A Journey to Healing, “Triumph Over Self-Destruction”
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,
for My anger has turned away from him.
From the moment we surrendered our lives to Christ and became Christians, we instantly obtained some new enemies. Namely the devil and his dominions. And therefore, until the day we are called home to Heaven, we have entered a lifelong celestial war. A battle that we were unfamiliar with when we were going down the broad road with almost everyone else.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”. However, he also tells us in Ephesians 6:12, “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.” So our new enemy is busy using one of his favorite weapons against us, “our old nature”.
In both the Old and New Testaments, we see this struggle between the old sinful nature we were born with and the new nature that we have from walking with the Lord.
As Christians, we strive to uphold our new identity in Christ and live a life that glorifies Him. But despite a heartfelt commitment to Jesus, the struggle against our flesh persists, leading to moments of weakness that can tarnish our testimony. In this post, as we embark on “A Journey to Healing,” we will explore the common challenge that many believers face – the battle with the old man. And, through the saving grace and forgiveness found in our Lord Jesus, we can all “Triumph Over Self-Destruction.”
The Dangers of Self-Destruction
The battle against self-destruction often manifests in various forms, including - struggles with anger, pride, lust, or other things that threaten to derail our walk with God. The Apostle John warns believers about the attraction of this world, cautioning, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15). The world’s values, temptations, and pressures can wield a powerful pool, leading Christians into compromising situations and causing internal distress. The consequences of failing to fight against “our old nature” can have a devastating effect on our spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Which is exactly what our enemy wants.
Let’s say that I lived in an area where it was permissible, and I had two pet lions on my property for protection. If I fed one of the Lions a good meal every day, Yet I fed the other lion only on Sunday mornings and a few scraps during the week, which of the two lions do you think would be stronger and more mentally aware to be able to protect me? You guessed it right! Whichever lion that I feed the most, and give the most attention to, will be the one I can depend on to protect me better. As Christians, we need to feed and nourish our new nature in Christ as much as possible, while attempting to starve the “old man” into submission. This means not allowing our enemy to remind us of our old nature and influence us into being that same wretched, lost, and careless person that we used to be.
So which lion do you want to feed? The roaring lion that roams about looking for whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), or the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)?
A Universal Struggle
Listening to the enemy and feeding our old nature has been a universal struggle since the Old Testament period. Several characters in both the Old and New Testaments struggled with self-sabotage or self-destructive behaviors, where their actions or decisions hindered their well-being or success. Below I’ve listed just a few.
Reuben:
Ruben was the oldest son of Jacob (also known as Israel), whose twelve sons became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel and played a significant role in biblical history. They were a family who worshiped God and sacrificed for their sins. Yet despite being born into a position of privilege and responsibility, he struggled with inner conflicts and desires that ultimately led him down a path of self-destruction.
In a moment of weakness, Ruben gave in to temptation and engaged in a sexual relationship with Bilhah, his father’s concubine (Gen. 35:21-22). Despite the lack of immediate punishment, Ruben’s actions cost him dearly, losing his privileges as the firstborn son (Gen. 49:3-4). These consequences reverberated throughout his life and the lives of his descendants, serving as a warning of the destructive power of our old nature.
Samson:
Samson, a judge of Israel, was chosen by God to be a Nazirite from birth (Judges 13:3-5) and was given superhuman strength because of his Nazirite vow. It was a symbol of his divine calling and connection to God. However, despite his remarkable abilities and his dedication to the Lord’s purpose, Sampson’s weakness for worldly desires – namely women, became a reoccurring problem. His consequences of failing to fight against his weaknesses caused his life to be marked by a series of moral failings, including marrying outside of his people (from the enemy’s camp), breaking marriage vows, and acting more like a vigilante than a leader.
Although the Philistines were their dire enemies, when Samson saw a beautiful young Philistine woman, he went to his father and mother and said, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife” (Judges 14:1-2). And then, Judges 16: 4 says, “Sometime later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.” This woman was used by the Philistines to manipulate Samson into giving up the secret to his strength and breaking his Nazareth vow to God. This weakness caused the loss of his strength (Judges 16:18-19), the loss of his eyes (Judges 16:21), and ultimately the loss of his life (Judges 16:30).
King David:
Although David was a king, a warrior, a musician, a poet, and a man after God’s own heart, he was not immune to the temptations of this world and struggled with his worldly lusts - which led to self-destructive behaviors in several instances. One of the most infamous episodes of weakness in David’s life was his affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Her incredible beauty overpowered what little bit of spiritual strength he could muster up, so he abused his power as King and summoned for her (2 Samuel 11:2-4). This weakness in character caused him to commit an even greater sin by having Bathsheba’s husband Uriah murdered on the battlefield so that he could marry her (2 Samuel 11:14-17).
This act of cold-blooded murder was a result of David’s desperation to hide his sin. But you can never hide your sins from God, so his consequences started spiraling down the family line – including the death of his child born from his affair with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:13-14), and the turmoil that plagued his household. While God forgave David after repenting, his actions were contrary to God’s commands, leading to a breach in their relationship.
Solomon:
Solomon was chosen by God to succeed his father David as King of Israel. He was known for his immense wisdom, wealth, and accomplishments. His construction projects included the building of the Magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. Early in his reign, he demonstrated great wisdom and discernment, famously resolving disputes and making wise decisions (1 Kings 3:16-28). However, as he grew older, Solomon’s weaknesses began to surface. His struggle with the sinful nature he was born with (as we all are) became a battle he allowed to overpower him. He failed to nurture the relationship that he had with God from the beginning and the commandments he was to follow. He failed to succeed his father David as King of Israel, the way that God intended him to.
Solomon’s obsessive desire for wealth, power, and pleasure – led him straight to idolatry, exploitation (1 Kings 12:1-5), and the neglect of his spiritual duties. 1 Kings 11:1-6 tells us he accumulated 700 wives, and 300 concubines, who led him to worship false gods, and 1 Kings 10:14-29 gives us a detailed description of the massive amount of wealth he accumulated. I guess it’s no surprise that the amount of gold that came to King Solomon each year was 666 talents (1 Kings 10:14). Solomon’s life was characterized by a battle between wisdom and foolishness, which became a conflict within him. He highlights this struggle in Proverbs 1:1-7, emphasizing the significance of wisdom and avoiding destructive behaviors. This shows us how even the most knowledgeable can fall prey to their old nature.
Peter:
Peter was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ. He was one of the three disciples who were in the “inner circle” (Peter, James, and John). He was the author of 1st and 2nd Peter in the New Testament and was also the disciple who gave the incredible sermon on the day of Pentecost where over 3,000 souls were saved (Acts 2:1-41). Peter walked closely with Jesus during His entire ministry, witnessing all His incredible miracles, and learning from Him face to face. Peter became a great leader in the early church. Originally given the birth name of “Simon Bar-Johan,” Jesus changed his name to “Cephas,” Which translates to “Peter” in English, “Petros” in Greek, and “Rock” in Aramaic (John 1:42). Although Peter was far from being a perfect Christian, Jesus stated, “Upon this rock, I will build My church” (Matthew 16:17-18).
However, the “old man” in Peter struggled with fear, pride, impulsive behavior, and trust issues. Peter's impulsive behavior reared its ugly head in Matthew 16:21-23 when Jesus predicted His own death, and Peter impulsively rebuked Him, saying, “Never, lord! This shall never happen to you.” Also in John 18:10, when Roman soldiers arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, and Peter impulsively drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant Malcolm. Both times Peter was harshly rebuked by Jesus. In Matthew 26:33-35, Peter pridefully boasted that he would never deny Jesus even if all the other disciples did. But he allowed fear to take over when he denied knowing Jesus 3 times, unwilling to suffer the possible consequences (Matthew 26:69-75). It was that same fear, and lack of trust that caused Peter to begin sinking when Jesus called him out of the boat to walk on the water (Matthew 14:22-33).
Paul the Apostle:
Let’s talk about Paul the Apostle, originally known as Saul of Tarsus. Paul’s story is a powerful example of how God can completely turn a life around. Before his dramatic conversion, Paul was the last person you’d expect to follow Jesus. He was passionately against Christians, hunting them down and throwing them in prison (Acts 8:1-3). His zeal for Jewish law made him blind to the truth of Jesus.
But everything changed when Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was literally knocked off his feet and blinded by the light of Christ (Acts 9:1-6). That moment was a game changer. After being blind for three days, his sight was restored, and so was his spirit. Paul was baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and started a new life dedicated to spreading the very gospel he once tried to destroy.
Paul often wrote about his ongoing battle with his old nature and the victory he found in Jesus. In Romans 7:15-25, He openly shares his struggle with sin, but he doesn’t leave it there. In Romans 8:1, He triumphantly declares “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Paul’s journey from self-righteousness and destruction to a life of grace and purpose shows us that no matter how far we’ve gone, God’s grace can bring us back.
Conclusion:
The “Journey to Healing and Triumph over Self-Destruction” is an ongoing process that requires dedication, faith, and the sustaining grace of God. As we’ve seen in the lives of Ruben, Samson, David, Solomon, Peter, and Paul, everyone battles with their old nature. But their stories also highlight something beautiful – The incredible power of God’s forgiveness and transformation.
To walk this path, we need to stay close to God through prayer, soak ourselves in His word, connect with other believers for support, and keep a vigilant eye on the temptations that lure us back to our old ways. Remember, it’s not our strength that brings victory, but Christ’s power in us. Philippians 4:13 says it perfectly: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
These stories remind us of our humanity and God’s divine grace that offers redemption. No matter how often we stumble, God’s hand is always there to lift us up, guide us, and bring us to a place of healing and triumph. May your journey be filled with the transformative power of God’s love, and may your life be a living testimony to His unwavering grace.
May the Lord bless you all.
