Deceitful Desires
Scripture
The ultimate reality is embodied in Jesus! He taught you to let go of the old self-life, which was corrupted by the sinful and deceitful desires that spring from delusions.
~Ephesians 4:21-22, The Passion Bible
Quote
Both temptation and sin are delusional.
~Ya’akov
My Thoughts
A delusion is a fixed, false belief that persists despite clear, contradictory evidence. Sin is not a good thing: matter of fact all sin is evil and destructive, but it is so deceiving in its appearance that it is difficult for us to see its true nature. The thing that makes sin so dangerous and deadly is it’s power to deceive. Eve was convinced that the tree was harmless because it was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious. This was how sin appeared to her, beautiful and delicious, and both have to do with appearance. Plus Eve had a desire to know what the fruit would do if she ate it. Her desire or lust overcame her fear of God and she ate the forbidden fruit. Sin would not be a problem for humans if it did not appear to be good or fulfilling to our desires. Genesis 3:6 NIV… When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good…she took and ate. But sin is never good; this is the delusion.
Now back to the verse above and Paul’s charge to the Ephesian believers: Our old Adamic {human} nature has been corrupted by lust and deception. Ephesians 2:22 {NIV}, You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. In other words, you cannot trust your flesh or your human nature. The very thing that appeals to you most may not be good for you at all. We must hold up and put this temptation under the scope of scripture and asks God to reveal its true nature. This is what David refused to do: he saw the woman naked, he liked what he saw and he took her. This very kind of thing would make a titillating movie plot; a story of lust and pleasure, but this is only the face of the real story. David’s lust and roll in the hay cost him big time. In truth, he never recovered. If you put him on the witness stand today, he would confess, “My lust and my sinful nature deceived me. I acted like a fool and I have paid dearly.”
Extra
The last three days seem like one long day. I keep telling the LORD over and over {He must be weary of hearing it} “I don’t know…I don’t know.” I start to pray and then start saying “I don’t know.” But there are three things I do know. I know God is gracious and good. I know the Bailey’s have a ton of friends. I have been saying for the last four or five years that we are rich in friends and it was more true than I realized. I also know that I am grateful. My first response after hearing the news was to give thanks. Folks, the last decade or longer has been an experience that I don’t wish on my enemies, but the last three months have been good. Hope has been more like the Hope of old. She was beginning to work on relationships and was in fellowship with everyone in the family. She and I talked just more than a week ago and I didn’t preach to her, didn’t scold or raise my voice. We had a good time together and her excessive talking didn’t get on my nerves. She loved junk, got it from my Daddy who we likened to Fred Samford, and I gave her a truck load {of junk}. It did include three bicycles that I knew would never be rode here: each one of them had less than three hours of use. They were like new. I wanted her to sale them and take the money: she gave them away before she got home. If you only knew the conversations we have had in the past 15 years of so, you would know why I am thankful that our last one was jovial. Hope was the female version of Samson. I don’t know where she got such strength but she could lift the back of a truck. I was trying to help her load the heavy objects and she said, “No daddy, you get back, I got this.” Her lungs were in bad shape and I expected something to happen, just didn’t think it would be this soon.
Keith’s sermon yesteraday morning was very convicting and it seemed like every song spoke to my heart. I normally stay in my study for 5:00 am to lunch and I have gotten out of the HABIT. I just see so many things that I think need doing and I have not spent time with the LORD like I need to. I want to get back in the habit of spending my mornings with Him.
Awards program at DMS this morning and then Pastor’s conference. Doctor Rachel at 1:15 for rotator cup and then maybe some projects this evening.