Which House is Yours?

If you do not want to read the blog, get the summary in this video:

The Three Little Pigs has always been known as a classic bedtime story that sparks the interest of children around the world. In fact, its popularity has become so immense that there is more than one version to watch or read. While one version is more graphic (the wolf actually murdering the pigs), the other version has the pigs running away and finding refuge in the highly intelligent pig. Ultimately, despite the various versions available, the moral remains unchanged.

"With good work comes good fortune," one might suggests. "Heed the wisdom of the wise," another exclaims. Again, the message stays consistent throughout the decades.

So, it all begins with mother pig recognizing that her three piglets' childhood have inevitably come to a end. They have all grown up and have a chance to put to practice what they learned. The first two pigs quickly grab what they feel will make a shelter to live in, while the third pig takes his time. However, the major difference between the first two pigs and the third is the mindset they have. Pig 1 and 2 want to build a house as quick as they can; the sooner they finish, the more time they have to relax and enjoy life on their own. Pig 3 builds his house out of bricks, cement, and blueprints he has set up. His house is built out of sturdy material that will not collapse; he has a plan. The result of picking these resources means more labor and less relaxation time. Yet, Pig 3 recognizes his preparation will pay off.

As a result, Pig 1 and 2 find themselves buried beneath the wreckage of their own clumsiness, while Pig 3 eventually fools his enemy and triumphs over him. Pig 3, while he spent a majority of the story working, knew his hard work would pay off and keep him safe.

The philosophy the third pig carried with him worked: Prepare in advance what you need to do so you are ready when the enemy comes. The big bad wolf was prepared for a meal, but was the pig prepared to protect himself?

Jesus uses an illustration to communicate how crucial it is to be grounded in Christ:

"I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well-built" (Luke 6:47-48).

Then Jesus adds what it would look like to not obey:

"But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins" (6:49).

We have an enemy who is constantly after us. He "prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Like the wolf, our enemy wants to destroy us, deceive us, and lie to us. He comes wanting to blow our house, our foundation, and our security in Christ, down. Not giving up, he wants 'The bacon.' Are we ready for him when he comes to us? Do we have confidence in the framework of our life? Do we trust that our foundation in Christ is going to keep us from harm?

The way we build our house is up to us. We can spend our life without purpose and without being grounded in anything. James 1:6 commands us with a similar warning: "Be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."

If we walk in our own desires like Pig 1 and 2, we will get swept away and lost among our own ineptitude.

In Luke 6:47-49, Jesus offers two paths. In each, there is a reward/consequence that follows. Fortunately, we don't have to be like Pig 1 and 2; we have Scripture. We also have the Holy Spirit that dwells in us when we receive his guidance and recognize our inability to run things independently. James 1:21-22 provides more direction: "So get rid of all filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says."

The Word of God, including the Holy Spirit, is your foundation. Rest in it, and the big, bad wolf will be huffing and puffing, huffing and puffing, and nothing will come down.

As you live out your journey, are you being swept away, ensnared by the desires the wolf has for you? Or, are you grounded in the Word and carefully listening to the guiding of the Holy Spirit? You always have the option, but either way, that wolf is coming to blow at your house.

Flesh vs. Spirit

Our flesh is filled with sin. Lust, greed, alcoholism, selfishness, debauchery (links with lust), lying, cheating, adultery (again, lust), murder, coveting. When you think about it, sin is pretty abundant in our lives. Mark 7:21-22 says, “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice (intentional meanness), deceit, lewdness (lust), envy, slander (bad report, whether a lie or gossip), arrogance and folly.” It comes from within us, yet is a part of our flesh, not the Spirit. In the case of the Spirit and the flesh, we need to clarify the meaning of each. Romans 8:2-3 declares: “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” It is the last part of Romans 8:3 that sticks out the most: “…and so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us…” In this sense, there is a clear separation between our flesh and the Spirit, which comes from God; ultimately, sin is tied to our flesh. Along those lines, John 3:6 says, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit,” suggesting that the flesh is separate from the Spirit, and that the flesh and Spirit cannot coincide with one another. The context of John 3:6 is when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus about being born again. Although we are born in flesh (as sinners), we can receive Jesus Christ through the Spirit, which is something the flesh can have no part in.

With so much sin trapping the very fabric of our being, who we were meant to be comes crashing down and is replaced by a monster we never knew could exist. We are reminded in Galatians 5:16 to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Along with Galatians, Romans 13:14 tells us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Again, Galatians 5:17: “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.” The last part of Galatians 5:17 suggests the Flesh and the Spirit are at war.

So, when we think of sin as falling under the following categories – lust, greed, alcoholism, selfishness, debauchery, lying, cheating, adultery, murder, and coveting – we must realize that sin is anything that opposes God, or the Spirit. If you are uncertain this is true, the verses above speak volumes of the two. Do you worry? Are you obsessive over worldly things? Are you prideful? Well, if these things are not of God, then they must not be a part of the Spirit. If they are not a part of the Spirit, they are a part of our flesh. If they are a part of our flesh, then we must not do those things if we are in the Spirit. Unfortunately, worry, obsession, and pride are forms of sin as well. Fortunately, there is a cure. There is a remedy

Yes, our flesh is filthy. Our flesh is gross, and only wants what is opposite of the Lord. So, how can live in the Spirit? Looking at the verses above, it is clear the flesh is in opposition of the Spirit. The beauty of this contradiction is that, out of the Flesh and the Spirit, the latter always wins. As long as we “clothe [ourselves] with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Spirit),” we win. As long as we abandon our fleshly desires, we win in Christ.

The next question might be, “How do I ignore such a big part of my life?” Yes, sadly, our Flesh plays a major role in who we are. After all, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 declares.

But, Galatians makes it clear to us. “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, douse yourself with the love of Jesus (remember? The man who took on the sins of the world?) “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5 says. Everything we do and say must reflect Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to work, and do not give over to the desires of the flesh. Be reminded of who you are in Christ. Commit yourself to excellence from God’s perspective, not your own. And, the best part, God promises he will never leave you or forsake you. After all, with his guidance, what can mere man do to you (Hebrews 13:5)? NOTHING.

It is not easy, but when you begin learning to ignore the flesh, you walk towards the Spirit. You give proper attention to the Spirit. Listen to the Spirit, and it will guide you. All you need to do is clothe yourself with Jesus Christ.

Battle!

As I have grown older, I have recognized a truth that has come to my attention more and more. It is not that this truth has not existed until now, but that I have grown to become more dangerous.
What does this mean?
When we progress from adolescence to adulthood, we become more aware of ourselves; thus we also become more independent from others. Age three meant we would cling to our parents for everything; for food, for transportation, for appointments, and much more. At age twenty-two, we have to operate our life independently.
Therefore, we have more control over who we ultimately place in charge of our everyday engagements. We have the keys to our vehicle called life, and we can give them to whoever we so choose. Whether our boss, our family members, ourselves, gods, God, Satan, or anything else. The difference between adolescence and adulthood in this case is our choice. When we are young, we don't have much of a choice as to who will raise us or put us in our place. When we are older, we exponentially have more choices.
Due to us being increasingly independent by the minute, we thus become more dangerous from the perspective of our peers - including the heavenly realms.
This is not to say God nor Satan should or are daunted by our mortality, but to say that we have become an asset to any one of the two sides. If we are consistently living in sin, we are an independent who can choose to make a larger mess of this world (if capable of doing so). On the other hand, if we are living with the joyful realization that we can surrender to Christ and find our true identity, we can make an impact on this world for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Clearly, it's a battle, and your heart is right in the middle of it.
This spiritual battle is between God and Satan, and you are the target; you have a choice.
God or Satan?
You choose.