To Gratify or to Crusify

To gratify or to crucify is a life and death question to a Christian. On this question hang his salvation, his eternal life and his happiness in this life. Apostle Paul writes, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Eph. 5:24.

The greatest enjoyment to the people in the world is to satisfy and gratify the lusts of their flesh. Therefore here begins the Christian’s battle and warfare against his own flesh and against the sinful desires of his mind. And this is where many try to compromise. They want the joy of the Lord and also the enjoyment of the worldly pleasures.

Also, James recognized that there is a war in the members of our body. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members.” James 4:1.

This is a war, which millions of Christians have lost. Instead of crucifying their lusts of the flesh they have decided to gratify them.

The beginning of this war may seem very small and even innocent. Eve had no intention to eat of the tree of knowledge, all she wanted was to look. But she did not realize that by looking, desire is aroused. And this is Satan’s master deception also today for Christians. Only take a look, he tells them. Therefore he has made the looking very easy and convenient by worldly literature, television, and Internet.

Paul recognized that, by looking at something will change us to the same image. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.

In the same way, by looking at the acts of sin and vanity, we change to the image of Satan. Therefore, depending on what we look at our war is gained or lost.

Appetite

To avoid gratifying perverted appetite is a terrible war to some Christians, and many will lose in this battle.
“The eating of food that does not make good blood is working against the laws of our physical organism, and is a violation of the law of God. The cause produces the effect. Suffering, disease, and death are the sure penalty of indulgence.” Evang. p. 266.

“It is the indulgence of appetite and passion which makes the truth of none effect upon the heart. It is impossible for the spirit and power of the truth to sanctify a man, soul, body, and spirit, when he is controlled by appetite and passion.” Test. Vol. 3, p. 570.

By gratifying a perverted appetite we are willfully giving up the battle, and joining the rebellious ranks of Satan.
On the other hand, if we want to control our appetite, we have the example of Jesus on how to do it; and it is by fasting. By fasting we strengthen our will power that all other indulgences can be overcome.

Lust of the Eyes

John writes about the lust of the eyes. This is another battle that we must overcome or all will be lost. And our eyes and ears are the avenues to our mind and soul. What we see and hear will influence our minds either to holiness or to corruption, depending on what we see and hear.

“He that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high.” Isa. 33:15,16.

“There are thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, who are now making their decision for eternal life or eternal death. The man who is wholly absorbed in his counting room, the man who finds pleasure at the gaming table, the man who loves to indulge perverted appetite, the amusement lover, the frequenters of the theater, and the ballroom, put eternity out of their reckoning.” Test. Vol. 6, p. 407.

“Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle. There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use. The only safe course is to shun the theater, the circus, and other questionable places of amusement.” Test. Vol. 4, p. 653.

Today the theater has come to the living rooms of the people and instead of visiting the theater once a month as was common practice before, now it is a daily practice and doing ten times more damage to the mind and heart. It is a habit that needs to be crucified with the help of God and to take more interest in Bible study and prayer.

Lust of the Flesh

Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt. 26:41.

“Remember Solomon. Among many nations there was no king like him, beloved of his God. But he fell. He was led from God and became corrupt through the indulgence of lustful passions. This is the prevailing sin of this age, and its progress is fearful. Professed Sabbath keepers are not clean. There are those who profess to believe the truth who are corrupt at heart.” Test. Vol. 2, p. 306.

“What can I say to arouse our people? I tell you not a few ministers who stand before the people to explain the Scriptures are defiled. Their hearts are corrupt, their hands unclean… The church is corrupt because of her members who defile their bodies and pollute their souls.” Test. Vol. 5, p. 78,79.

“Cleanse the camp of this moral corruption, if it takes the highest men in highest positions. God will not be trifled with. Fornication is in our ranks, and I know it, for it has been shown to me to be strengthening and extending its pollution.” Rev. & Her. May 24, 1887.

“But very few feel it their religious duty to govern their passions. They have united themselves in marriage to the object of their choice, and therefore reason that marriage sanctifies the indulgence of their baser passions. These men and women will one day learn what lust is and behold the results of its gratification.” Solemn Appeal, p. 42.

“Even some who profess to be looking for His appearing are no more prepared for that event than Satan himself. They are not cleansing themselves from all pollution. They have so long served their lust that it is natural for their thoughts to be impure and their imaginations corrupt.” Adventist Home, p. 328.

“Sin and vice exists in Sabbath keeping families. Moral pollution has done more than every other evil to cause the race to degenerate… The marriage covenant is sacred, but what an amount of lust and crime it covers! Those who feel at liberty, because married, to degrade their bodies by beastly indulgence of the animal passion, will have degraded course perpetuated in their children.” Test. Vol. 2, p. 391.

“Chapter after chapter has been opened to me. I can select family after family in this house, every one of whom is as corrupt as hell itself.” Test. Vol. 2, p. 360.

To each one of us comes the question, to gratify or to crucify. This decision will determine our eternal destiny.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul into vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Ps. 24:3-4.

God wants us to have clean hands and a pure heart and this is the condition we must fulfill in order to have eternal life. In order to gain this purity we need the message of Christ’s righteousness. Humanly we cannot win this battle, but ample provision has been made by God to overcome every sin and bad habit.

“None are so low, so corrupt and vile, that they cannot find in Jesus, who died for them, strength, purity and righteousness, if they will put away their sins, cease their course of iniquity, and turn with full purpose of heart to the living God. He is waiting to strip them of their garments, stained and polluted by sin, and to put upon them the white, bright robes of righteousness, and He bids them live and not die.” Test. Vol. 2, p. 453.

May the Lord help us to make the right decision and crucify the lusts and all sinful indulgences and be prepared for the soon coming Saviour.
Amen.

Timo Martin, Canada