Taming the Beast Within

I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. – Romans 7:15-17

Some of my Christian friends, who have a fascination with everything apocalyptic, love to talk about the “Beast” in the book of Revelation. Much speculation is given, and in my opinion, much time is wasted trying to figure out who, when, what, etc…

While it makes for some interesting conversation (sort of…) I’ve found that I have a much greater problem to deal with – it is the beast within. It is giving into the desire to do what I know I should not do, but finding myself doing it anyway. It is drinking at the well of the forbidden thought, acting upon an untamed desire, and refusing to come under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Some contend that when Paul wrote the passage above he was referring to himself prior to his conversion, but I just don’t buy it. He was talking about an ongoing struggle that all of us have to contend with. And while it can be conquered, many of us suffer unnecessarily because we do not use the spiritual weapons that God has placed at our disposal to defeat it. Weapons like truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer (see Eph. 6:10ff).

And why don’t we arm ourselves with the spiritual weapons that God provides? Because there is something within us, this beast I’m referring to, which leads us to desire the carnal nature we possessed prior to our Christian experience. And most of us, if we try to resist at all, do so with the weakest of weaponry available.

We think that if we just pray for three minutes every morning, or read a quick devotional, or take notes when the preacher gives his sermon, that that will be enough to combat the spiritual forces that attack us unceasingly. In fact, I’m afraid most of us look at this whole thing quite superstitiously. “If I recite the creed, say the right prayer, etc…Satan won’t be able to touch me.” That’s complete and utter nonsense.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the only thing that will tame the beast within is a total and complete surrender of our wills unto God’s will. And that will only happen when we experience enough conviction in our souls that we really desire to have God take control. And you know what? Most of us aren’t really there yet. And we’re not going to get there until we begin to take sin as seriously as God takes it!

The longer I am a Christian I have become more and more aware of the spiritual games so many of us are playing. The deep yearning within my soul is telling me that something is desperately wrong. And until we begin to really put God first in our lives we will continually experience defeat.

It is possible to beat this beast, you know? God’s promises of victory aren’t some sort of spiritual pipedream He’s given us to pacify us until the final storm has passed through.

Paul wrote: We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

In this context he is talking about the weapons of our warfare that we can use to convince those who are outside of Christ. But what I’m suggesting is that we train those weapons on ourselves! Until we have overcome in our own spiritual battle, we will hardly be prepared to overtake the demonic strongholds of those in the world.

So how do we tame the beast within? Today (not tomorrow, and not next week) begin to pray to God to show you what your heart looks like to Him. And then ask Him to give you the strength and the ability to remove every foul spot, every bad thought, every desire that is not in sync with His own. And then act upon the power that God will give you to overcome. Then repeat this process every single day, until that great day when the Messiah comes for His bride.

Your Brother,

Barry

Welcome

Welcome to the Christian Bikers United Blog! I plan on writing on this blog at least weekly, if not more. I will post devotions, articles, and sometimes link to other sites of interest.

Sometimes we will ask for guests to blog on topics that will be important to the Christian Motorcycle Community.

Make sure and notice the links on the right-hand column. Those will take you back to our main website.

In Christ,

Barry