Overcome & Leave Behind Self-Indulgences
James 5:5
“Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days… You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter” (James 5:3,5). “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5)
I do not know whether to thank YAHveh (the LORD) for the blessing that we have lived in such a society as ours, because we are self-indulged and we continue to indulge ourselves. It is the way we are taught by the world. Only by the Almighty’s grace and mercy are we going to be able to get out of this snare that is so common to many in the United States of America and similar affluent cultures.
We cringe at the thought that maybe our flesh might have a hunger pain that lasts more than ten minutes. The thought of our luxuries and self-indulgent lifestyle being taken away causes us to fear. "Woe to you…hypocrites…inside [you] are full of robbery and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25). Many of us are pitiful, poor, and naked—not physically, but spiritually. Now, what are we going to do?
We are going to enter a spiritual fitness program and get fit. We are going to learn to persevere, to run the race, and not to grow weary of well doing. We are going to learn to have spiritual endurance, so we can stay strong to the end. The exhortation to overcome and endure to the end is spoken over and over again in the book of Revelation, by our Savior. “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of YAHveh (GOD) and their faith in YAHshua (Jesus)” (Revelation 14:12).
Sitting in our comfortable homes, with our cars in the garage, food on the table, the television preoccupying many attention spans, worldly preoccupation and self indulgence has dissipated most peoples time and energies. The last days are upon us and we are coming to the end of such luxury and indulgence. What are we going to do in that day when the judgment falls? Are we going to stand firm because we were wise enough to get rid of the wisdom and love of the world and go into a fitness program to become faith-filled, obedient, righteous children of the Righteous One?
We may all be sitting one day, like in a dream I had —In an instant the American flag came down; and suddenly, a new flag went up. There were soldiers all around; and we were in concentration camps under a new regime. The soldiers had big guns, and we had nothing but dirt floors and concentration camp clothes. We had no luxuries—no bed, no toilet. All we had was life, breath, and hopefully a faith that would endure to His praise, honor and glory.
Idolatry is rebellion against YAHveh’s (the LORD’s) Commandments and no idolatrous person will enter heaven (see 1 Corinthians 6:9). Why are we so dense? Idols, idolaters, no one who has an idol before YAHveh will enter heaven, (idolatry kills eternally) for it is one of the Commandments, “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol…” (Exodus 20:3-4). We are not to have anything between YAHveh and ourselves.
Our hearts have to be laid bare. Every single idol, from the smallest to ultra colossal, must come down, or these idols will be our downfall and we will come down with them. Apostle Paul writes, “Do not be deceived, YAHveh (the LORD) is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7), which means if you have idols, you are going to be judged. “…What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as (YAHveh) God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16).
What could be so important in your life to risk judgment? Like Esau, (referring to Genesis 25:29-34) what is something that you crave so much that you are willing to give up your birthright into eternity? Would you give up your eternal inheritance for a meaningless, fleeting, temporary satisfaction of the flesh and its earthly cravings? Would you give up an eternal inheritance for that? Many have. They were stupid, foolish, insane, and deceived by their idol, by the author and finisher of idols, Satan himself. The enemy is searching relentlessly, for those who will succumb to his deceptive enticements.
If you are guarding an idol, do not hold on to it just because you’ve invested a lot of time and energy into it. It will destroy you from the inside out, from the inside out into eternity. “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world [and all its camouflaged idols], yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). Regardless what you call it; anything that captures your love, time, energy, and affection can easily become an idol. Apostle Paul writes, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of YAHveh? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Unrighteousness will block your entrance into heaven. “The fear of YAHveh (the LORD) is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10). For the most part the problem is that we have been immersed for years in a diluted, ear tickling form of religion; therefore, we can’t believe that we have a sovereign God who would be so harsh. No, He is not harsh, “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). He has given us the gift of free will and He admonishes us saying, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants…” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
“Behold, now is "the day of salvation"— (2 Corinthians 6:2), "today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). “Find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10) and do it from a heart of utmost loving obedience. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
Prayer: Precious Father in Heaven, please help me to “put on the Master YAHshua Messiah (Jesus Christ), and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14). Knowing “those who belong to Messiah YAHshua (Christ Jesus) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). It is the desire of my heart to live the rest of my life no longer for my lusts but for Your will.
You have mightily proclaimed, “the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Please help me to become part of the righteous remnant who lives by faith and will not shrink back. Please help me to “endure to the end” and overcome my flesh, the world, and the fear of what is coming on this earth. In YAHshua’s (Jesus’s) name, Amen.