The battle within

We are so busy fighting crime, drugs, AIDS, terrorism and poverty that we are in danger of forgetting the real battle. The battle of sin. The battle within. The exchange goes something like this:

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:15-20”). Admittedly a wretched state (and a mouthful). But thanks be to God, victory can be had through Christ!

It only makes sense to continue with the other “battles” if we obey Jesus’ command: “repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Although, if everyone focused squarely on dealing with the battle within, all other battles (noble as they are) become moot.