|
Introduction
Although the meaning of cake in the Bible is not the same as a chocolate cake, that simple statement is fitting for our title. Substitute in that statement any sin in your life, even the so-called little ones. “I have not murder in my life”, you may say. “I have not a foul mouth”, you may say. “I have not a desire to steal”, you may say. Would it not be great if you could say, “I have not anger in my life”? Or to be able to say, “I have not lust in my life”? “I have not gluttony in my life”? How about, “I have not sin in my life”?
Yes, it is possible to have complete victory over sin. Do not be confused with the fact that we are never to declare that “we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8) “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) but we do not need to continue in sin.
If we do have sin, we are never, never to do what most ministers do today. We are never to state in writing or in the pulpit our imperfections. That sends a comfort in sin message to the reader and/or listener. Yet, for the excuse of sympathizing, there is this necessity by many today to testify of sins they are currently struggling with. Naming a sin when one gives a testimony in overcoming is different. But stating that they need to overcome a certain sin sends the wrong message.
Take for example, if your minister were to admit that he was a practicing glutton on chocolate cake struggling to overcome but not being able to just yet. You also being a glutton on chocolate cake would feel less convicted on the truth to give up chocolate cake. You may even think that since he is still struggling, it must be an illusion to think one can give up chocolate cake. You may even come up with theories that explain the status of perfection as being simply credited to us. Or you may use any excuse to not be serious about giving up chocolate cake simply because he has not yet done it.
While he should not sympathize with sin, he should sympathize with the sinner in that it is sad when one is overcome and he will do what he can to help lift the willing soul out of the muck of sin, but to state, “Hey, I understand. I too am still eating chocolate cake”, simply confirms us in our sins.
Now when you listen to a preacher speak regarding sin and he does not publicly admit his sins, Satan may work on your mind. “Oh, don’t listen to him. He thinks he’s better than everyone and is telling everyone else what they need to do. He’s haughty. He’s bragging. He’s a hypocrite.” Be careful if you shut down listening to the message for it is Satan putting those jealous thoughts in your head.
So, let us be willing to give up the spiritual chocolate cake as “we must raise the standard of temperance higher and still higher” {Temperance, page 69} “and raise your standard of piety and truth and holiness higher, still higher” {Manuscript Releases, volume twenty, page 170} keeping in mind that “we should raise no human standard whereby to measure character” {The Review and Herald, June 17, 1890}. If in the process we also give up the physical chocolate cake, all the better.
Let us prepare to raise the standard of the Lord, the standard of purity and holiness. Let every soul purify his own heart, and prepare for the Lord when he shall come in power and great glory. Let believers be quickened by the grace of Christ to work for the saving of their fellow beings. Let the publications containing Bible truth be scattered like the leaves of autumn. Lift him up, the Saviour of souls, lift him up higher and still higher before the people. It is time now to gather strength from the source of all strength, to cry aloud and spare not, to press back the clouds of darkness, that the light of heaven may be revealed. {The Review and Herald, April 29, 1909}
Why Chocolate Cake?
In this issue we are not going to discuss the mere theory of overcoming sin. It is time to get our hands dirty and work on real application. We have chosen chocolate cake for two reasons. Chocolate cake is a popular desert and it is addictive to many. If it is not your favorite, choose another. In any case, the message is not specifically against chocolate cake but from the example of struggling to give it up, we shall portray the struggle with sin. Certain sins that are besetting follow the same pattern. As many have struggled in giving up chocolate cake only to gorge themselves from time to time, many have struggled also in laying off those besetting sins.
We have gotten to a place where we as a people have convinced ourselves of a false gospel. We may be experiencing “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). We may not believe that Jesus “is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24). We may even go as far as having “changed the truth of God into a lie” (Romans 1:25). Do we really want to become part of the group that believes in “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:11)? Do we really want to misunderstand the true meaning of the fact that “no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand” (John 10:29).
If we believe for a moment that we cannot have the “whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23), not only do we not believe in the gospel of perfection, but we believe Satan is more powerful than Jesus. Who is greater? Jesus or Satan? If so, then “know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
If you believe Jesus to be greater, then “let us go on unto perfection” (Hebrews 6:1). And let us remember the job description for ministers, which we are all called to be (2 Corinthians 6:4). The position is “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). So let us give sermons that teach how to be perfect and stop teaching that Jesus did it all. Sure He did it all, but it was not so we can enjoy sin. He did it all so that we may “walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). He did it all so that we may believe that we can be part of Revelation 3:21, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” We “being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). Besides, the purpose of Jesus coming was to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), not in their sins.
How Do We Overcome?
Step 1: Prayer is the first step in order to prepare the heart, or clean out the temple. It includes the following four items:
Realize that God wants to save us. “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6-7. In all men he saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save. {The Desire of Ages, page 353} And that includes you, no matter what your past has been.
Recognize our need of Christ, without whom not one sin can be resisted. Rigid precision in obeying the law would entitle no man to enter the kingdom of heaven. There must be a new birth, a new mind through the operation of the Spirit of God, which purifies the life and ennobles the character. This connection with God fits man for the glorious kingdom of heaven. No human invention can ever find a remedy for the sinning soul. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.... The idea that it is necessary only to develop the good that exists in man by nature, is a fatal deception. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:14.... Of Christ it is written, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men"--the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." John 1:4; Acts 4:12. . . . {The Faith I Live By, page 96}
Confess our sins. Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. The confession that is mingled with tears and sorrow, that is the outpouring of the inmost soul, finds its way to the God of infinite pity. Says the psalmist: "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."--5T 636, 637 (1889). {Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, page 456}
Consecration Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. {Steps to Christ, page 47}
Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith. {Steps to Christ, page 48}
Overall, pray that God will “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalms 51:10). We need to become aware of what sin really is and without the right spirit, we will excuse just about anything. If we truly have a right spirit, we will not stand for watching movies or television that uses God’s name in vain even if good morals are taught. We will not stand for people using foul language even if it has become the norm. But we will become open to whatever God wants to change in our lives.
Another reason for prayer is that even though we become aware of what sin is, we may not hate the sin. We need to pray for the clean heart. A clean heart will hate to smoke to the destruction of our bodies; it will hate to feed the body that which poisons it; it will hate to get unrighteously angry because it hurts another’s soul; it will hate to leave a soul in darkness so long as one remains our friend, it will hate lusting after the flesh of another despite the skimpy amount of coverage; it will hate lying and showing oneself to be better than another for it is prideful; and so on.
So like the chocolate cake example, pray that you recognize the destruction sin has upon you and to have no desire for it.
Now substitute a real sin. Do you love what alcohol does for you? Pray that you will hate that feeling, especially the losses associated with it. You cannot function properly for a while. You may get sick afterwards. People think less of a drunk. You may even forget all that happened.
Do you love attention, which is pride? Pray that you will feel uncomfortable in receiving the attention. Besides, do you know that you are building unnecessary pressure upon yourself? You now have to perform at that level or higher. You cannot fail even once. The light is upon you, and whatever you do, you are now being watched.
Step 2: Avoid the situation. “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Peter 3:11). To eschew evil is to get far away from it.
Let us try it with the chocolate cake. Let us say that a cake is sitting on the table soon to be served to the rest of the family or guests in the house. You have no control over the fact that the cake is present. But you do have control of how close you get to it. Seeing there is plenty of time between now and serving time, one who does not eschew evil may decide to sit down at the table and write a letter to someone. Of all days to decide to do this you may think. Anyways, while writing the letter, oops, the pen slipped out of your hand and rolled to settle next to the chocolate cake. Well, of course you are going to reach for the pen and retrieve it. Oh, look at that. You accidentally rubbed the back of your hand along the chocolate cake. Well, no use of going over to the sink and washing off good icing. You might as well lick it off and continue your letter writing. That is clearly not eschewing evil.
No one is fooling God when they play with sin in this manner. “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalms 44:21).
The proper way to handle the situation is to have walked into the kitchen, notice the cake, and leave. Do not worry what people will think. You may even have to go as far as telling someone in the kitchen that you cannot come, in and if they want to talk to you, they have to come out to meet you.
Again, substitute a real sin. Are you trying to avoid smoking? Do not go in the bar.
Trying to avoid pornography? Maybe you should not be joining those watching an R-rated movie. Even many PG movies are suggestive. What are we thinking? Even the cartoons promote sex. And how about the lack of clothing for primetime television? If you are serious, maybe all of if it should be avoided.
Trying to avoid gluttony? “All you can eat” buffets just may not be the place for you.
Step 3. Make no preparation for a fall. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]” (Romans 13:14). Do not buy little chocolate cakes and stash them in the cupboard for a moment of weakness because you will then have frequent weaknesses. If need be remove the TV until you are able to exercise better discretion. Remove any and all such content that is in you power to remove. And smokers should not be stashing cigarettes anywhere.
Step 4. Do good works, especially at the time of weakness. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
If you are at a house where you have no control over the chocolate cake being there and you know that it is about time to be served, volunteer to take the dogs for a walk. If it is your home but you and your spouse do not see eye-to-eye on the chocolate cake, volunteer to go clean up the living room or something. Whatever good deed can be done, prepare ahead of time to immediately do it. Excuse yourself from the presence of the cake.
You may have to be rude as well. If your spouse expects you to sit there until after dessert, you may have to tell them that you are willing to sit through any desert with them except for the one that you are weak on – chocolate cake. You may explain that they ought not to think you to be rude for it is insensitive of them to insist on the reverse role. Do not argue about it. Just get up and leave.
Now instead of chocolate cake, you may get into angry arguments. Consider avoiding the neighbor that stirs you up by doing yard work in an area not so visible to him. Consider avoiding the group of people gathering outside of the church who love to debate politics after church, by straightening up the hymnals inside the church. If getting together with friends usually means placing yourself into compromising places and positions, suggest other activities.
Step 5. Resistance is not futile. “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:4). To pray to God to stop you from picking up the fork and scooping up a piece of cake for yourself is a ridicule of God. God has given you the power to resist. You must not lift the fork in the first place. You must utter the words, “No thanks” when asked if you want chocolate cake. You must resist staring at the chocolate cake dreaming up a scheme of how you can have some and not sin against God.
Keep in mind that even if your life is threatened, it is no excuse for eating a piece of chocolate cake. “Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful” {Maranatha, p 82}.
Also remember that “God will not do for us that which we can do for ourselves; but he has said, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." And when we comply with the conditions, he will fulfill his word.” {Gospel Workers, 1892, page 440}
Step 6. Abide in Christ is the most important step for it is not by our strength that we shall overcome. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:6). These are powerful words for victory as well as for condemnation. If we truly abide in Christ, His power will keep us from sinning. We will have victory over every temptation. However, if we are still living in sin and think we are all right with God, we are deceiving ourselves. We will be part of the many that think they have been saved yet were not. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).
But to abide in Christ seems to be more of a catch phrase. Many struggle with the practical application of it. True, it means to be in constant communication with God and not just a dedication of the day in the morning thinking it is sufficient for the entire day. Remember, Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” (Daniel 6:10).
But there must be more to abiding for after awhile even praying three times a day becomes ritualistic and it loses its effectiveness. For even “the dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22). Some can pray a sincere prayer to God and turn right back to the sin they just prayed about almost instantaneously.
Again, we must be constantly abiding in Christ. But the practical question is how? Especially when Paul used to have the same struggle. “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19). Please note that that was the struggle Paul had. He did not live that way for the rest of his life. He found that “if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).
Paul found the practical secret. Let us face it. How many times have you tried using all earthly means to overcome sin? You may have picked a particular date, with New Year’s being the most popular followed by one’s birthday only to fail within two weeks? Even singing a certain song over and over can be a let down. Then there is the quitting cold turkey as they say. How about self-help books? How about the milestone method of cutting back and cutting back? In reality, it has all been a let down.
Let us hear the solution from the servant of the Lord.
Christ has said, "Without me ye can do nothing." The resolutions you may make in your own finite strength, will be only as ropes of sand; but if you pray in sincerity, surrendering yourself, soul, body, and spirit, unto God, you put on the whole armor of God, and open the soul to the righteousness of Christ; and this alone,--Christ's imputed righteousness,--makes you able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The work of every soul is to resist the enemy in the power and might of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promise is that the devil shall flee from us. But let all realize that they are in peril, and there is no assurance of safety except as they comply with the conditions of the text. The Lord says, "Draw nigh to God." How?--By secret, earnest examination of your own heart; by childlike, heart-felt, humble dependence upon God, making known your weakness to Jesus; and by confessing your sins. Thus you may draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. {Sons and Daughters of God, page 346}
It will be a constant struggle. You will never gain the victory over all temptation, but you can gain the victory over every sin. We shall be tempted until our death or the second coming. We just do not have to give in to the temptation and sin. So cease from thinking you shall never be tempted and begin thinking that “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]” (1 Cor. 10:13).
But do not face temptations alone. As soon as you recognize the temptation, pray “Lord I don’t want to do this, help me to not do this.” Then move on to the remaining steps, leave the room and find a distraction such as a good deed to do instead while still praying. And when we say “still praying”, we mean to say that we ought to remain in a prayerful attitude. Replay in your mind strong characters of the Bible. Having trouble with lusting after women? Think of Joseph who ran. Having trouble standing up for Jesus in public? Think of John the Baptist who was not afraid to lose his head. Having trouble with putting things into the body that is not healthful, such as junk food, alcohol, drugs, etc.? Think of Paul that said, “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
Now if you are overcome, are you going to give up and wait for next New Years or birthday? Of course not. There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ, and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ {The Faith I Live By, page 118}.
Conclusion
Let us all have sympathy for those struggling with various sins, knowing that we all have our own areas of weakness. Do not press when people will not stay for the meal after services. Do not assume that they are being anti-social. Maybe they simply do not want to risk falling to their weakness of chocolate cake when it is served.
And remember, despite the support or lack of from family, friends and even church members, “Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Enoch not only walked with God, he walked alone.
|
