Peace on you, dear friends! I am glad to meet you again in our column “Daily word for spiritual strength”! We are reasoning about how we can turn tragedy into triumph. Yesterday we mentioned that God is not the author of our sufferings and tragedies, because He only possesses goodness and perfection.
«Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.» (James 1:13-17).
From the verse above we also see that lust bears sin, and the sin brings forth death. «…Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.….(James 1:15).
Sufferings, tragedies, grieves, deceases, sorrow and other similar things all lead to death. So lust brings sin, and sin brings death. So what is lust and why does it bring sufferings into people lives? Below are some biblical definitions of lust.Lust is a strong desire or passion to something forbidden or unlawful. For example, the Bible says coveting your neighbour’s wife or his property is unlawful. «“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s.”» (Exodus 20:17).
Violating this law causes different kinds of tragedies – robbery, adultery, even murder. Lust is when a person desires something that is not compatible with God´s will, thus, he rejects God´s power over his life. «Thus says Yahweh, stand you in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls: but they said, we will not walk therein. I set watchmen over you, saying, Listen to the sound of the trumpet; but they said, We will not listen. Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them. Hear, earth: behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.» (Jeremiah 6:16-19).
This text shows that calamity or tragedy on Earth today is a fruit borne by those who disobey God´s word and reject God´s will. Lust urges people to deny God´s way and see themselves wise in their own eyes. Though, it bears sin, then sin when it is committed brings forth death. God is light! To deny light (God) means staying in the darkness. Replying “no” to God´s invitation you make success, love, joy, and happiness in your life impossible to happen. How dare you neglect God at the time when you are happy, and accuse Him at the time you run into a problem? The whole generation never carried about God in its mind is in most cases the cause of our tragedies. Here are the testimonies from the Bible: «Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;» (Romans 1:28).
«I am Yahweh, your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me. So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, That they might walk in their own counsels. Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”» (Psalms 81:10-16)
« Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go. Oh that you had listened to my commandments! then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea:» (Isaiah 48:17,18).
Tomorrow we are going to continue to elaborate on lust and its consequences.Peace of God be with you! Rufus Adjiboje, pastor
