Flesh, It Stinks!

The Apostle Paul uses the Greek word “s’arx” 86 times in his New Testament letters.  It means ‘flesh’ and can be used to describe our physical body.  But, it can also be used to define our inner man.  That is how Paul uses it most often in his letters.  In that usage it means, carnal or corrupt.  The flesh has been described as, “the seat of sorrow and pleasure.”  Greek philosopher Epicurus described our flesh as, “the enthronement of bodily desires.”

Paul brings the idea a bit closer to home.  He tells it like it is.  Paul tells us that when we follow those “bodily desires” it looks like “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.”  Gal. 5:19-21

Anything here describe your life?  It does mine, and it stinks!  It reminds me of one of those survivalist shows I watched recently; three days in the wilderness with nothing to eat.  The guy comes upon the stinky, rotting carcass of a dead animal.  The big question he faces, “Do I eat it?”  No, he didn’t.  He ate the maggots instead.  That is just as disgusting and repulsive!  That’s the point.  When flesh is in control of our lives, we cannot make it better.  It will always be repulsive.  As hard as we try, we cannot make it better.

Ah, but I will improve it!  I’ll make it look better, smell better by educating myself, improving myself, overcoming that habit, going to church, singing in the choir… Comedian Brian Regan does a routine I call “The ME Monster.”  It is hilarious!  He tells the story of a man at a dinner party who dominates the discussion with tales of his accomplishments.  Look what I have done.  I can do it, self, I, look at me!  Me-Mee-MEEE-MEEEE!

How is it that Jesus has impacted countless millions of lives and our world for two thousand years?  He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death.”  How do we live like Jesus?  The flesh, my self, the carnal nature, has to go.  I can’t make it better. No matter how much I try to improve my flesh, it will always smell of ME!

I love what Andrew Murray has written,  “Jesus has taken the place of self, and it is not an impossibility to forgive as Jesus forgave.  His humility does not consist merely in thoughts or words of self-deprecation, but as Paul puts it, in a heart of humility.”1

More of Him and less of Me!  Humility, obedience, surrender to God.  These are all acts of our own will, a choice we can and must make everyday.  When we do, Jesus will take the place of ME!