“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Col 3:5-8 NIV)
None of us like to talk about putting this earthly nature to death. In fact, the majority of Christians can not even agree on how it is supposed to be done. Paul’s teaching comes with some to difficulty to practice because we must deal with our personal realities.
We find it easy to rebuke and denigrate sexual immorality, lust, greed and idolatry. Yet, impurity and evil desires are more ambiguous and less easy to identify. With these we get into endless discussions of what they might be or could be. They become more like personal crutches rather than things that need to be put to death.
But Paul clearly teaches that all of these belong to the earthly nature and produces the wrath of God. Maybe if we focused on what will result in the future wrath of God, we might be more humble and repentant about having a personal burial at the Cross.
Notice that Paul refers to our former walk of life. He makes a clear demarcation of how we as Christians must take personal responsibility and rid ourselves of any twinges of that life. “Anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.” No sermon to be preached. No nerve pill to be prescribed. No self-help book to be written or read.
It is simple — put them to death. Get rid of them. If it is overpowering, then pray without ceasing until the power from on high delivers us. Is it probable that the difficulty stems from our obstinate lack of desire to be rid of these elements?
Dear Father, thank you for giving us the victory over the earthly nature. Grant to us the spiritual fortitude to get rid of every twinge of the earthly nature. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today in your battle against the flesh,