Two Books
I was walking through the parking lot, going into Safeway to buy some milk and eggs, when I noticed two books resting inside the back window of a car. Both were blue hardback books. They looked to be rather new yet obviously had been read. There were some other papers on the windowsill as well, but these were the only books. The first book that caught my eye was a Bible, the NIV version. It was just a simple Bible, like the ones we have in church. Whenever I see a Bible out in public it sparks my interest. It’s unusual in America today to see someone out and about with a Bible.
The other was an Alcoholics Anonymous manual. It was actually thicker than the Bible. I have never read the AA manual, but I’m sure this was the Twelve-Step Program that has really empowered thousands upon thousands to get addictions under control. I have met many people who have benefited from the Twelve Steps, which, by the way, were originally based on Biblical principles.
Two books on a window ledge; two books that represent the basic struggle all of us face every day. A struggle between what we desire to do for or with God and the desires our earthly bodies push us to fulfill for our own pleasure; the struggle to be close enough to God that the addictive impulses within us will not be satisfied. These two desires represent the best and the worst in us. One part of us strongly desires to please Him, while the other screams to satisfy ourselves.
The Bible tells us that this struggle is an old one. It’s nothing new. It’s not a new phenomenon, recently coming into existence. This struggle between what I want to do for God and what I want to do for myself is as old as Adam and Eve. Remember that story? They were given thousands of fruit trees to eat from; only one had to be left alone. Think of it … thousands of choices, only one restriction. Yet something inside Adam and Eve kept drawing them back to the one forbid-den fruit. They gave in and ate, and life changed forever.
Thousands of years later Paul revealed that, even as a follower of Jesus Christ, even as one saved and filled with God’s Spirit, he struggled. “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” Strong words, real life. Struggle is part of life, part of our journey. But God is able to give us the victory today. He uses His word, the blue Bibles inside the back window. By keeping our noses in His word we find strength and power to not cave into those fleshly desires screaming at us. Keep reading the Bible regularly, keep meditating upon it and you will find what you need to become stronger, more spiritually ready to face the day.
God also uses other people or another program to bring us the help we need. You and I need the wisdom, accountability, or presence of another brother or sister. These Godly people can be a real asset to us. They have been where we are, they have been gifted in such a way as to give help in time of need. It is no shame to draw from the gifting of others to become all that God wants you to become. ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another’ is a solid Biblical principle. You may need the second book in the window; an additional avenue of help to keep us on tract. God uses others in our lives to build us up in our faith.
Two books…God’s Word is one, the most important one. Another book is wisdom and practical steps to recover and get issues under control. Both can be useful in our struggle to be free from the pull of the flesh and to set us free to live completely for Him.
I better get the bread and eggs; maybe I’ll throw in some ice cream as well. I love being your Pastor, see you on Sunday…
Pastor Phil
