Put To Death = Be Good ...NOT!

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. [Colossians 3.5-11]

My first response to this passage this morning was that Paul was reverting to works. But then I realized something I had never understood before. Paul acknowledges all the sinful evil resident in the life of a human - that evil is alive just like the human is alive. Otherwise, Paul would not have said to "put to death..." this resident evil.

The task of "putting to death" the evil in us MUST NOT BE CONFUSED with being good! For far too long we have equated "being good" with "putting to death" and that is exactly what has put the church today (by and large) in such pitiful faithless existence.

Evil residing in the life of a human should be likened to a virus. The human body's natural immune system may defend against and fight most viruses we are aware of today, but the body has no immune system response whatsoever to the virus of evil. Many will try to be good, and may have extended periods of success, bu the virus will always return (like Paul said it is "lurking"). The only cure for this virus (or death of it) is found outside the body - outside the human existence.

The potion capable of killing the sin virus in man is the Word of God. It must be injected or ingested regularly. Without it, man is hopelessly sick and his efforts to heal himself will only end in disappointment and shame.

The thing about the Word however is that is must "get into our system." Many try one dose of the Word expecting it to produce immediate results - and some are even so fortunate to see positive results immediately - but most require a steady daily dose to begin a lifetime of recovery (I like to call it a journey).

It is the Word that kills sin. If we misinterpret Paul's directive in Colossians that we are somehow capable in and of ourselves to kill sin, then the message of the cross is foolish and unnecessary.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. [Colossians 3.16a]

Father, fill me today. Kill sin and evil in me today! I give myself to Your Word today!