Christian Living

Unhaunting

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
12/16/21
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“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)

We are created with physical bodies, a flesh tent like the animals, and drive them with our hearts. The difference between us and other created life is we are formed from the dust of the earth. We were not living when formed until our Creator gave us the breath of life. “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) Humanity is a spiritual being created in the flesh, and life comes from the spirit. The spirit of humanity is eternal, and the flesh is but dust and will return to the ground.

Humanity lives through this world, satisfying the flesh. Since the fall to sin, it has been that way when evil entered into our hearts and fractured our beings. Before the fracture, Adam and Eve walked and fellowshipped with God. I would think that communication was spiritual, as God is Spirit. Sin broke that spiritual relationship with God and humanity. There is an inner conflict in humanity between the flesh and the spirit. I somehow believe that the spirit was relegated to second place behind the flesh due to worldly desires. The flesh lives for the world and will die in the world. The spirit will live on after separation from the body. It is a problem where the spirit will be in the spirit realm.

Spiritual beings controlled by fleshly desires will find themselves in a fiery pit prepared for Satan. Spiritual beings that live in the spirit by the Spirit of God will find themselves in His Kingdom. The destination becomes the first order of anything we do is found in the words of Jesus. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Living a life that seeks God’s Kingdom and living a righteous life will find themselves in a wondrous place for an eternal home.

I was raised in a Christian family, as my father was a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was disciplined by reason more than the hickory stick and taught the way I should go once I was old enough to manage my life. “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)  At eighteen, when that day came, my father offered to help in further education at a Seminary college. I had a whole expanse of life before me, it was mine to plot and live as I please, and foolishly I chose my way over an excellent opportunity. I went off to the far country.

I will not tell you of the wreck I made of life. It stacks up into chapters as life is, and each chapter has markers that define it. To explain, it is like songs of my youth remind me of the events in that chapter. They are mostly pleasant and memories of fondness. We all have them. There are other markers we gather as we go through life. They mark the things we are not proud of and are ashamed to reveal. I was a cross country truck driver for thirty years, and the temptations for evil came easy in those years, and I gathered many markers. I will not tell you any of those stories as they are markers that bring me shame.

There are many places across the fruited plains and here where I live that are markers of those far country days. I find it hard not to pass them all too often, and they hold a host of memories that haunt me of those darkened days. I seek first His Kingdom and strive to live in righteousness these days, but the markers of my past take down my countenance. I cannot remember all the evil I’ve done, and I am sure the Apostle Paul must have missed one or more. “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:2-4) I am not perfect and never will be as long as I’m in this body, as I fall way short of His glory.

What is the measure of my love for my Savior Jesus? I believe the measure of my love of God is found in the measure of evil I’ve been forgiven. In the gospel of Luke 7:36-50) we read a story of when Jesus was dining with some Pharisees. The meal was interrupted when a prostitute entered in and wept over the feet of Jesus. She was grieved as a wicked sinner before Jesus, and her tears fell on His feet. She let down her hair, wiped the tears, and then put perfume in their place. The Pharisees were indignant that Jesus would allow such a sinner to do this.

Jesus told a story of forgiveness when one owed more and owed less. Then asked the Pharisees which sinner loved more the one who forgave him. One of the Pharisees answered, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” I can’t measure my sin against others, but I know firsthand that mine are great. Therefore my appreciation and love for my Savior are great. I have not found greater mercy and grace here in this world as there is in the Kingdom of God.

Today, as I travel, those old markers come upon me, and my mind attempts to relive the days I have left behind. I don’t think this is unique to me, and we all suffer from past haunts. I see the “Do Drop In” or the “Eyes Wide Shut” gentleman’s club as I ride down the road. When I get onto the interstate, the billboards for “Show Girls” or “The Hard Rock Casino” take me back to yesteryears. The Lord is faithful and true to forgive a sinner like me. He will remember my sins no more as they are as far as the east from the west. I, as a man, can never forget, and it haunts and taunts me. It is true the old quote, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground quote.” Solomon gives us this wise truth. “A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on. A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.” (Provers 26:26-28)

I pray about it, talk it over with Jesus when the harassing thoughts start to overcome, and It is great to have such a friend with understanding and comforting counsel. I put in my earbuds and listen to scripture and commentary, and it fills my mind with His truth. Satan never misses an opportunity the Kill, Steal, and destroy and proves the old saying, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” We have to remember that old habits built themselves on the foundation of years. Also, that one has to be perfect to become perfect is a deception of the devil. Righteousness is not instant, and like anything in life, you have to grow into it. The power is not of us, but in us, it’s the Holy Spirit.

Our minds have spent a lifetime collecting the clutter the world feeds it every day. Some look for it, and some get it without asking. Either way, it filters in through many mechanisms of the world. We can avoid saturation in a safe place between the covers of God’s Word. Paul tells us that as we reject the worldly ways, we must renew the mind with the truth of God’s Word. Don’t just read the bible study the verses of each passage. Find verses that will defend you against the devil's pitfalls in your way. Remember, it is the Holy Spirit that counsels the Word of God. Pray His Word. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Suppose you have two minds, the good mind and the bad mind. It is not that farfetched as you argue with yourself all the time, least I do. Which mind wins the argument? The one you feed the most would be the strongest and the victor. So it’s a diet question. Always be about feeding your mind with God’s Word, and you will soon see victories you never thought possible. There will be no time for those markers to haunt you or taunt you. When the mind does become idle, then ponder of such things as Paul instructs. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, February 11, 2021