While I was sitting at my computer a housefly soared past my head and smashed into the computer screen. He either killed himself or at least knocked himself unconscious for he was immediately lying belly up by my keyboard. What surprised me next was a really tiny spider rushed out from under my keyboard and attacked the fly. It was a case of David against Goliath.
It reminded me of an incident one afternoon just outside Nairobi. A semi struck and killed an elephant. People from all over came with their machetes to cut up and carry away the giant. They looked so small beside the fallen behemoth.
Sometimes most of us feel like our lower nature is a giant. Paul calls it his “old man.” Freud called it our “id.” In Romans 7 Paul speaks about doing battle with this aspect of our humanity and often losing the battle. It is as if this elephant in our lives sits anywhere it pleases. If it were not for God’s promises to help us it would be most discouraging indeed. However the real joy is knowing we do not have to do battle alone. Help is always available.
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I Corinthians 10:13
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 16, 2003
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453.