Most people think that denial is duh river in duh country of Egypt. Yet denial is a powerful aspect of life. One way or another, each decision is a denial of sorts. Either we are denying the flesh or denying the Spirit; there is no middle ground.
Today, we live in a culture with a pervasive denial of responsibility, yet that attribute did not begin in modern times. By comparing the reigns in Israel of King Saul and King David, one of the most significant differences occurs not in their propensity to make mistakes but in the manner the kings handled those mistakes. While David asked for the Lord’s forgiveness, King Saul typically walked in a more prideful way, blaming each error-plagued situation on extraneous people or circumstances. That behavior is paramount in politics, yet it reaches every level of humanity. A man who owns his mistakes is bigger than he who plays the blame game. God is ready, willing and able to forgive us for all mistakes if we are humble enough to ask Him, but without ownership, that is impossible. By blaming others for causing our sin, we are making excuses for behavior that has no excuse. Our minds are capable of rationalizing any behavior, yet when we want forgiveness, God desires to hear our broken hearts.
Peter demonstrated the most serious aspect of denial when he denied the Lord on the night before the crucifixion. Moments after bragging to Jesus that he loved the Lord more than all others, Peter displayed the typical result when we brag and rely on ourselves. Reliance on self leads to failure. Sadly, some Christians feel that there are sins that would cause God to turn His back upon us, but He did not turn His back on Peter after the triple threat of denial. Truly, each sin that we commit is a denial of Jesus, for as Christians, God has cut the chains. We are no longer bound by sin, but instead, sin becomes a choice. Often, we do not remember making that conscious choice to fall into sin as believers, but usually can remember a time when our focus upon the Lord began to waver. Satan continues to lead his demonic host in spiritual battles against God’s people, and he performs that job well, having had many years to perfect those abilities. For example, a well-placed advertisement can cause a man to stumble into lust, without considering that potential mistake when opening the magazine. That simple stumble can lead to more problems and more sins, if not kept in check. In the same manner that a sailor can find himself far from his planned arrival when his two-week journey is one-degree off course, a Christian can get lost quickly if his spiritual compass is not pointed to true north.
Another important message concerning denial in the Bible comes from the words of Jesus:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:24-26
Denying self involves ignoring the desires of the flesh. Taking up the cross is an additional step allowing Christians to become a part of the crucifixion of our Lord. For Jesus, the cross was not a burden, but a gift. He gave His life so that we might live, and we know that the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for a friend. Romans 6:3 reminds us that we are baptized into Christ’s death, and to take up the cross is to be willing for our old sinful selves to die, as our Lord gives us new lives in Him! That is the willingness to give all of your life to God, not just parts of it. Will you give Him your spouse, your children and your career? Will you give Him your past, your present and your future? He requires all of us! While the world reminds us to, “Deny, deny, deny,” Christians should follow God’s plan to deny self, while confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior! His power is so great it cannot be denied!
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32-33
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