“How’s
that working out for you?”
That
is one probably my number one question I ask people who are leading lives that
are focused on anything but God. Think about it for a moment...people who are
into just about anything and everything this world has to offer, sex outside of
marriage, drugs, alcohol, money, power, control, etc. all need to ask
themselves this simple question. Is what you are doing bringing you “true”
happiness?
When
people first dive deep into such selfish desires (sins) they may answer “yes.”
But, it doesn't take long before one discovers that such activities really do
not provide true happiness, true satisfaction, or true contentment. We may
start out with good intentions, just trying to make myself happy, but before
long we discover that the very thing that we were seeking happiness in has know
enslaved us in its grasp. The very thing we so longingly sought after, that
thing which we just knew was right, proper, and justified has now turned on us.
We no longer get the same satisfaction from it we once did.
That
is exactly what sin is, pleasant at first. We enjoy how it makes us feel...
powerful, in control, and satisfied. But, deep within sin lies another reality.
A reality that seeks to destroy us. A reality that will end up with us being
unhappy, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled.
This is exactly what Paul is speaking about in
Gal 5:16-17...
“So
I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your
sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the
opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the
opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly
fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
(NLT)
Every
believer must come to realize that they are in a war. A war battling for their
body, mind, and soul. The battle is not physical though. The true battle lies
in the desire to willingly submit our desires, passions, wants, and anything
else that places us in control of our lives. When we place what we want under
the control of Jesus, we discover that something truly remarkable happens.
Before we were seeking after all types of “things” that would make us happy.
When we give up this search, when we remove our wants, desires, basically our
pleasure from in front of us and place God at the center of our lives. When we
realize that allowing God to truly be in control, to truly have full authority
to
direct
us, we quickly come to the point that we can joyfully answer that question,
“how’s that working out for you” with a resounding and joyful response of,
“wonderful!”
Many
times people have come to me seeking counsel, only to walk away soon after,
refusing to take the advice of God. They follow again after what they have done
for so long. But, it doesn't take very long for them to discover that as they
continue to do the same things, follow the same paths, and chase the same dead
ends, that they hear that question resounding in their minds. They realize, NO,
what I am doing IS NOT WORKING OUT! This is usually the time they return
to me with a willingness to give it “all” to God. What they quickly discover
when this is done, they now can answer the question much differently…
IT
IS WORKING OUT GREAT!!!
Give
God a chance, you won’t regret it.
