Paired with the damaging concept of self created
forgiveness is the concept of self created strength. In this past decade, men who were
perceived as paragons of Christian strength have fallen to the weakness of their flesh.
Because these men were tele-evangelists whose teachings were heard by millions, their
weaknesses had devastating results. Their sins were trumpeted across the nation in the
secular media. Christians reacted in disillusionment and grief. The secular world reacted
with glee and finger pointing. In the spiritual world Satan gloated at the havoc he had
caused. He had convinced one more person that they were strong and righteous and were
above the weaknesses of the flesh. And yet, when Paul asked for healing for his
"thorn in his flesh" 2 Cor. 12:17 God told him that, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Paul responded with this,
"Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of
Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak,
then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:10 - 11 It is knowing and surrendering our weakness to
God that brings about His strength in us. We have no claim to it. We can take no credit
for it. It forces us to be brutally honest about the condition of our heart when we
acknowledge our weaknesses and lay them at the foot of the cross.
Yet, in the electronic Christian culture in which we live, the
condition of our heart is bypassed in favor of the "politically correct"
Christian image. Christian "superstars", surrounded by adoring fans begin to
believe in their carefully cultivated image. It is the image that is validated by all of
their followers. But a cultivated image cannot withstand the weight of reality. When
Jeremiah states that the "heart is more deceitful than all else" he is not
referring to the general state of mankind. Rather, it is a very personal statement about
each and every one of us. Our hearts can deceive us into believing we are doing something
for God when in reality our motive is very self serving. Our hearts can deceive us into
thinking that we are strong and righteous while we clandestinely feed our lusts and nurse
our sinful nature.
I have a dear friend who came to the Lord out of an extremely
promiscuous life-style. She was literally addicted to sex. It wasn't the act itself
necessarily, but rather the power she held over men through her body. Once they succumbed
to her charm, she disdained them as weak and they were quickly discarded. After she
received Christ she deluded herself into thinking that she was now strong and could
withstand temptation. Time and time again she placed herself in precarious situations
convinced that she was strong enough to overcome. Time and time again she fell. But God,
in His infinite love and mercy, allowed each episode to be a stepping stone for spiritual
and personal growth. The irony is, that in growing spiritually, she did not become
stronger. Rather, she became more and more aware of her weakness!
Indeed, the closer we get to God, the more aware we all become of
our wretchedness! It's like seeing yourself in a mirror with ever intensifying light. We
don't become more beautiful as the light becomes brighter. Instead, every little
imperfection and blemish is glaringly obvious. But, it doesn't mean we get uglier either.
It simply means that as we are seeing what's already there. As we look at our own sinful
nature in the light of God's perfection we see how wretched our hearts are. But, as we
surrender each blemish and wrinkle of our heart to God, he replaces them with His beauty,
His purity, His virtue and His strength. We have no claim on it. We have no part in
achieving it. We simply acknowledge what is in our hearts and give that to God.
My friend still struggles with sexual desires. But, she has broken
the destructive life-style she was in. Yet, she knows that it has nothing to do with her
strength. All she has to offer God is her weakness. It is His strength that has sustained
her and resisted temptation.
