Driving Conditions
Preparing for the Road Ahead
by David Jeremiah

When making a trip, we prepare for the road ahead. The Christian life is likened to a road-"the Way" (Acts 19:9, 23), the "narrow road" leading to life (Matthew 7:14), the "highway of holiness" (Isaiah 35:8).

If the Christian life is a road, then the Bible is clearly a map, warning us of rugged conditions along the way. Often we hit unexpected bumps, potholes, broken pavement, and detours.

Many people are surprised to discover that temptations increase as we more earnestly seek to follow Christ. Even after we have forgiveness through God's abundant grace, we struggle with stubborn sins, addictive habits, and unclean patterns.

The apostle Paul himself seemed surprised at how rough the road could be. "I don't accomplish the good I set out to do, and the evil I don't really want to do I find I am always doing. . . . Then he adds, "I thank God there is a way out through Jesus Christ our Lord"(Romans 7:14-25 Phillips).

Do you have a sin that particularly plagues you? Many Christians wrestle with materialism, pride, self-centeredness, laziness, anger, bitterness, sexual lust, envy, gluttony, and lying.

How can you claim God's strengthening grace when facing temptations like these? I'm absolutely confident that Christians can live victoriously and walk in the Spirit consistently by taking these steps . . .

Offer your body each day as a living sacrifice to God. Take Romans 12:1-2 seriously: "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God . . . and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Consciously give yourself-your body-to the Lord each day.

Ask for the fullness of His Spirit. Contemplate Ephesians 5:18: "Do not be drunk with wine . . . but be filled with the Spirit." If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit-filled life provides the victory.

Memorize verses that speak to your particular weakness. Remember Psalm 119:11: "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." God's Word within us helps keep us from sinning against Him. If your problem is your temper, take Proverbs 29:11 to heart; pride, try Proverbs 13:10; a sharp tongue, learn Ephesians 4:29; compulsive shopping and impulsive spending, try memorizing 1 Timothy 6:6-8.

Pray for victory. If we abide in Jesus and His Word abides in us, we can ask what we will, and it shall be done for us (John 15:7). When we ask God for holiness and victory, that's a prayer He longs to answer because it's His will.

Never give up. Don't underestimate the power of long-term persistence over long-established sins. Sometimes we have failures in the short term; but as we continue to walk with Christ, we grow a little stronger each day. Proverbs 24:16 says that the wicked fall and stay down, but the righteous get up every time they fall. We may not become perfect in this life, but we can have consistent victory over known sin. "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

Confide in a friend or in a small group of believers (Matthew 18:20). The Lord uses others to keep us accountable, to reassure us of victory, and to encourage us as we deal with difficult driving conditions on the old straight and narrow way.

God's grace is sufficient over sin-potholes, slippery spots, icy patches, detours, roadblocks, even the drive-by attacks of Satan. We have the road map of grace, the gasoline of grace, the engine of grace, the music of grace on the car radio, and even the air-conditioning of grace. It's all of grace as we journey through life, and we can claim the victory of grace for the trip.

As the gospel of John says: "From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another" (John 1:16 NIV).

Tuesday, July 15, 2008