Curses: The Tension of What is and what Ought to be

via TJC

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Genesis 3:7 (NIV)

We read and considered yesterday about “The Fall of Man” in Genesis 3. What I find compelling about verse 7 is the half-truths (lies) told by the serpent that tempted our first ancestors into “The Fall of Man” actually did come true. The serpent promised them that if they ate the fruit they would be “like God, knowing good and evil”. Adam and Eve experienced the selfishness and shame of their sin for the first time, and from that time all of their descendents. 

I’m sure for the parents who are reading this they will agree, we have never had to teach our kids how to sin. “Okay son, let’s go over lying one more time.” “We are going to work on stealing 101 today.” By our own fallen, sinful nature, we all figured this stuff out on our own. The most difficult job as parents is teaching children how not to be selfish.

My journey out of the addictive behavior of pornography was about finally coming to the realization of a few things:

  ·  I needed to come clean with myself, my Father, and with others I trusted. “Admit what is.”

  ·  I needed to stop being so self-serving.

  ·  I was and am a blood-purchased son of the Living God.

  ·  And my Father wanted my whole heart and that the shame and guilt that overwhelmed me was what Jesus came to set me free from. “Admit what ought to be.”

What had been a hidden, buried burden on my heart for decades and I was able to say it out loud to a group of fellow struggling brothers in a circle sharing time. The freedom to finally admit it out loud and not experience the condemnation I was expecting, is to experience God's redemption in a whole new way. It was a burden lifted off my shoulders, covered in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ and laid down squarely at the foot of His cross. Secrets control us. And like kryptonite to Superman they can rob us of our strength to live righteously. It's only when they are exposed that the grip of shame can be released and healing can take place. 

Daily Battle Order:                                                  Admit the struggle that is robbing your peace to yourself, to God, and to someone you trust will support and pray for you. Find your freedom, not in your own efforts, but in the Savior who gave His life for you. Tell your story of deliverance from these hurts and habits to encourage others.

Father, we live in a world that was broken because of Man’s sin. We inherited their sinful nature and we toil harder and wrestle between what is and what should be. That sin has caused us to be ugly to one another and ever prideful towards You. Lord renew our minds. Let us know you have saved us for something more holy and better than the things that we sometimes think you are keeping from us. Remind us of the victory that You have delivered from the curses we put on each other and the trappings of the enemy. Give us wisdom and increase our fruit. For we know that all things come together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.