Nice Flesh

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: 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.
-Galatians 5:19

When you’ve struggled with a “juicy” sin, it’s easy to judge your whole life by how well or how poorly you’re handling that one behavior. Folks who are alcoholic can do this by assuming that as long as they’re sober, then they’re doing well. Drug addicts, gamblers and overeaters can do the same, and who can blame them? The road to admitting your problem is long; the road to recovery is daily and endless. Saying goodbye to something you’ve depended on for comfort and ecstasy can be one of your life’s toughest challenges, and saying No to the relentless temptations to relapse is a lifelong task, sometimes grueling; never easy. No wonder the person in recovery can be a little myopic about the whole thing.

So I get it. If you’ve given yourself to porn or lust of some sort, you’re now determined to overcome, stay pure, walk right. Me too.

Problem is, we can stay clean from the one vice we focus on and, in general, still not be holy, but wholly polluted. That’s because when we repent of one overt sin, we should be seeking to likewise turn from the power of the flesh in general. And the flesh isn’t all about sex, not by a long shot. Look again at the symptoms of it that Paul named above. The list, while certainly including sexual sin, also names hatred, jealousy, discord, rage, and dissensions as manifestations of fallen nature.

So I may rejoice in God’s sanctifying work in me in one area, freeing me from a particular bondage and empowering me to resist temptation. But I can, at the same time, be guilty of hatred, jealousy, pride, or gossip, all of which are works of that smelly old flesh I’m supposed to be crucifying. The Bible makes no distinction between Nice Flesh and Nasty Flesh, so when I repented of the Nasty Sins, that was only a feeble beginning in my life long mandate to kill not just the Monster’s manifestations, but the Monster himself.

None of which diminishes the importance of diligently protecting our sobriety from (and separation from) our peculiar life-dominating habits. So let’s keep those recovery chips coming, and cherish the days, months and years of sobriety we accrue. Let’s keep our accountability in place, and be sure we’re taking all steps necessary to insure we don’t return to the behavior which has caused us and our loved ones so much misery. God forbid we ever develop a casual attitude towards the bondage He’s walked us out of.

But let’s never be satisfied with leaving Egypt, great as that is. Let’s remember Canaan, a land of promise where we fight regular battles of all sorts, and relish an assortment of victories as well. Because my victory over needless fears, laziness, a careless tongue, and general selfishness, are as vital in God’s sight as my victory over the Nasties.

Because whether the problem is porn, adultery, a bad attitude or a big mouth, they’re all Nasty little gremlins, offensive to Him and destructive to us. So may we seek God, holiness, power for service, and relief from the power of the flesh
in general.

We’re more than conquerors. Let’s joyfully be ourselves.