A hero today and a heel tomorrow

Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets me free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:1-2

The press called it, “Sunday a Hero, Monday a Bum!” It is the strange story of John Dennis, an auto mechanic, who rescued young Ronnie Perez when the boy’s clothing caught fire after he brushed high voltage lines. Sustaining burns himself, Dennis ripped off the boy’s clothing and saved his life. Dennis’ picture made the front page of the local newspaper that caused police to realize he was a thief who had burglarized a local gas station.

When he was finally brought before the court, the judge was baffled. He wasn’t sure what to think of this man who was both a hero and a heel. When the judge asked him to explain his actions, the man could only hang his head in shame.

Paul confronted spiritual confusion when he wrote, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to – what I hate” (Romans 7:15 TLB). Paul’s battle – the flesh versus the Spirit – is every person’s battle. The truth is that there is a bit of John Dennis in every person, myself included.

There is but one way to find deliverance from the struggle, and that is through the indwelling power of God’s Holy Spirit. Following the writing of his struggle, Paul says, “The law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

And does this eliminate the tendency towards doing what we know is wrong? No, but it gives you strength to resist that downward pull, to choose the right when the wrong looks so inviting.