No Provision for the Flesh

"Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

Romans 13:13-14

Our plans for the day have a big impact on what we take off and put on.  If I am going outside to mow the law, I will put shoes on my feet.  If I am going to a meeting or preaching, I take off the comfortable clothes I wear around the house so I can don appropriate attire for going to work.  We take off a wedding ring before changing the oil in the car, and we put on insulated gloves before we pick up a hot glass baking dish.  There is often an intentional reason to make provision for the future, like carrying a water bottle during a long hike so we can remain hydrated.

I have heard many teachings on the necessity for us to put on the whole armour of God, and the illustration of Roman armour by Paul gives us understanding of how the indwelling Holy Spirit guards and protects us.  But it is impossible to put on the armour of God unless we have first put on Jesus Christ by faith in Him!  While we have already been born again and put on Christ by faith in Him (Galatians 3:27), the Roman passage affirms we must choose to walk according to faith and by obedience to Jesus in everyday situations of life.  Paul previously exhorted believers in Ephesians 4:21-24:  "...if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."  We are called to put off the old man to put on the new.

After putting on the LORD Jesus Christ, believers are called to "make no provision for the flesh."  Using the example of battle, ample provisions allow the enemy to remain entrenched indefinitely.  It does little good to lay siege to a castle that has plenty of fresh water, grain, meat and milk.  To allow the city to continue a flourishing trade undermines the entire purpose of a siege:  to cut off all supplies from the enemy to starve them out.  Christians can undermine the power of Jesus Christ in their lives when we make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.  When we make provision for the flesh we give it room to fortify defenses, stockpile ammunition, dig more tunnels, plant more landmines and invite opportunities to engage in guerrilla warfare.  We can put on Jesus Christ, wear the armour supplied by the Holy Spirit and be sleeping at our post--and totally vulnerable to enemy attack--because of drunkenness, lust and all manner of sin.

Since we are risen with Christ to new life, Paul provided clear exhortation in what putting off the old man and putting on the new man looks like in Colossians 3:5-17:  "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. ⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. ¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Having been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, we ought not justify our participation in sin any longer.  God holds us responsible to put off sin and to put on the attitude, perspective and wisdom of Jesus Christ who has claimed us as His own as we submit to Him.  We make provision for our sin more than we know, and I shudder to think of times my sin was premeditated.  Know that when our sin has been revealed unexpectedly in us because we were caught off guard we are not the victims of circumstances:  it shows we likely for years have carefully cultivated, supported and provided opportunity for our sin to strike damaging blows to hurt others and us.  We cannot blame a satanic attack for our failure to walk in righteousness when we willingly made provisions for the flesh.  Walking in the Spirit and obedience to Jesus starves the enemy and depletes his resources in our flesh, and our faithful God will protect us every step.

Time to Go Home

When I was a kid visiting a friend and having fun, I was always sorry to hear my parent say, "It's time to go home."  I did my best to cram in all the fun I could as I played games, swam in the pool, ate delicious food or explored outside.  I always wanted to catch one more fish, beat one more level in a video game or catch one more pass and do my best to put out of my mind the fun experience must come to an end or that I had to go to school the following day.  Part of the novelty of going to a friend's house was a combination of spending time in the company of someone I enjoyed and the ability to do things not possible at my house.  We didn't have a pool or some of the video games my friends had and it was fun to laugh, compete and enjoy fun times together.

What I took for granted in those fun times is I had a home to go with family members who loved me.  I was incredibly blessed as a child, youth and young man to have parents and a brother and sister who truly made a house feel like a home, a place where you were wanted, accepted and belonged.  A distinction is made between a building and a "home," which is more than merely a domicile.  The Bible teaches at the moment we are home in our physical bodies, and even as one day we leave the family home our souls will one day leave the earth and enter the eternal state.  The life span of houses and bodies on earth are temporary and will end, but for all who are born again our citizenship has been confirmed in heaven.  Philippians 3:20-21 says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

Though there are many reasons God has given us to desire to live in the beautiful world He has created, I do not believe I could ever have enough fun, enjoyment or satisfaction to be disappointed when God says to me, "It's time to go home."  Can you imagine the moment when an angel taps you on the shoulder and ushers you into eternal glory in the presence with God?  I will jump for joy at the consummation of Christ's salvation.  Gone forever are the aches and pains, sickness, deadlines, dramas, cares and the chronic corruption of sin.  Having been accepted into the beloved by the grace of God, we will enter into a glorious future no words can fully convey.  Christians will finally be brought into a place where we were designed to fit forever, for it is a place prepared for us individually and corporately by Jesus Christ Himself.  Heaven is heaven because Jesus who loves us is there, and to be home with believing people and angels forever is beyond compare.  How good!

The Aroma of Life

At Bible study last night our group briefly discussed John 12:1-3 which took place after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:  "Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. ² There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."  People flocked to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus who had been dead four days before he walked alive out of the tomb at the call of Christ.

On His way to Jerusalem Jesus enjoyed a meal at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  Mary shocked many when she went far beyond the usual hospitality in ancient Israel when she anointed the feet of Jesus with spikenard--an oil so precious the value was equal to the wages of a labourer for a full year.  It was typical to wash the feet of guests with water and she used fragrant oil; instead of using a towel Mary used her own hair.  What struck me last night is how Mary had chosen not to use the oil (typically used for burial) to anoint her deceased brother.  She reserved the box of oil for herself.  But when her eyes were opened to see Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life who was heading towards crucifixion, she chose to anoint Jesus in anticipation of His burial.

Judas Iscariot, the apostle who would betray Jesus, resented the "waste" of the oil.  He suggested it would have been better to sell the oil and give the money to the poor rather than pouring it out on Jesus.  John tells us in John 12:6:  "This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it."  What a contrast is seen here:  Judas dipped into the money box to benefit himself whilst Mary broke the box of oil to pour it all upon Jesus who was worthy of this act of worship and adoration.  Nothing is wasted that is freely offered to Jesus, for He is King and Christ and LORD of all, our risen Saviour.  May we who call Christ Saviour be those who cause the sweet aroma of His love and life to spread through us to all the world as 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 says:  "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?"

The New Sheriff in Town

A familiar plot in many westerns begins with outlaws and anarchy reigning because there is no sheriff in the town, or the sheriff or deputies are unwilling or unable to do anything because of corruption or fear.  It is only after a brave lawman comes to town that order and peace are restored to the community.  This is the plot arc of a movie I watched as a kid called Support Your Local Sheriff, a parody of westerns and a comedy starring James Gardner who was just a guy "on his way to Australia."  His talent with a firearm was only matched by his ingenuity as he made a prison without bars secure with a little red paint.  There was no question having a new sheriff in town meant there were changes in the ways things were done, and for the better.

Years ago when I lived in the States my wife and I purchased a house with the aim to completely renovate it.  Over the course of many months the layout was altered significantly as walls were knocked down, the kitchen and bathrooms gutted, plumbing fixtures and appliances were relocated, new lighting added, tile and carpet laid.  The consequence of having new owners who had a vision and enacted a plan resulted in dramatic changes to the house and property inside and out.  The difference a new sheriff or homeowner came to mind as I considered the impact of Jesus and the truth of the word of God in the lives of Christians according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6:  "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

What is striking about Paul's words to the Galatians is the premise that in the lives of Christians there are strongholds of erroneous beliefs in the hearts and minds of God's people.  It makes perfect sense that children of the devil brought up in the wisdom of the world--not to mention as flawed, sinful, proud and selfish human beings--would to any degree live in light of God's holiness.  It follows that Jesus, having purchased us with His own blood, aims to have strongholds of sin torn down as He makes us new creations by grace through faith.  There are beliefs about God, practices, lustful desires and pride that must be confessed as sin and forsaken.  God has given us spiritual weapons of far greater power than sledgehammers and wrecking balls to rip down strongholds, throw down arguments and anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God provided in His word.  Having heard the words of Jesus, by faith we build upon Him by faith, our solid foundation and Rock of Salvation.

When the Holy Spirit enters us by saving belief in Christ, we are washed free from sin and guilt, the righteousness of God imputed to us by faith.  The Holy Spirit does not just start smashing walls down like the Hulk:  it is like He points out the slipshod wall that must come down and hands us a hammer.  There are many passages we will read that illuminate sin in our lives through our conscience:  we will recognise our previously justifiable outburst of wrath as sin; suddenly we realise we cannot remember a time when we were not envious or habitually looking with lust.  It comes like a thunderbolt we have doubts of God's goodness or have at times imagined Him to be petty, vindictive and manipulative.  The strongholds built by ignorance, unbelief and rebellion are many, but God and the weapons of our warfare are far stronger.

As a homeowner there is always something that can be done, whether it is a major renovation, painting or something minor like cleaning.  Things like cleaning the oven, BBQ, moving the lounge to sweep or vacuum under it, spraying for pests and washing windows can easily be neglected.  Sometimes it takes new eyes to notice the chair we always sit in is torn, stained, and falling apart.  Imagine what happens when Jesus walks into our hearts and looks with His kind, gentle and piercing gaze upon our thoughts and ideas.  How valuable is the word of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and fellowship with the Body of Christ the church, for by these God provides illumination of the renovations He desires to do within us and identifies strongholds of error in us He would have us part with forever.  Having agreed to pull down strongholds of lies, we ought to take heed how we built on the foundation of Jesus (1 Cor. 3:9-13) knowing our obedience will yield eternal rewards by God's grace.