conquer

I find it intriguing that when we begin to speak of sin and deliverance that we speak in terms of absolution. We speak in a metaphorical way of war. We get this imagery from Paul. We "fight" sin. When we "fight" sin this means that there is a battle to be won.

The interesting thing about dealing with sin in such a way is that often times the result is not absolute deliverance from that sin but instead it is just a moment of freedom from that one sin. Our experience of dealing with sin is a lot different than how we talk about sin. The way we view sin is in a way like tribal cleansing. Where one group slaughters the other group. This way usually works because the other group can never be powerful and come back and strike. Unless they are zombies. But I guess that is another blog.

The reality of the matter for most of us is that when we "fight" sin the battle is not always won. Many of those "sins" that we fight come right back. I recognize this. I am okay with this in a way. Because the key is not in the elimination of sin in our lives (which is a great goal... but come on we all know that we are not capable of such a task... this is just our experience of life). The key is in who we trust being our community and the places we find ourselves in.

As a little boy I had some things happen to me that were quite unfair to me. They had a grand effect on the entirety of my life. One person's pleasure at the exspense of myself. This event has caused me much pain. Not only has it caused me much pain but it has been the fuel behind the many things that I struggle with now. Day after day. Still. I use to think that God would rid me of this pain and problem of this sin in my life. And he hasn't. It is still there. Everyday it is on my mind. It never goes away!

It has destroyed so many friendships. So many relationships.

But this is not just my sin. This is sin in general! But I realize now. That sin is not just my battle to fight. This is not a free ticket of grace where I just live in my sin. I am not merely invested in God, but God is invested in me. Now that I look back on the sin that I have been dealing with I can see a monumental change. God is bringing about holiness in my life. Jesus prayed for his disciples and he says to God, "sanctify them in truth." Which means sanctification is what God does in us. It is what God does. It is our obedience to what God is doing. It is God's creative being taking what was meant for evil (like what happend to me when I was a little boy) and turning it in to something that is beautiful. This has been impressed upon me not just in my life but in the life of others.

My friend recently checked herself into a ranch for people with eating disorders. The effects of this world. The effects of sin had ravaged her body. But she has made such an impression on me. Because she was willing to do something about the thing that was plaguing at her. It isn't that checking yourself in to a ranch heals this problem. But it is the beginning to allowing God to begin to bring about restoration. It is a long road. No doubt. Her courage inspires me to deal with the sin that ravaged my soul in so many ways.

So I say all this because I know for a fact that so many people beat themselves up because they can't get over some sin. I have hope for my friends. I have hope for drug addicts. I have hope for those that are down and out. Because I believe in a God that does not leave people behind but stands besides them. I hope my story and the story of others will give me hope so that I might believe in one's potential to overcome sin. Even more so to believe in a God that can bring about redemption in the lives of the broken.