By Samuel Hanke
The slow-approaching sirens were blaring with a menacing bite. The Camaro flew with bullet-like velocity along the lengthy rural road. The pursuing police believed that their apprehension of chronic burglar Kasey Rogers was a long-awaited prize that was soon to be acquired. However, as Kasey crested a hill, his car abruptly caught air and glided thirty feet, colliding with an oak in a revolting crash that left Kasey dead. Ironically, the evening of this pursuit was the fifth anniversary of the funeral commemoration for Jackson Rogers, Kasey’s father. Jackson Rogers was a brilliant Colonel with a cogent military record to prove his genius, but his son Kasey never quite conformed to the remarkable model with which his father had gifted him. Thus, one man’s life ended in great distinction while another’s ended in disgrace. What was the decisive element that so vastly divided these two men’s destinies? One denied and disciplined himself; the other indulged in his desires. The ability to say “No” to oneself exalted one man to honor, but the lack thereof reduced another man to dishonor.
An individual’s ultimate destiny is immensely swayed by his self-denial, or lack thereof. If one has not learned how to command himself “No,” he has not learned the secret to both social and spiritual success. One cannot help injuring his social life if he cannot restrain himself from purchasing all that he desires at the expense of a massive debt. He cannot help doing himself spiritual damage if he does not restrain himself from lustful practices at every opportunity presented him. If one does not comprehend the magnitude of self-discipline and restrict himself from injurious exercises, he will soon find his life falling apart.
Contrary to human reasoning, however, mankind does not have the capacity in himself to overcome his fleshly desires. Man is not powerless to deny himself, but what strength he has buckles to pressure shortly into his attempt at self-subjection, resulting in defeat. How then can a man decisively conquer his flesh and drive it into subjection? The answer lies in the Word of God: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” When one yields himself fully to the command of the Holy Ghost and lives in the unlimited power He affords, he will find himself altogether victorious in every contest in which he participates. But the following clarification is needed here: the power of God cannot be obtained by one who has not accepted Christ as his Savior. God’s power is under restricted-access with admission granted only to those who have asked Jesus Christ for salvation.
The only means to social and spiritual success is through denial of the flesh; the only means to deny the flesh successfully is through the power of the Holy Spirit; the only means to access the power of the Holy Spirit is by salvation. Ultimately, therefore, the foundation of one’s social and spiritual success is his salvation, not self-subjection. If one accepts Christ as his Savior and denies his flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit, he will experience the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10. Then will he be able to obtain the victory not only in self-subjection, but also in every other aspect of his life.