We Wrestle Against Flesh and Blood

The above caption is not a typo. I know very well that Paul declares that we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but I want to say the reverse is true. NO!!! I am not disagreeing with Paul. But both statements are correct and it depends on which side of the glass you are standing on. Paul, looking on matters relating to spiritual warfare hits the nail squarely on the head. Externally we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.

Ezekiel in some sense enacted this principle in his discourse with or about the King of Tyre. He starts out talking to the"flesh and blood" on the throne, then he changes the tone of his address and addresses the spirit behind the throne. Much in the same way we would see modern day empires that are built on greed and exploitation or individuals who we encounter who stand in opposition to the reality of the Kingdom of God. So don't think I am in opposition to Paul at all.

But went I place the internal elements of this walk in juxtaposition to each other and take into account the different predilections of my flesh I came to the conclusion that we do wrestle against "flesh and blood". We have read the three foxes of the life...Lust of the flesh, Pride of Life and Lust of the Eyes. All these are products of the flesh and elements of life that we are struggling with. Yes they call into play the mind, but they are embedded in the flesh.

I have wondered what one day for me would be like if I didn't have the hormones of my flesh that leads to me desiring sex, or the mental capacity needed to be greedy, covetous or proud. What would a day off from the flesh be like? What would happen if my the senses of my flesh fall into alignment with the desires of my spirit? Would I find it as hard as I do to pray, to read the Word, to love my neighbours and/as myself?

Paul left us a trail to follow in Romans that speaks about the law of the flesh (and blood) that wars against the principles of God and the spirit. I am not engaging in any Platonic dualism that posits that the flesh/matter is evil and the spirit is good, but from what Paul says there are elements within the flesh that's just evil and we wrestle against the flesh daily. We are called to mortify...crucify...render ineffective the deeds of the flesh. And I find it easier to say than do.

Whoever came up with the notion that being victorious in the war against the flesh is as simple as the saying "Mind over Matter" is dreadfully mistaking. Transformation does come through the renewing of the mind, but where are the formulas? Where is the A x A - 10 = 90, (find the value of A)? Well...there are none. In my struggle against flesh and blood I have grown more and more appreciative of grace and more and more puzzled by it as well. I am thankful that Christ bore my sins in His flesh shedding his blood to give me both the upper hand and the victory in this battle. I am grateful that even when I don't get it right I am still the righteousness of God IN CHRIST. My inability to live as I want to for the pleasure of God does not devalue my salvation, but in fact brings to mind the reality of how valuable a price was paid for it.

The Law (Baccra Masta...in Jamaica parlance) was good, but the flesh was unable to keep it. Grace on the other hand did not obliterate the law, but gave us the ability to keep the perfect law of God through Christ and at the same time made provision for our lapses. In this wrestling against flesh and blood I am happy God holds me eternally secure in the palm of His hand. I look forward to that day when my body will be transformed into the incorruptible and immortal. Till then...we wrestle against flesh and blood.