“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT
I understand that pure gold does not corrode. Gold in its pure .999 fine form is impervious to corrosion! Ah, but even the slightest, microscopic element can weaken its resolve.
Of course, our souls are not made of gold and are filled with imperfections, any one of which can corrupt us. Paul focuses on one particular method. The New Living Translation tries to capture this corruptive experience by identifying the two primary means: lust and deception. Paul is much more precise with his words. He writes that we deteriorate, we morally decompose when we are carried away from what he calls, “deceitful desires.” What? We are our own enemy? Yes, and no.
The slanderer (devil), apparently needs a target, a hook, a fissure, a fracture to gain a good grip on our soul. But where is that found? It can be found in our “epithumia.” Our deep, powerful desires, our passions… our lusts! Ancients have defined about seven of these core lusts called the seven deadly sins: Lust (sexual), Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride. I am sure with a little evil curiosity blended into that list, there are many sub-sins associated.
So that’s the “lust” or passion part, but Paul combines the illustration with another word, apaté: deceit, deception, deceitfulness, delusion. Isn’t it weird that the word looks and sounds a lot like APPETITE? This is where the early church fathers came up with the phrase, “disordered desires” or “disordered loves.” They we’re kind enough to discern that even though our desires, wants, needs and passions may begin innocent, we are bent on fulfilling them as quickly and cheaply as possible!
Paul may not agree. We are both deceived from within, thus willing to lie to our own soul to get what we want. Or, and most likely, we are are willing to believe an outside lie, a twist on the truth, from none other than the father of all lies. Whatever and whichever gets us the results we want – OUR OWN WAY.
This is where the battle takes place for our forward motion, our maturity, our growth in faith and obedience to Jesus! Paul is constantly reminding believers to throw off, cast off sin, decisions and behaviors that are based out of our old, dead, deceitful ways. Throw them away like a pair of faded, baggy jeans from the 90’s! I think my job is to not only monitor my distractions, but to also check for the elements in those distractions that maybe corrosive and eventually corrupt my very soul. Paul’s godly advice is to let the Spirit of God continually do a renewal sweep of my soul! This renewal will help remove the corrosive thoughts and attitudes, allowing me to set my mind and heart on Christ.
Prayer
Dad,
David’s Psalm of repentance helps me safeguard against my own deceitful desires as well as let your Holy Spirit do a mental, attitudinal cleansing and renewing of my soul. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.