The flesh
craves pleasure and sin, though it never fully acknowledges, nor desires to pay
the cost—in the present and assuredly not in the future.
It rationalizes, “Oh just this once can’t hurt,”
or “Just one more time and then I shall quit _____ forever,” or “I deserve
this,” or “Everyone else is doing it, it is not fair that I should be
deprived.”
When we are battling it, our flesh will tell us
a multitude of things to encourage us to succumb to temptation, but doing so
will never fulfill us, as it will never give us that which we should desire,
that being fullness in GOD through obedience to HIS will.
The cost of blessings: those being Spiritual,
physical, emotional, and mental in the present—
· Spiritually as oneness with GOD through the
inner dwelling of The Holy Spirit within us is directly impacted by sin. HIS
enlightening, encouraging, strengthening and growing us in Spiritual Maturity
is hindered by sin.
· Physically by GOD blessing us with health, as
well by avoiding the negative consequences of said sins inflicting diseases and
harm upon our physical bodies—as our bodies are temples to our Holy GOD.
· Emotionally through the GODLY sustained peace
and joy we experience by living lives of righteousness.
· Mentally the blessing of peace of mind, the peace of mind knowing that
GOD, our Heavenly Father is pleased with us.
Moreover, the eternal cost of dwelling in Heaven
as the alternative is eternity in hell.
