out thoughts of God.  Again, the “main ploy of the flesh is to slip worldliness into the mind under the guise of necessity.”

Victory in Christ

There are certain steps for us to take to fight against the flesh:
-    we can meditate on the cross and see the rottenness of our sin and the fullness of Christ’s love
-    keep watch against sin’s deceit
-    fill you affections with heavenly things
-    renew your first love for Jesus
-    hunger for a glimpse of God’s holy glory

“If you ask what foundation you have to build your expectations on, remember that you have no other options outside of Christ.  To whom will you go?  Christ alone has the words of life (John 6:68).  Without Him you can do nothing (John 15:5).  Your only strength comes from Christ dwelling in your heart by faith (Eph 3:16-17).  You can only put the misdeeds of the flesh to death ‘by the Spirit’ (Rom 8;13).  And who sends and commands the Spirit but Christ?  Think about his mercy, tenderness, and kindness as your High Priest at the right hand of God.”

He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (Heb 2:17-18).

We are in this fight seemingly alone yet mysteriously together.  Each one of us will fight our own battles with the flesh; however, God promises us victory when we are “strong in the Lord” and “we must pay careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Heb 2:1).  “The sense of the warning is that we need to give earnest attention to the things we have heard (in the Scriptures), because if we don’t, we’ll lose the life, power, sense, and impression of them in our minds.  There is no way to keep the impression of the Word in our minds except by constant care.”

Our job is to kill the flesh.  The strength we have is God’s Spirit working in us.  God has given us tools to fight this specific war.  “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Cor 10:3).  Two weaons we use are:  prayer and ministry of God’s Word (Acts 6:4).  Never underestimate the power of these two weapons with which we fight spiritual battles.

Conclusion:

There is an enemy within you and it is your flesh.  Do not be deceived by its trickery, cunning, and deceitfulness.  Live under the mindset that you will be given power by the Holy Spirit to be obedient to the teachings of God.  Your sins are forgiven and when you repent God remembers them no more.  There is freedom in being forgiven and because of the mercies God has upon us, let us offer our bodies as holy living sacrifices which is our reasonable act of worship (Rom 12:1-2).

Furthermore, let us be thankful and “not to lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:16-17).

Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What will man do to me?” (Heb 13:6).  If you are born again, God is on your side.  He desires to show you the power of His might and the rewards of obedience by providing you with the peace that surpasses all understanding as you consider it all joy as you face trials and tribulations of many kinds (James 1:2-3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

God uses the weakness of our flesh to show us the strength of Him.

May you continue to fight the battle of You vs You and become more and more victorious as you submit to the Spirit of God to empower you beyond what you could ask or even imagine.

Christ is our hope, our victor, our model, and the one who causes all things to work together for your good and His glory.  The Bible says we are a “midst”, “vapor”, “aliens”, and “pilgrims” just passing through on our way to an eternal home with our Lord.  There is a battle going on inside your flesh.  Fight with a battle plan that mirror’s Jesus’ when He was tempted by Satan after fasting forty days and forty nights.  His constant response was, “It is written. . . ”

Take some time to study the best selling book of all time.  In it you will find some fascinating battle plans that makes us equipped to fight these light and momentary battles that “war against your soul.”

The battle of You vs. You is really Jesus and You vs. your flesh.  Keep your focus on the author and perfecter of faith and He will never leave you, nor forsake you.  “You will fight, and you will see your flesh crumble.  It is God’s pleasure not only to rescue you from hell, but to glorify you with Christ by making you like Him.  You will see through your flesh’s most deadly deception.  You will grow in self-disciple and courage.”

“To whom shall we go?”

The Apostle Peter asked this question rhetorically almost 2000 years ago.  Yet, this question is still being asked frequently, sincerely, and desperately by men and women who are hoping to find answers to many of life’s riddling questions.

“To whom shall we go?”

Where and to whom shall we go for answers?  Who can help us in times of despair?  How can we help those who have been sexually abused?  What do you say to a suicidal person?  What should your response be to losing a child, financial misfortune, or an adulterous wife?

“To whom shall we go?”

This paper will directly answer the aforementioned question and strongly encourage the regenerate Christians to follow the Scriptures and to travel upon the narrow and straight road that leads to life everlasting and to avoid the broad and open path that leads to destruction.

Myth vs. Truth

Life presents us with many choices.  Cable TV now offers over 100 channels.  If you would like a beverage, you can purchase a Coca Cola with a lemon twist, vanilla or cherry flavored Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Light, Caffeine free Diet Coke, and the list goes on and on.  Choices can be overwhelming in many areas; however, there are more important questions to answer other than which cable show to watch or what beverage we should drink.

Where do we turn to receive answers for life’s eternal questions like:  Why am I here?  For what purpose was I created?  What happens when I die?   The bible gives us clarity of thinking and provides a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path.”   Without the light of God’s Word shining into our lives, we literally will walk in the darkness and attempt to seek answers to these questions in some other media or through some self prognosed medium.

The Bible warns us not to seek counsel outside of God’s Word.  In the book of Colossians it states, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

Christians need to be encouraged to read their bibles because God’s “divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”   “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”   It is through the Scriptures that we have hope, understanding, and knowledge for life and godliness.  The Bible further states that a true knowledge of God, namely Christ, contains all “the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”

We all want answers.  We want truth.  Yet, sometimes just like Jack Nicholson expressed in the movie A Few Good Men, many people believe that “we can’t handle the truth.”  This is not true because Jesus said, “If you believe in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”   Truth sets us free.  Knowing Jesus and abiding in His Word allows us to express our love to Him through obedience.

In today’s society, more and more people are hoping to find answers to life’s most difficult questions through psychology and hollow and deceptive practices that depend on the teachings of this world rather than according to Christ.

Nouthetic counselor Ed Bulkley writes a compelling treatise on Why Christians Can’t Trust Pscyhology and Jay Adam’s provides the layman’s guide to Christian counseling through Ready to Restore.  Everyone seems to be asking the same question, “To whom shall we go?”  As this question is asked the response for the Christian is always the same, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”   The One True Living God named Jesus wants to restore people into right a right relationship with Himself and others by living according to His Words.  It’s really that simple and that clear.

Now, let’s look at the permeating myths and lies that our society wants us to embrace over the teachings from the Scriptures.

Myth #1:  Psychology is Effective

Truth #1:  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

America has great confidence in “experts.”  We turn to experts for almost everything.  Dr. Phil has grown prominence as an advice expert.  Oprah Winfrey is an interviewing expert.  Jeff Gordon is an auto racing expert.  Almost everyone seems to continually gravitate toward experts.  Author Ed Bulkey writes, “We have ‘experts’ to tell us how to lose weight, stop smoking, raise our children, have happy marriages, and be cured of every mental disorder.  The universal acceptance of specialization has intimidated many pastors into accepting a secondary role in the ministry of souls.

“Because Americans have accepted the need for experts, we have also accepted their interpretations of human needs and behaviors.  Research has confirmed what common sense knew all along:  that most personal problems can be solved merely by talking with someone and taking personal action.”   There are at least three reasons most professionals reject this research.  First, the professional training of psychologists has convinced them of the ‘expert’ myth.  Secondly, if psychologists accept the validity of lay counseling, the legitimacy of their profession becomes questionable.  Thirdly, if people realize they can get equal results from nonprofessional counseling, the personal income of psychologists will be jeopardized for they depend on a continual stream of paying clients.

The Bible gives us clear instruction from whom we should obtain counsel.  Romans 15:14 declares, “you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to admonish one another.”   Furthermore, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”   With the Word of God, we study diligently to present ourselves as workman approved so that we can correctly handle the truth and encourage others with sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Nowhere in Scripture are we instructed to seek out a psychologist to deal with issues of our past.  Scripture exhorts us to do the exact opposite and to bring all our cares and concerns to the Lord and if we lack wisdom we must ask God first who gives liberally to all who ask.

The bottom line is that psychological counseling is ineffective when dealing with human needs and emotions.  Biblical counselors must confront, challenge, teach and pray for the counselee to follow Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit ministered through God’s Word, “not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”   Sin must be called sin.  Repentance must be applied.  Forgiveness must be extended.  Whatever the spiritual problem is, the Bible gives clear instruction for restoration.  Turning to a psychologist to give a non-biblical solution toward a topic that is spiritual in nature cannot yield a solution.  Fearing the Lord and obeying His commands are the first steps toward freedom, wisdom, and understanding.  Steps must be taken toward doing things God’s way vs. the teachings of men and their hollow and deceptive philosophies.

Biblical counseling is a process by which one Christian restores another to a place of usefulness to Christ in His church.  Nouthetic counseling is done by applying the Scriptures “to change through confrontation out of concern.  It presupposes, firstly, that there are sinful patterns and activities in the life of the counselee that God wants changed; secondly, that this change will be brought about through a verbal confrontation of the counselee with the Scriptures as the counselor ministers them in the power of the Holy Spirit, and thirdly, that this confrontation is done in a loving, caring, familial manner for the benefit of the counselee.”

In his book Ready to Restore, Jay Adams writes, “The ultimate goal behind all Christian activity, including counseling, is to glorify God (Col 3:23).   Adams continues, “Lay counselors must be willing to receive instruction in counseling from the church, just as they would be willing to receive instruction in evangelism or in family living.  No one should take it on himself to hang out a shingle and do counseling apart from the church.  All lay counseling must be done as part of one’s church activities and under its authority.”

At this point you may be tempted to ask, “Why would anyone submit to psychological counseling if it never helps anyone?’  Few serious critics of psychology go so far as to say that no one is ever helped through psychological counseling.  A better way to ask the question might be, With its claims of superiority over pastoral counseling and its high expense, why is psychological therapy so relatively ineffective?”

Psychology is ineffective, impotent, and embarrassingly deceptive.  The great humbug is that “the psychological industry has successfully concealed its ineffectiveness from the general public.  Pastors, churches, and the laity have been brainwashed into believing that only psychologically trained professional counselors are competent to deal with serious problems.”

Empirical research indicates the exact opposite.  In a study done by J.A. Durlack entitled Comparitive Effectiveness of Paraprofessional and Professional Helpers he writes, “The research reviewed forty-two studies that compared professional counselors with untrained helpers.  The findings were ‘consistent and provocative.’  Paraprofessionals achieve clinical outcomes equal to or significantly better than those obtained by professionals . . . The study, on the whole, lent no support to the major hypothesis that . . . the technical skills of professional psychotherapists produce measurably better therapeutic change.”

At the conclusion of this study, psychologist Gary Collins reluctantly admits, “Clearly there is evidence that for most people, laypeople can counsel as well as or better than professionals.”   Again, the bottom line is that Christians are not to turn to psychologist for guidance.  Primarily because the Word of God instructs us not to and God has given us the ability to counsel one another through His Word.

When looking for a competent counselor, the following essential qualifications must be met:  “One must have an extensive knowledge of the Scriptures (Romans 15:14), a good measure of divine wisdom (Colossians 3:16), goodness consistent with a humble attitude (1 Peter 5:5), an ability to relate to others (Colossians 4:6), an ability to communicate (Titus 2:8), and a genuine desire to help others (1 Thessalonians 5:14).”

God wants His people to turn to Him as the Wonderful Counselor and the Lord uses ambassadors as heralds for His Word.  His way is straight and narrow and the ways of this world are broad and open.  Therefore, we make it our duty and joy in “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Myth #2:  Psychology and Christianity are Compatible

Truth #2:  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ?  Colossians 2:8    How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.  1 Kings 18:21   I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  Galatians 1:6

There are many psychologists that mix Biblical principles with psychological theory.  This concept is know as integration.  “Integrationists seem to believe that there are counseling issues about which the Bible is silent and which therefore require psychological insights.  It is true that the Bible does not specifically speak about cocaine addiction, but it deals with the principles of substance abuse (Proverbs 10:1; 23:21; 26:11; Romans 6:12; 13:13; Ephesians 5:18).  The Bible does not specifically address pornography, but it does deal with mental and spiritual purity (Psalm 119:9, 11; Matthew 5:27,28; Ephesians 4:19; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).  There is no single mental / spiritual issue upon which the Bible is silent.”

Psychological counseling is not a God-given field of knowledge.  “It is a system of beliefs that originated in the minds of men who were godless rebels.  Romans 1:22 says of such men, ‘Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.’  Psychological counseling is darkness masquerading as light.  It is built upon a foundation of sand, and as the storms of life crash upon it, the psychological system crumbles into ruin.”

In his book Why Christians Can’t Trust Psychology, Ed Bulkley does a great job of differentiating psychological techniques like “stress management” and “coping methods” which were not known to man before man developed these concepts through the development of psychology.  Mr. Bulkley clearly writes, “The Bible, however, dealth with those issues centuries before Wilhelm Wundt, William James, or Sigmund Frued came on the scene.  The Scriptures offer many solutions for stress in passages such as Matthew 6:25-33, Philippians 4:4-9, and 1 Peter 5:7.  Rather than telling us to learn to cope, the Bible tells us to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) because we have a trustworthy God (Psalm 118:8; Proverbs 3:5; Isaiah 26:4) who loves us (Psalm 32:10) and will give us inner peace (Isaiah 26:3).  We are told that if we are in the darkness we should ‘ trust in the name of the Lord’ (Isaiah 50:10), but we are not told to seek psychological insights.”

Psychology and Christianity are not compatible.

Conclusion

Jay Adams and Ed Bulkley present compelling biblical references for why Christians cannot and should not trust psychology.  Adams concludes, “Most counselees come (into counseling) thinking and acting like pagans even though they are Christians.  That’s one reason why some are there.  They talk as if the problem had little or no relationship to Christ and that His part is merely to get them out of the mess.  Instead, the biblical counselor, must insist that Christ is not only in the solution but also in the problem.  The problem exists, not only because of somebody’s sin, but also (providentially) because in one way or another, Christ wants to do some good thing by means of it (Rom. 8:28).”

As Christians we must be able to answer this question for ourselves and for other Christians that are seeking counsel, “To whom shall we go?”

If we want a cure for a moment, we should grab a candy bar.  If we want a cure for an hour, we should go see a movie.  If we want a cure for a week, we should take a vacation.  However, if we want a cure from the Almighty God of the Universe whose kingdom will have no end, then we should go to Him and to His fully devoted followers with whom His Words dwell.

As Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes after reflecting upon life, I now conclude this paper with the same words, “The conclusion, when all has been heard is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”

Triumph & Disaster

Perspective.  Wouldn’t it be great to have the right perspective on things?  Many times in life we are challenged to develop a new perspective or to change our perspective.  A new vantage point can open our mind’s eye and allow us to see things differently.

I was captivated the other day as I read through Rudyard Kiplings poem entitled “If.”  He writes:

If you can dream–and not make dreams your master;
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:

How many times have we met “Mr. Triumph”?  Or can you think of the last time you were introduced to “Mr. Disaster”?  How do we know which is which?  Sometimes a triumph turns into a disaster and a disaster into a triump.  Life seems to be full of high highs and low lows; however, sooner or later we realize that there is something to be learned from all situations.

I’ll confess that I am intrigued by TV shows like “Joe Millionaire.”  The current show features a 24 year-old cowboy named David Smith who earns about $11,000 a year.  The women on the show believe that he is worth $50 million.  The show will culminate with David selecting one girl to be with.  However, the catch is that he will then tell her that he is not what she thinks he is.  He is a simple cowboy that earns ~$11k a year and not a mega wealthy young man.

The question I keep asking is, “Will David meet with Triumph or Disaster at this point?”  In the story of Mefistofele, the character Faust is tempted by the Devil to trade his soul for the trappings of this world.  It is a wager between God and Satan for the soul of this man.  The bet is that Mefistofele can lead Dr. Faust into damnation by enticing him with the trappings of this world.  Dr. Faust experiences wild orgies and the praise of people.  His life began with a deep desire to search for “knowledge and good.”  He kept true to this course for most of his life.  Although, there were many moments were he was sidetracked and engaged in wild debauchery.

As an old man, Dr. Faust reflects on the many experiences of life.  He realizes that none of them were so powerful that he wanted time to stop so he could relish those moments.   He experienced much in life but came to the realization that reality has been full of grief and that the ideals in life are illusory.  Wealth, women, and wild living are full of emptiness instead of fulfillment.  He then dreams of a place secure in wisdom and justice.  It is a place where people praise the Lord of all creation.  With that thought, he grabs his Bible and kneels to repent for his wayward ventures.  He then falls dead and the story ends with angels singing as he is ushered to a true paradise with Jesus as Lord.  Dr. Faust began his life with a search for knowledge and good.  By God’s grace, the Lord answered that prayer toward the end of his life after he was shown the emptiness of seeking things outside of God’s will.

I wonder whether David Smith will come to the realization that life outside of God’s will is empty.  I wonder whether he will realize that “honesty is the best policy” and that a relationship built on lies and deceit has no secure foundation.  Maybe he will meet with Triumph in the sense that he realizes the words William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “This above all things: to thine own self be true” (Hamlet , 3.1.81).  Not being truthful and honest carries many consequences.  Hopefully, David Smith will realize the folly of his ways and see that fame, fortune, and feminine fantasies will never satisfy the soul, nor will they bring him honor or respect among people of character.

Perhaps, David Smith will meet with Disaster and the women that he has deceived will demand justice for this trickery.  If so, the wrath of a deceived women is not a pretty sight.  Just ask John Bobbitt.

Perspective.  I really believe there is no proper perspective outside of the Bible.  God’s word tells us that “charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).  Jesus said He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) and that He came so that we would “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

The world tells us that success is built on fame, fortune, and fulfillment of our fantasies.  The Bible tells us that success is built on living a righteous life through obeying Jesus.  Disaster from a worldly sense is losing fame, fortune, or family.  Disaster from a biblical sense is being left to your own desires and not knowing that true fulfillment can only be attained by obeying God in all things.

Perspective.  Wouldn’t it be great to have the right perspective on things?  Many times in life we are challenged to develop a new perspective or to change our perspective.  A new vantage point can open our mind’s eye and allow us to see things differently.  I challenge you today to live the life of true fulfillment by focusing on a life that is pleasing to God and not simply pleasing to the flesh.  Read the Bible.  Don’t merely listen to the words but do what it says.  Your life will be changed and you will develop a new perspective.

The stories of Dr. Faust, David Smith, and many others will be repeated throughout history.  Learn from these examples and know that the road to destruction is broad and wide while the road to everlasting life is straight and narrow.  Do not be deceived by the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, or the desires of other things.  The world and its desires fade away but the man that does the will of God lives forever.  Now, that is perspective for Triumph and Disaster.

C.S. Lewis said, “We read to know that we are not alone.” This was a saying he would frequently repeat throughout the movie “Shadowlands.” We read to know that we are not alone.

Someone asked me the other day why I read. My first reaction was to give some fancy shmancy answer about it stimulating my mind or how it activates different cognitive recesses within my head. Then I thought about it some more and said, “I read to know that I am not alone.”

I also read to discover. Thomas Alva Edison said, “If we did all the things we were capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” Wise words from a wise man. Books are a portal to the unknown. If I venture into the biography section of a bookstore, I can learn about a man that had a puppet by the name of “Steamboat Willie” and an idea that he could appeal to the child in all of us. People laughed at him and he went broke five times attempting to realize his dream. However, this man persevered and simply kept on moving forward even when the future looked bleak. With his perseverance and belief that life?s greatest moments are yet to come he clung tightly to his dream. This dream became a reality and we have Disneyworld and the Magic Kingdom because of this man. His name was Walt Disney.

It’s been said that the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new land, but in seeing the same land with new eyes. Some say, it is sad that Walt Disney died before he got see how large his dream became. Quite the contrary, it was because Walt Disney saw his dream before all of us that Disneyland continues to live on today.

I read to know. In his book “A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die,” John Powell says that the mark of an educated person is not their profession of knowledge but rather their admission of ignorance. When I pick up a book, the author becomes my teacher. Reading a good book let’s me know what the author thinks, believes, and aspires to do. When I feel like thinking, I ask Plato or Aristotle to chat with me. When I want to escape, I’ll grab Henry David Thoreau or Mark Twain. I read to get an understanding of how many of my forefathers have answered the great questions of life: Why are we are? What is the meaning of life? What am I supposed to do with my life? I read to know how others have struggled and learned. I read to know that many of the same questions have been asked and answered by those who have proceeded me. I read to form my own answer.

I read to be inspired. The story of Michael Jordan being cut from his high school basketball team and then blossoming into arguably the best player that has ever lived? touches my soul.

I read to have hope. To read the Bible and know that God loves me and will not let anything happen beyond what he ordains, this gives me comfort when times are bad. To learn about Helen Keller being blind; yet, being able to see the world with an amazing perspective, this gives me an understanding how God can use all things to work together for our good and His glory. She poetically reminded us that, “the best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Or as Paul wrote, “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I read to learn. Books about Hitler and the Holocaust teach me about the evil that one man can manifest. Books about Rosa Parks and civil rights teach me about the change one women can do. Through evil, I learn the power of good; through sickness, the value of health; and through pain, the appreciation of endurance.

C.S. Lewis said, “We read to know that we are not alone.” I agree. We can discover and learn that many people accompany us on this journey called life. Grab a book and let Thomas Edison teach you about discovery. Challenge your mind and let Plato expand your thinking. Or, pick up your Bible, and let God remind you that He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

I guess that if I did not take time to read, I would never know about how much there is yet to learn. If I did not read, I would not understand how we are all different; yet, very much the same. If I did not read, I would miss experiencing the richness of the greatest stories every told, as told by their authors.

Thanks C.S. for reminding me why I read. I now know that I am truly not alone.