"At War"

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11

As Christians this world is not our home, we are only "passing through". One day we will leave this earth and go to our "real" home- the one that Jesus said He was going to prepare for us. But until that day comes, we are living in the world. And while we are in the world we face battles/wars. The biggest battles that we face are not fought with guns and bullets but with our own flesh.

Why are natural wars fought? Mostly for the purpose of gaining more territory. Wars are the method that one nation, group or people uses to capture the land that is possessed by another nation, group or people. Our own flesh wars against us for that same purpose- it wants to gain "territory" (your soul and body). It is not satisfied until it rules and reigns over our hearts and dictates our lives. The flesh wants to be in charge. It wants to have its way. It wants to give the orders. It doesn't want to be hindered or have anyone or anything stand in its way. It doesn't want to submit to any authority- especially that of the spirit. It wants to take us prisoner and make us its slave.

How do we keep the flesh from "possessing" any territory in our lives? "Abstain from fleshly lusts." The first step to doing that is by remembering that this life is not all there is- there is an eternity that awaits us and that's where our real home is, like we've said. Keep eternity in mind and view. Why? So that you can resist the lusts of the flesh like covetousness and greed, or anything else that desires for more and more that this life has to offer, because all that you gain here cannot compare to what you would be giving up if you allow the flesh to win and gain your soul as its possession.

Have a great day. Your flesh is trying to conquer you and gain possession of your life; you conquer it instead.

For further reading:
John 14:1-3
Matthew 4:1-10; 16:26
Hebrews 13:5
1 Timothy 6:6,7
1 John 2:15-17