A “Tug-of-War-For Your Heart & Mine”
The American author Flannery O’Connor knew what it meant to suffer. At an early age, she watched her dad suffer and die from the effects of a terrible disease, one she suffered with and one that also took her life when there were so many more years to live. As a teacher of English, I use O’Connor’s work within my classroom because her created works of fiction still draw the readers of today by their grotesqueness, “tugging” at the workings of their minds even as they reveal the spiritual lessons that tug at their hearts. A “Tug” of SPIRITUAL WAR—that’s where humanity lives. Which side of the metaphorical rope we “tug” upon is determined by our faith. We either “tug” on God’s side of the rope OR we “tug” on Satan’s side of the rope.
I wonder—Could a person be God’s child and still tug on Satan’s side of the rope?
IMPOSSIBLE! We may voice out, but is it really—Impossible? We give our heart to Christ, but then instead of giving God our lives, we pull away, pulling toward our former thoughts, actions, reactions, desires, and likes. When we pull away from God, are we, in fact, “tugging” on the rope, pulling away from God? If we are “tugging” for our own desires, are we hindering the future salvation of those who are watching from the sidelines?
Salvation—vs—Lostness.
God—vs—Satan.
A Spiritual War.
A Fight to the Death (for the souls of humanity).
Eternal Paradise in Heaven—vs—Eternal Damnation in Hell.
Even though we think our lives do not affect the eternal decisions of others, we lie to ourselves.
This is Serious Business!
Flannery O’Connor wrote these words: “People think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.”
THE CROSS.
THE PLACE JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE.
THE CROSS.
THE PLACE WHERE JESUS PROVIDED THE WAY.
THE CROSS.
THE PLACE, THE REAL TRUTH.
THE CROSS of JESUS!
Flannery O’Connor professed to be a Christian, and she used her brief life to share Jesus with the world of readers compelled to read her short stories. O’Connor used the gift of words God gave her to stand for Christ, to share Jesus with the world. Do We? Are we using our spiritual gift to share Jesus with the world? Are we proclaiming to the world of people surrounding us today that we are “tugging” for God? Are we “tugging” with all our might—for God—or have we taken one hand off the rope to reach for our personal desires, for those earthly things and relationships and sins that separate us from our total commitment to Christ? These are tough questions for me to write because with every word typed, the LORD speaks to me as His Holy Spirit brings clarity to my soul.
The Word of God—where we should begin and end our day.
Communication with God—how we should begin and end our day.
We find this truth in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. SEE WITH ME GOD’S HOLY WORD.
The Old Testament—“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
(Deuteronomy 6: 4-9)
The New Testament—“But you are a CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation [Christ Jesus’ coming again to judge humanity—every man, woman, boy, and girl].”
(1 Peter 2: 9-12)
As Christians, the LORD GOD is our Commander, our Leader, our Guide.
God has chosen us to become “THE PEOPLE OF GOD; . . .”
We shall love our LORD with everything we have available to us: our heart, our soul, and our might.
We must “tug” with all our might against the lies of Satan, against the darkness, against the evil one.
We have received Christ Jesus—His Mercy & His Grace.
We must live as sojourners, as strangers in this land for this land is NOT OUR HOME!
We must write the Word of God upon our hearts and upon our minds and upon our homes.
We must speak Jesus with our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our students, and spouses, our parents, our—EVERYONE!
We must live EXCELLENTLY in this world, not causing anyone to see anyone BUT JESUS!
We Belong to God!
We are the People of God.
So, starting now, when we rise up and when we lie down, we seek Jesus.
So starting now, when we go and do, we must live so others see Jesus in us.
So starting now, when we “tug” in this spiritual war for lost souls,
let us remain planted,
digging in our heels,
pulling with all our might for—KING JESUS!