Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
I gave up New Year's resolutions many years ago for the same reason that so few of them ever come to fruition: most of us simply don’t have the staying power to effect the change we feel we need to make. After all, if it was that easy, we wouldn’t have to wait for a special day to make the commitment; we would just make the change. But if we are intent upon making a substantial change in our lives, why not make a change that will affect us into eternity?
Obviously, we all struggle with sin in our lives. Why not make a resolution to deal with the one issue that will cost us the most if we fail to contend with it in our lives? There are five considerations we should take into account if dealing with sin is going to be our goal.
1. The devil is limited by the staying hand of God. “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” - Job 1:12. Simply stated: there is a limit to what Satan can actually do to us. He’s not a magician. He tricks because we are gullible enough to believe him. He is not all-powerful and cannot hurt us if we trust in God Almighty.
2. The devil is already throwing everything he has at you. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” - Ephesians 6:12. From the moment we wake up in the morning Satan is at work on us, trying everything in his power to turn us and sift us like wheat. Think about it: what is our first impulse when that guy cuts us off on our way to work? Trust me, if we throw all caution to the wind and let Satan have a foothold in our lives, our day will end much worse than it began.
3. Satan’s success depends wholly upon our response to his overtures. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” - James 4:7. Satan can only hurt us if we let him hurt us. He can only use us if we let him use us. His assault against us will continue as long as we lay ourselves open to his temptations. We must block him by submitting ourselves to God’s will for us through fervent prayer.
4. Satan’s success depends upon our refusal to acknowledge his presence and influence.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8. Remember the old saying: “The devil's finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist.” Satan is not some bumbling fool in red pajamas, carrying a pitchfork. He is the most potent enemy a Christian will ever face. He is dangerous and he is deadly and only the power of God can utterly defeat him. On our own, we are helpless against the Beast.
5. His ultimate victory (our spiritual death) comes when we die in our sins. “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” - John 8:24. Jesus was not ambiguous in the very least. He let us know in no uncertain terms that the wages of sin is death. If we die without redemption, we die twice: once physically then once spiritually. And there is no resurrection from this spiritual death.
So, are we looking to make a significant change in our lives this New Year? Then let us make a real change. Let us make a change that will resonate into eternity. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” - Philippians 4:8. Let us put away our desire for worldly self-expression and let us seek God where He may be found.
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