“But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Galatians 5:16-17, NASB).
During the first half of the twentieth century mankind suffered through two great “world wars.” Greatly advanced technology enabled levels of destruction never before experienced. Almost since the end of World War II there has been the threat of an even greater and more destructive war — “World War III” — which might (or almost certainly would) involve the use of nuclear weapons. Many fear that any such war would irrevocably damage or completely destroy the earth, and humanity with it.
Not all wars are fought by nations, nor are they all fought with military hardware. There is already a war which is truly worldwide, involving every responsible human being. It is the war described in Galatians 5:16-26, which is spiritual in nature and is waged within the souls and bodies of every person. The spirit battles against the flesh (body) and the flesh against the spirit.
Paul described that war in a very personal and vivid manner in Romans 7:14-25, part of which reads:
“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. … For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want . … Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”
The war between our spiritual and fleshly natures can be devastating. Paul’s description of the sinful nature of mankind as “wretched” is all too factual. We seek what we do not have, neglect the things of true value, and find ourselves alone and alienated from those whom we once loved.
James described this situation:
“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have. So you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:1-3).
Every responsible person is engaged in this war. We all have conflicts between what we should do and what we should not. We battle the physical appetites and pleasures of our physical nature, and seek to obtain the blessings of a more spiritual existence. Like Paul, we want to do the right thing, but often fail to do it. We try to avoid harmful and destructive actions or attitudes, but often give in to them. The war within us continues to rage.
What is the answer? Paul states it: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25). Jesus provides the strength we need to overcome physical temptations and to resist the evils of selfishness, greed, and instant gratification.
One key to achieving that success is to “set one’s mind upon the Spirit” (Romans 8:6). Three applications of that principle are:
- Follow the teachings of the Spirit of God given in the Bible.
- Strengthen the spiritual side of our natures so that they predominate in the battle against the flesh (body).
- Seek spiritual goals rather than physical as the aim of life.
We are and always will be in a war. With God’s help through Jesus his son we will be victorious.