But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
-James 1:14-15
God call us to turn from sin. This is not a cold calling to turn from something just for the sake of removing a sin in our life. God doesn’t desire obedience just for the sake of obedience. He looks for His followers to serve Him out of love, not just for the sake a duty. When a man looks to turn from a sin in his life, and blocks every opportunity to dive into it, does this please God, I think not. God is looking for His children to turn from sin, not only in actions, but from their hearts. A man, who blocks sinful opportunities, only turns from sin because it is commanded. A turning from what he loves, for the sake of obedience. God is pleased when the man turns from the sin not because of a cold obedience, but from a warm obedience because of his love for the Father. He turns from the actions, and from the affections. Actions are external forms of repentance, but true repentance comes from the heart. A true turning away is a turning away from which keeps us distance from God. We may turn from our sin by our actions, but we still yearn for that particular sin in the heart. The man looks obedient on the outside, but inside he longs with affections for what he has turned from. He is a man who forsakes a love outwardly, but hides his true affections in the deeper part of his heart. We fight sin by changing our actions in the world; we think if we stop doing this, and begin doing that, God will be pleased; as if God is interested in what we do on the outside only. Many fail at overcoming sin not because of effort, but because of their lack of affection. Our affections are bound to the heart. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). If we continually fail at overcoming sin, it is because we hold tight to our sin affections, and hold loose to our affections towards God. We secretly long for the enticement of sin, and only turn from it on the outside. As to think we are fooling God. We look to be obedient on the outside, but God is looking for an inner obedience based on our love for Him. This love needs to be based on looking towards Him, looking to serve Him in ever facet. Sin is not a sinfully act, it is a sinful attitude. Sin does not come about by what we “do.” It comes about by who we are. Temptation comes upon us by what we see, think, feel, and entertain. A temptation may come from the outside, but it is in the mind and the heart where it is conceived. Our hearts and minds long for its embrace, we look to be enticed by its affections. We wait for a conversation with the tempters words. We are not senseless victims, who fall for the lies. We have heard the lies all our lives, we know enough about temptation, but we still rush to see it fulfilled. If it were not so, then why do we run to sin so much in our lives?
The question arises, how do we fight against these affections? When we hear about fighting against sin, the focus is upon our actions, and sometimes our thoughts. Mostly we look at behavior, instead of the spiritual forces that fight against us. But remember the word temptation when we think about overcoming sin. How can someone or something tempt us with something we don’t desire? We are tempted by something we want. And if our affections are strong, then how much more strength will the temptation be. Looking at how detestable a sin is will not win the fight, neither will trying to avoid it, will work either. We must overcome it with a stronger affection. Thomas Chalmers said, “The most effectual way of withdrawing the mind from one object, is not by turning it away upon desolate and unpeopled vacancy – but by presenting to its regard another object still more alluring.”[1] Sin is alluring, certain sins are tempting to us, our own desires look to entice us, but we can fight against these things which look to draw us away from the love of God. We must fight it with a new affection. If you don’t think this is true, then think about when someone has overcame a sin, but only to fall into the grasp of another. Many would shake their heads and look at how weak they are. They didn’t overcome a sin; they just took the hand of another sin, to give up the former one. The heart does not live in a vacuum. When it is emptied of one thing, it is because it is filled up by another. This is true when it comes to sin. We can overcome one sin, by refilling it with another one. Usually this is done because we choose to participate with a more acceptable sin in our life. We replace one vile sin, with something which is not so hideous to others. We may give up promiscuity, drinking, or drugs, but we replace it with gluttony, gossip, and bitterness. These can be covered up much easier then other sins. And those around us may participate in these also, which gives us the ability to practice them without a rebuttal from our associates. Our sin moves from rags, and is now wearing a suit. We can dress it up to look respectable, and is even seen in the church as permissible. As long as it is not one of those big sins, which those outside the church are doing, then it is fine. But sin, no matter how well dress up it is, is still sin. No matter how well hidden we think we may have it in our heart, it still raises it ugly head. Jesus said, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) Another thing is we cannot hide our sin from God. David said, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (Psalms 139:7-12) Our secret affections cannot be hidden from God in the darkness of our hearts. He knows what we hide from others, and ourselves. He knows what we may not even realize, and makes it know to us by His light.
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