The Flesh, The Great Equalizer

. . . and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. --Romans 8:8

I used to hate my flesh; I could only see it as the enemy. If only I did not have it. I was looking forward to the day when I could slough it off, being free at last. Much has changed. I no longer hate my flesh; I accept the need for it and the wisdom of God in putting me in the flesh, for it keeps me near to Him. For that reason alone I would be grateful for it. If I move but a bit from Him, my flesh returns, I get miserable, and I go running back.Who could really hate such a thing? The flesh is also the great equalizer. A “great” man can be preaching, move into the flesh, and instantly he is no better than the bum he may be looking down on. I have watched a “great man” in a restaurant when the meal is not as he ordered it. There is an explosion and unkind words. Instantly he must reckon with his roots; he, too, is flesh. There are no “great men,” but little men with a great God. See how the flesh equalizes, keeps us humble, and therefore, keeps us safe?

God spoke through the Apostle Paul to give us two interesting points:

1.     “those who are in the flesh” – who is Paul speaking of besides the obvious from the actual words?  Christians.  That is obvious because of the context in which these words are spoken.  He wasn’t talking about Unbelievers.  He is talking TO Believers!  Now, that is a Truth that many Believers don’t want to recognize, especially when it comes to other Believers.  “Oh, they must not be a Christian…they still ____________.”  They do?  Their flesh.

2.    “cannot please God.”  This is a 2nd time Scripture speaks of something that “cannot please God.”  (See Hebrews 11:6, “without faith it is impossible to please God”).  These are direct words.  Is there someone in us that would quickly speak up and say something IF we fall into the flesh?  Yes.  Holy Spirit.

Michael is a Christian talking about “his flesh,” and how he used to “hate” it, then he got a revelation from God that changed everything…his perspective and his response.  To me the beautiful thing that Michael shares is how he received Holy Spirit’s wisdom of his need for flesh, that it is something that God uses to keep us near Him.  Amen!

It is sad that so many Believers speak of the flesh as something a Christian could not have.  Wrong.  And that erroneous perspective makes many to be critical, instead of compassionate, toward a Believer struggling with their flesh.

Would to God that many who read this and have been defeated by their flesh, will get the same revelation and change Michael shared.

- Mike Wells