The Process of Elimination

My wife is spring cleaning a bit late this year, because she broke her ankle in three places, seven months ago.  She is doing fine now.

My better half, as I sometimes refer to her, is on me to eliminate some of the old shoes and graphic T-shirts that take up a lot of room in our clothe closet.  What can I say, they are broken in just the way I like them.

I know if I give in, she will just turn around and buy new.  So, what is my hesitation?  Well, they are comfortable, that’s all I can say.

Such is sin.  Being involved with it is comfortable at times and it’s what sinners do, as I did before meeting the Lord.  Sinning becomes a way of life and is hard to rid oneself of this nature.  Apposing God was part of my everyday wardrobe, because I am part of Adam’s race and Gene-pool, as are you.

In that he and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we are born with the sin nature within us.  Everyone has this same inherited affliction.  I might say, too many old clothes or skeletons were in the closet of my heart—unwanted wear that needed to be eliminated.

Jesus did this when He saved my soul, but it is an ongoing battle to keep myself from falling into various temptations.  I strive to keep my heel upon the neck of the old sin nature so that it does not raise its ugly head.

God removed the old, worn-out, sin-apparel that was not pleasing to Him.  Since I took the positive step in God’s direction and Jesus filled my heart with His Spirit, God is helping me to not do the things I once did.  One by one I am eliminating old habits.

I can do without the confusion and heartache that sinning brings.  God is showing me a new way to live, free of regrets.  Doing things His way brings joy and lasting peace.

As a newly born, babe in Christ, and the years following, through the process of elimination I am putting off the old man as God opens doors to new experiences in Him.  The more I eliminate things of my old nature, the more of God I receive.  The more of God I receive, the more of Him I want.

(James 4:8) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...”

God’s blessings are deep and wide, like a great river that never runs dry.  God is like a beautiful fountain of endless love. 

Being affected by sin or should I say, infected by exterior influences and their visual effects, I liken this lifestyle to a kid walking through a toy or candy store wanting to touch and sample everything he sees.  But his parent or guardian is with him and helps the boy control his urges through correction.  God disciplines those He loves.

(Hebrews 12:7) “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

It’s like walking with Father God and experiencing the positive changes that He brings through correction, if needed.  Just knowing that God has far greater goodies for His children than what Satan has to offer, it causes me to dig deeper and pray harder so that I walk even closer to God than ever before.

The devil’s candy store and toy store lose their appeal, because God outshines the negative aspects of worldly glimmer.  It is amazing how the Holy Spirit comforts me in times of sorrow, while Jesus embraces me when I weep alone.  God the Father always speaks words of encouragement to my heart when I am dealing with things out of my control.

These are just a few positives that take place when eliminating unwanted sin in one’s life.  There is more room for the Lord when we do so.

When I ran track in high school, before my heat (race) in the 880-yard run, I always eliminated my warm-up sweats and heavy Converse tennis shoes.  I didn’t want to be encumbered with unnecessary, extra weight.

The freedom I felt in shorts and a thin jersey made running the half mile much easier, especially after putting on my lightweight track shoes.  They were the lightest ones that I could buy.  It was like running barefooted.

After my new birth experience with the Lord, I eliminated drinking, partying, cruising the main to meet girls, and a host of other unnecessary weights that so easily beset me.  They once bogged me down spiritually, but no more.

The burden of sin that was pressing me down was lifted and I could breathe.  It was like getting a second wind when running the 880.  This is exactly what it feels like when Jesus takes up residence in our heart.

I am running a race toward heaven, remaining unfettered by worldly influences that weigh me down.  This ongoing process of eliminating temptations is achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit, as I have stated.  He is my strength.  All things become new in Jesus when God forgives sin.

After conversion, it is a process of learning how to eliminate unwanted temptations by listening to the One who wants to give me a new wardrobe of righteousness.  I keep my eyes on the Lord.  This cleaning process provides more room in my heart to receive God’s blessings as I work out my own salvation in fear and trembling.

The wonderful gifts that God imparted to you and me at Calvary are ours for the asking, when we accept Jesus as Lord.  We become God’s kids and part of His family.  The same privileges that Jesus is given are ours to share.

As I learn how to eliminate habits obtained in the world, I am amazed at how white and clean the blood of Jesus has washed my sin-stained soul.  According to the Bible, God made it white as snow.  It is as if I had never sinned. 

The blackness of sin disappears, because of the grace and mercy that God extends to whoever calls upon the name of Jesus.  When Jesus freely gave His life on the cross for sinners, He had you and me on His mind.  Even before we were born, He knew our name and loved us.

The process of elimination is about sin that was holding me fast in its ugly clutches until God eliminated them.  The river-of-life now flows from His throne to me.  God’s blessings will never run dry.  There is a vast, unlimited supply.  His pure, fountain of love, whom we know as Jesus, freed my soul from sin.

I am a sinner saved by grace.  God will do the same for every person that is searching for peace, true freedom, and a new way of living, without all the drama and shenanigans that the world presses in on us.

We cannot buy or obtain salvation because of who we are, and certainly not by our own good works lest we boast of our accomplishments.  Salvation is given freely through Jesus, God’s Son.  No other name, not mine or yours can save humanity from their sins.

Written by,

Papa Boyd