II Timothy 1:1 –“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus: verses 7 & 8 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.”

Over the years I have noticed many Christians have a problem with their past and overcoming their guilt.  Paul, in writing to Timothy tells him he has a clear conscience.  Most of us find it is easy to accept being forgiven.  Our problem is how do we forget?

Scripture promises us a new life through Christ that starts at conversion.  This new life is a time given to preparing for life after death and living throughout all eternity with God.  It is not necessarily what we do but what we believe and the knowledge that we receive from studying the Bible.  Prior to Christ’s coming, personal salvation was not possible.  Christ came to destroy death.  That does not mean we as humans will not die.  However, physical death is just the beginning for those who have been saved through Christ.  This is one of the greatest promises in the Bible. Christ brought to Christians that they will become immortal.  They shall rise and live again and death is not the end.  Paul tells Timothy what Christ commissioned him to do was proclaim the Good News, the gospel.

Paul continually taught that God was in control and He would protect the souls of those who accepted salvation.  No matter what situations or problems occurred he could fully trust God and that nothing could separate him from God.

It is not uncommon for those who have received salvation and have made a commitment to live a holy life to be suddenly energized and eager to take on the world.  This places them in the unenviable position of reversing themselves.

I have witnessed too many Christians who downplay the seriousness of negative influences.  No two Christians are defeated in precisely the same way, yet there is a definite pattern to the traps in which they fall.  The four most common traps are directly related to our worldly natures and our spiritual natures.

Every Christian or non-Christian has an inherent need to love and be loved.  It is well-known that love can be a source of inner strength or it can be the source of individual weakness and misery.  All Christians should understand that God fulfills the need to love and be loved and He does it unconditionally.  Be alert to the possibility of finding the wrong kind of love in the wrong place.  No one is immune to being attracted to a person of the opposite sex.

The need to belong and be accepted is universally recognized.  We know that teenagers take up everything from using drugs to committing acts of violence in order to belong.  There is no difference with adults; they may just be a little more discreet.  We must remember we have become a member of the most privileged group in the history of the world.  No other group has the gift of salvation and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

We all need an identity or the need to be someone.  Christians must know God has given them an identity.  Our worldly natures tempt us to fulfill this need of identity through careers and business successes.  No matter how successful, well-known or even famous, it will only last for a matter of time.  Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Finally, everyone needs a purpose in life.  The enemy is once again ready to set the trap by leading people, one step at a time, into believing that career success and the financial rewards that often accompany it, are one’s only true purpose in life.  Nothing in Scripture indicates that God opposes successful careers, wealth, position or the pursuit of personal interest, recreational or otherwise.  In fact, we have every reason to believe that God will bless us in those endeavors.   Our true purpose is to serve God by living a holy life, be accountable to and dependent upon Him and live at peace with others.

Who but God can meet all of our basic needs?  Do you want what God can give you?

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