5. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
Have you heard people excuse their behavior by saying, "After all its just human nature"? This excuse doesn't work any longer for the Christian. Christ is your new nature. The choice we have is whether or not to let Him reign in your life. The Bible says put to death this nature. In addition, to enliven your new nature in Christ. There is also the command to identify your desires and temptations so they can be killed.
When the immigrants came to Minnesota, they had the hard job of cutting down the trees and clearing the land of rocks in order to put in some of the crops. A far more difficult job was clearing out the roots. If roots were not removed the grain would be quickly covered with the second growth of weeds and brush.
There are roots of passion and desires that even once the tree has been removed, keep growing underneath. Paul knows the problem of our fleshly desires. God ordained sexuality as part of the plan for husband and wife to live together in love and freedom and to nurture children.
Our world follows a different morality. We see all around us, “If it feels good do it. People too often have their lusts control actions instead of commitment controlling lusts.
Impurity is another temptation. It refers to that we would call perverted forms of lusts, homosexuality, gender confusion, child abuse, prostitution, and pornography. Erotic passions are aroused and people feed their minds on illusions that are like a vice gripe luring us into wanting more.
Evil desires are closely associated with lust. It is mental impurity. It wants what is not yours, but it does not have to be sexual. It can be manipulative ways to gain power or advancement through deceit. Greed wants more. Satan has us in his hooks and we are the worse for it, suffering consequences that destroy character and witness.
In Verse 6 above, we see that God will judge evil. You may think that nothing happens when you allow yourself to fall into immoral practices, but something is happening. God has not lost His power. He will allow it to have its day, but not without consequences. I think the horrible break up of our society begins by uncontrolled passions. Christ has a better idea.
Application: Before you fall back into old habits identify your passions and lusts and give them to the Lord to weed out immediately. Follow a different path with the strength of others to help.
Prayer: Lord, my flesh continues to battle against my spirit. Only You are able to give me victory. Save me from my “self”.
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