BQ: Have you ever seen a sin/sine wave? It's something in math that looks like the attached picture above.
Notice that there are ups and downs, but the average value is zero.
This can happen in the lives of Christians, too. They cycle between the world and Christ, bouncing back and forth, which results in an average growth of...none at all. Stagnancy.
In order for us to claim that we have a personal struggle with sin, we have to actually be fighting it. If we don't, there's no struggle involved. How do we begin to get out of this endless wave of horror?
1 John 1:9 helps us begin saying, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
BQ: In order to get out of a stagnant cycle where we're run between Christ and the world seemingly ceaselessly, we first have to confess our sins. This is deeper than just saying, "I have an issue." In fact, it's taking a full-on look at exactly where we are...and also exactly what we're doing to get out of that place.
Without that, we often slip back into the mindset of, "Well I sinned really, really bad, God's grace is there again." This is a very true statement, but it lets in the subtle notion that we can sin all the more, and grace will simply increase, which God doesn't want us to have.
You see, God doesn't want us to say, "This is something that I just can't beat." He doesn't want us to say, "Well for this issue, I'm just always going to need a bucket of grace, because I can't kick it."
NO! God wants us to say, ""No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." (I Corinthians 10:13).
BQ: You see, God does not want us to have the attitude of someone who has been conquered by some sin that we can't overcome. He doesn't want us to accept a sin wave as the ultimate reality of our existence! In fact, He wants us to know that such a stagnant thing can kill us, and warns us in James 1:14-15 saying,
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death!"
If you let the poison of the world keep coursing through your veins, eventually that sin wave will not even be a wave anymore, but will accomplish death! That's why God not only said verses 14-15, but with 16 warned us, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethern!"
BQ: We can't let Satan deceive us into thinking that we've tried our hardest and it wasn't enough. If we've tried hard by ourselves and can't shake some sin, it's time to enlist a brother or sister in helping! Alcoholics Anonymous uses a buddy system, so that when you're struggling, you can call on someone else to help you shake it.
We can't be too proud to do the same! Instead of pushing away those who would help and hiding our sin, we need to not only admit it, as God says, but to pester a brother or sister to help us put distance between that darkness and ourselves!
DON'T HIDE YOUR PROBLEMS! DON'T TRY TO FIGHT IT ALONE! Ecclesiastes 4:12 begs us, saying, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
If you try to go lone-wolf, the world may overpower you. And if you're already in a sin wave, the fact is, you're already overpowered, because that which is not growing, is ultimately dying. Enlist a brother or sister to help defend against Satan!
BQ: God tells us, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
When we're stuck in a sin wave, that help that God provides comes from multiple places, but much of it is from our brothers and sisters. There is a spiritual war going on, and Satan is a supernatural evil who has only lost once. But that failure was utter and complete, and now God has made us "an exceedingly great army." (Eze 37:10)
To all of my spiritual family, there is a horrible war going on, and we are part of an army of magnitude. But if we decide to run off onto the battlefield alone, without all of that power going with us, Satan will win.
If you are struggling, reach out to your brothers and sisters. Apply the sword of truth to yourself. Removing cancer is never fun, and often painful, but we have the best physician with the best helper and the best support group. Embrace them. Embrace life. Embrace a trajectory that is ever upward.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He has overcome, and so can we.