DENYING IS DYING

 The truth is, you either die now and live later, or live now and die later (Romans 8:13). What does "die now" mean? Dying to self for every born-again Christian refers to an active, ongoing process of putting sinful habits and desires to death THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT living in them. It does not mean harming or "un-aliving" yourself. That's really what dying to self is but the world has it backwards. They tell you the opposite: " live now, do whatever you want, say yes to everything that feels good and worry about the consequences later." 

This culture teaches indulgence like its freedom: Sleep with whoever, drink with whoever, do what feels good and carouse with whoever, etc. They call it living your best life. But no one seems  interested in what it costs in the long run. Pleasure blinds the mind. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for My sake shall find it" (Matthew 16:25).Meaning, when you live only for yourself, you are slowly destroying yourself. And when you deny yourself that's when real life actually starts. People hear 'die to your flesh' and think it means missing out. No. It means opting out of regret. It means choosing your strength before the strength is forced on you. Because consequences don't ask for permission. They don't wait until you're ready. They don't care how much fun you had and that's why judgment scares people. Not because God is unfair but because deep down they know you can't say you do not know. You cannot say you were not warned. You cannot say truth was unavailable. Grace is real. Mercy is real. But grace is not permission to live reckless forever.

The Bible says,  "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWS THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP" (Galatians 6:7) meaning you don't get to live wild and expect peace later. You don't get to sow chaos and pray for order. Here's the part nobody likes to hear. Grace does not cancel consequences. Not because God stops being loving but because life eventually collects. Every choice teaches something. Every habit builds something. Every season plants seed. One day you'll stand on what you built and that's why discipline now is mercy later. That's why obedience now is protection later. That's why dying to your flesh now is freedom later. The world calls that boring. God calls it wise. So no, the Bible is not anti-fun. It's anti-destruction. It's not trying to take life from you. It's trying to give it back to you before you lose it.

In conclusion: The life the world calls freedom can actually become bondage. Indulgence is not always freedom. Sometimes it is the beginning of regret. Sometimes it is sowing seeds that later become consequences.  So, let’s be honest: what are we sowing? Are we sowing peace or chaos? Obedience or rebellion? Spirit or flesh?

Jesus is still calling us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him — not because He wants to take life from us, but because He came to give us true life.

Until He Comes,

-Pat-