Although it is not good to live in the past it is necessary, occasionally, to look back and see where you came from in order to refocus on where you are headed. Swimmers who are swimming the backstroke just peek a look at where they've been to make sure they are swimming straight within their lane. In that same way, Paul takes a few verses to remind us where we came from to help us better recognize the path ahead.
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at on time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." Ephesians 2:1-3
I like to call this the "Lifestyles of the dead". Lifestyles of the dead because it is not just the end of a life without God, but the active now of a life in sin is death, the wrath of God. Notice that Paul says "is now at work in those who are disobedient." Remember that in Galatians Paul said that God would not be mocked, we will reap what we sow. Remember that before we gave ourselves to Christ we lived to satisfy our sinful natures. You see, even our attempts to find peace and rest resulted in reaping death and wrath.
Here is the deal; seeking fulfillment via the gratification of our sinful nature leads to death. It may be a slow death or a quick death but death either way. If you put water in your gas tank it will kill your engine. Sometimes we as Christians put water in our gas tanks when we make our choices only to gratify the desires and thoughts of out sinful nature. One of my professors once said that Christians often make decisions according to the lifestyle of the dead and of course they then reap from the sinful nature death. the
Remember, seeking to find fulfillment by gratifying your sinful nature is how you used to live. Now, you live by faith in love. More on that tomorrow...
Father, thank you for rescuing me from a life of sin. Help me to live by faith in your love. Praise be to you in us today!
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