The Inside Man Brandon Buil “Who we are on the inside counts. We must be the same person inside and out. God is transparent, and He expects the same of us!” M ost are familiar with the fable of the Trojan horse. In an effort to breach the impenetrable walls of Troy, the ancient Greeks con- structed a massive wooden horse and presented it as a gift to the Trojan king. In truth, it was a cunning deception. Hidden inside were elite soldiers, poised to strike. Once the horse was brought in - side the city gates, the soldiers emerged under cover of night—and Troy fell. The outward appearance of the “gift” was far different from what was really inside. In times of war, secret agents often use similar tactics. They go undercover, infiltrating organizations to uncover hidden threats. These operatives risk their lives, adopting false identities, perso- nas, and even appearances—all to carry out their mission. They become the “inside man.” Whether we realize it or not, we can also fall into this same pat- tern—leading a double life. That’s why Paul admonishes us in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” Likewise, Philippians 2:12 urges us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” We may faithfully attend Sabbath services and Holy Days, dressed in our finest, carrying Bibles and wearing warm smiles—but does our outward appearance reflect who we truly are inside? Each one of us must honestly and prayerfully answer that question. Tearing Down Strongholds In 2 Corinthians 10:3–5, Paul writes: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that ex - alteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Strongholds of the mind—what an ominous picture. When I think of strongholds, I’m reminded of video games from
my childhood: an enemy fortress, filled with traps and dangers, where the hero must fight through fireballs, lava pits, and enemy guards to rescue the innocent. Every obsta- cle is designed to protect the villain’s grip. This is similar to how God describes the hu- man mind when it resists His law. We build up our own defenses—strongholds—to shield us from correction. We may think, “What harm can come from thoughts that stay in my head?” or “I’m not hurting anyone.” But the truth is—we are hurting someone: Ourselves. If we don’t actively correct our thinking— bringing every thought into submission to God’s law—we are, knowingly or not, sab- otaging our own spiritual health. Christ magnified the law, revealing that sin begins in the heart and mind. It’s not just murder that condemns, but hate and anger too (see Matthew 5:21–30). These emotions begin as internal thoughts. And those thoughts create a divide between the outer and inner man. As Christians, we strive to walk as Christ walked—obedient to every word of God. But what if we harbor resentment? What if we speak of brotherly love, yet only show kindness to a select few while avoiding oth- ers? Is that how Christ would act? Absolutely not. One reason Christ expanded the law was to show that what resides within eventually surfaces. Luke 6:45 reminds us: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
6
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online