From lover of pleasures to lover of God

This is a question that followed the human race since the first temptation. Eve, if you remember, looked at the tree driven by desire. Let’s read in Genesis 3:6:

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

I trust you can see that the battle was in her mind — it was not for hunger (she had enough to eat), it was not for trying a new tasty flavour (she had hundreds of other trees). It was part of a dialogue with the tempter, who painted everything appealing both to the eye and mind, while in the background he wanted to plant the see of doubt in God’s word. And his point was something like… “whatever God forbids that’s because it is very good for you, and He wants to keep you away from it.” Which, of course, was a lie. Adam and Eve could testify for that, and we all do now.

I mentioned Eve to make you aware that you are not alone in this experience. Even more, this is not an isolated weakness, but rather a chronic disease we all have. It is called sin. And we are in a great controversy between good and evil. Each and every sin ends up in misery. Yes, for a while they may bring satisfaction, a sense of fulfilment, and yet the final price is always a rip off. Even more, the Bible says “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

The antidote is not something within us, neither is a pill that one can take and solve the issue. It is rather a life long struggle between the human nature and the divine nature and it asks for a divine intervention. God works in us through the Holy Spirit. You could see this struggle back in Genesis, where God felt exasperated by the opposition of humans to the appeals of the Holy Spirit. “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever” (Genesis 6:3). Those who respond, will be saved. Those who resist, will be lost.

The work of the Holy Spirit is called repentance, moving one from the old way of life to a new one, via a regeneration process. Imagine the dialogue Jesus had with Nicodemus by night. Jesus’ appeal to him was to be born again, that is, born from above. Please read John 3 and you will see Jesus making the case for one to be born of the Spirit in contrast to being born from the flesh.

I said it is a life long fight, as people may still stumble and have moments of weakness, but the key is to continually turn back to God and the Holy Spirit.

Apostle Paul explains it in Galatians 5:16-25:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want . . .

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

As your aim is a new profile, that of “a lover of God”, note this encouragement from apostle James:

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

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