When I have the opportunity to speak with other pastors about church, I usually say you have to know where you live. For example, south Louisiana is different from most parts of the country. The particulars of leading a church are different here than other places. You have to know where you live.

Today, I want to write about where you live spiritually and specifically about our world of sin, suffering, and rebellion.

Before you can deal with the world, you have to know the world you live in. We live in a sinful world of rebellion.

Where do you live? What must you understand about where you live?

First, we must understand we will not be free from temptation. Our Lord was tempted, and we will be tempted. Though we would like to be rid of this scourge, we will not be free of temptation until we are with Jesus. At last, sin and temptation will be over. Until then, we must continue to deal with the temptations we face.

The fact we are tempted does not mean we have sinned. F.B. Meyer used the crime of receiving stolen goods as an example. Though someone should tempt us to buy stolen goods, we have not committed a crime because we have been approached. We are only guilty when we actually purchase the stolen goods. It is the same with sin. Temptation is a reality, but it is not sin.

Second, we must not expect to lose our sinful nature. Our human nature with its bent toward sin will be with us until we are with Christ in heaven. It has always been difficult for me to imagine we will come to a time when we will no longer be under the sway of a sinful nature. Until we die or Christ returns we will be dealing with this problem. We simply need to understand this is our problem and the problem of our world.

Finally, we must expect our tendency to sin to stay with us. Since temptation is always with us and since we have a nature to sin, it is also clear we will have to face this possibility as long as we live. Satan will use every avenue to harm us. Therefore, we must be on our guard.

Here is the good news. (1) Christ lives in us. We have spiritual power to defeat sin. (2) We will not be tempted beyond what we can overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). (3) As we struggle with our nature and do not yield to sin, we may find it easier to neglect the temptation. As with anything, practice makes us better.

May God bless you as you seek to gain the victory over sin.

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