Tug o War

Century School Field Day

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace....”Ro 8:5-6

Field Day. I still remember mine nearly 40 years ago. The other day I watched as the eager 2^nd graders were preparing for the big day.  Today they would be practicing the tug o’ war.  The kids chomped at the bit- vying for the rope. The red ribbon that marked center would remain neutral for a fraction of a moment as the whistle blew. After that, the team that pulled the strongest would control its fate.

Do you ever feel like that ribbon? Pulled this way or that?  Center ground seems pretty harmless. But as in the game of tug o’ war, time ultimately tells which side dominates. 

Re-read Romans 8:5-6. Do you see that same eager game of tug o’ war taking place in our minds?  On one side stands The Holy Spirit; an  anchor for Life and peace.   Fervently pulling against it- is selfishness- desiring to do what I want…   a sinful (rebellious) nature.

Choose Life and peace or death and destruction. Moses said it (Dt 30:19) to the Israelites.   We are faced with the same choice. My thoughts and consequently my actions, like that ribbon, do not remain neutral.  Like the rope in the tug o’war they will be dominated or controlled by either the Holy Spirit or by my selfish desires. James in his book called it friendship with the world (Ja 4:4), the Apostle Paul (Gal 5:13-26) referred to as my flesh… by either name, it is the same- pulling against God.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.”

The tug of war wrestles within us between the desires of good (God's Spirit) and our selfish ones. The ribbon moves and becomes controlled more and more by the side that you align yourself with. To Paul, those pulling in step with the Spirit of God becomes evident because in their lives we see love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  The opposite is also true.  Those who pulling against God, gratifying their own selfish desires will reveal in their lives “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;” robbing themselves of the Life Christ offers. (Gal 5:17-23)

The ropes are neutral.  They are the situations in life- good or bad.  Unfortunately, we often don’t get to choose the rope handed to us. However, you do get to choose which way you will pull. 

Christ came in Love and bought your freedom.  You are free to choose.  Will you use it to indulge the flesh or humbly serve one another in love.(Gal 5:13)  For a moment the ribbon hangs in neutral- the thought or opportunity is posed… which side of the rope will you grab.

Lord God, show me what I hold on to. I want to pull with you. Show me your strength and power. Please forgive me for pulling against you; aligning myself with the world.  

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord..”Ro 8:31, 37-39