The Diet of Dying
by Christopher Hendrix
Star athletes work hard to achieve their glory. They spend hours practicing techniques, refining their abilities to execute the basics, working out, and studying their sport. Included in their workout plan is a diet. The diets vary from high protein to vegan, but you’ll never find a star (except maybe sumo wrestlers) partaking of a diet made of ice cream, donuts, twinkies, and other high-sugar yumminess. Though these things taste good (except Twinkies), they would destroy a star’s body. The workouts would not last long, body fat would grow, and their abilities would weaken. Though biting into a warm, delicious, chocolate-covered brownie brings intense satisfaction, the brownie ends up biting the athlete.
The Christian life is one of endurance. As we’ve been covering James, we learned that trials produce endurance, ultimately leading to maturity in Christ. These are for our good and given to us by God. On the other hand, indulging in temptations undercut our growth in Christ. They are the junk food we enjoy initially but bite us in the end. The sin that comes from temptation affects every area of life, no matter how ‘secret’ the sin may seem. Yet, these temptations do not originate with God. They derive from our own lusts. James 1:13–15 says,
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he tempts no one. 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.
Notice James’ line of thought. Each person is tempted when? When Satan comes? When the piece of cake appears from the kitchen? When the half-dressed gal walks in front? When the latest purse drops in price? No. When his/her own desire baits him/her. Just like the fishing hook with the bait attached for the fish, so too is our desire luring us.
Watch Pastor Chris Hendrix’s sermon on James 1:12-15.
Doug Wilson says it best, “When you are in the middle of temptation, there is a love/hate thing going on. You are powerfully attracted to something, you are disgusted by the fact you are attracted to it, and that disgust is part of the fuel that drives you. It is one of the things that (perversely) attracts you. Lust is often after more than simple biological release—lust demands the fulfillment of an inordinate desire (Col. 3:5). Lust is attempting to get from a finite thing what only the infinite can provide. And when a finite thing, like a sexual encounter, is made to bear the weight of all our eternal longings, it necessarily collapses under the strain. But the perverse insanity of the whole thing is part of what attracts us the next time as well.”[1]
So then, what do we do? Is this a losing battle? We feast on a diet of dying. Romans 6:6 says, We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Our old nature was put to death by Christ. The death and burial of Christ signified that our sinful natures died with him. Though we still struggle with sin, we aren’t held captive by it any longer. We have the ability and power—through Christ and by the Spirit—to say no to temptation. We died to ourselves because of the Triune God’s work. The Father sent the Son, the Son died on the cross and was resurrected, and the Spirit applies this work to us. The Spirit sanctifies us in Christ and conforms us experientially to who we are positionally. This must be our diet as Christians and not feeding our lust. As Wilson wrote, feeding our lust attracts us the next time.
What does it look like to live in this truth, then? First, repentance must clothe the believer. And not just after committing the sin but at the point of temptation. Why are you feeling tempted? Because of your corrupt nature and evil desires. So, repent of these feelings, thoughts, and leanings. Confess them to God, then turn away from them. Second, believe the promises of Scripture. Places like 1 Corinthians 10:13 contain truths that nourish the believer’s spiritual life. Not going to these Scriptural truths and promises is the same as the athlete who malnourished his/her body. Third, pray the truths of Scripture and ask God to rescue you from your evil wants. Beg Him and cry to Him to save you and strengthen you. Finally, go to other believers for the Word. The church is called to teach one another, admonish one another, encourage one another, and comfort one another. These things strengthen us against temptations that come from our lusts.
The diet of a Christian involves feasting on the Lord and recognizing our old selves are dead, but we have been born again. We are alive in Christ! Let that diet strengthen you in times of temptation.
[1] https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/self-loathing-desire.html