Crossing the battle lines

An interesting thing happens when we commit to God's standard rather than "trying hard" to resist a behavior . We begin to realize that God has given us new life, a life that is no longer enslaved to our former lusts. We understand that we are free from the power of sin. The battle is no longer between our wickedness and God's standards, God has taken away that enmity, we have been redeemed.

 

Think about it this way.  The battle is between God and spiritual forces of darkness.  Before we were saved we were squarely entrenched in Satan's camp. Our old nature served it's own lusts and interests and fought against God.  But when we were saved we were brought across the battle lines into God's camp.  God is not on our team, we are a member of His team, and moreso we are a member of His body. 

It is now God and us against Satan and the flesh (old nature).

Our goal is no longer trying to resist our old nature, our desires have changed, we have been given a new heart.   We must now work to grow in knowledge and obedience to our Savior, to serve Him with all our heart.

 

This should change our perspective of everything.  We aren't on earth to simply live good lives we are a part of a great war, and we are each given roles to play,  part of that role is to grow in holiness, another part is to grow in love, and to help others.  We will never see the big picture and we cannot understand God's plan, we should be striving to faithfully following the will of God and letting Him work through us to accomplish His plans in His time and in His ways.