Paul wrote, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate!" (Romans 7:15). Do you ever feel that way? I certainly do!So, how can we navigate life without falling into this cycle of behavior? I think of it in terms of sports.
If I desire to win in any sport, I must understand the game, my behaviors, and the ultimate goal of that sport. For example, in basketball, the goal is straightforward: get the basketball through the net more times than the opposing team. Score more points. However, the path to achieving this goal is more complex. You face opponents who do not want you to score. You also need to know how to position yourself effectively to make successful shots. Even the best players, including professionals, can be thrown off their game by their opponents or by the mental challenges they face. Sports involve execution, but effective execution is influenced by knowledge, skill, and attitude.
Now, how does this relate to Paul's dilemma? Jesus spoke about life by saying, "I am the truth, the life, and the way" (John 14:6). He also claimed, "I came so that you would have life, and have it to the fullest" (John 10:10). The previous verse (John 10:9) highlights the fact that "The thief comes to kill and destroy."Here are three guiding points:
1. **Don't take your eyes off the goal!** Jesus declares that He is "the life." C.S. Lewis stated that seeking truth, beauty, happiness, and life outside of Jesus is futile, foolish, and impossible because such things simply do not exist. Solomon experienced this futility when he said, "It is a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). In contrast to this pessimistic view, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to "run with endurance the race God has set before us" by keeping our eyes on Jesus, "the champion who initiates and perfects our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Remember, Jesus is our champion, and we win the game with Him on our team!
2. **Don't allow yourself to become a victim!** Victim-attitude may be the most significant negative force affecting our world today. ** In our nation, two ideologies vie for our hearts and minds, while Jesus instructs us to "love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength" (Mark 12:30). The opposing ideologies are driven by the author of lies, who relies on a single repetitive tactic: distracting us from our goals and leading us to believe we are victims who deserve more. C.S. Lewis illustrated this in his Screwtape Letters, describing how such distractions contribute to unrest. A victim mentality fosters pride, greed, anger, hatred, mistrust, and isolation. On this Father's Day, I urge our fathers to recognize this evil and teach their sons, daughters, and grandchildren that they are victors, not victims. As highlighted in Hebrews, Jesus, after conquering the evil of this world, sits victorious at God's right hand. He invites His children into eternal victory. I've read the end of the book, and Jesus wins—I want Him on my team!
3. **Do follow the one who knows the game, the path, and the way!** We follow by rejecting cultural rhetoric that overshadows God's voice. We recognize that we are here to be blessings and bear fruit—manifesting love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control. The goal of Christian life is not merely to secure a place in heaven while continuing to struggle with the things we don’t want to do. Paul concludes in Romans 7:25, "Thank God, the answer is Jesus Christ."
We need more of Jesus and less of a culture that teaches us to be angry because we've been wronged.Paul had the answer. Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." To succeed in life, "Thank God, the answer is Jesus Christ!" AMEN
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