Volume 25, Issue 8
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Page 5
Perspectives Opinions • Commentary • Letters
From the Publisher...
You’re Not ‘Giving Up’ Anything
By Rob Pue January 2025 In my younger days, I couldn’t imagine living
It’s about this time of year that many people take stock of their lives and through personal in- trospection, make plans for positive changes. It
in his heart, so is he.” And Paul wrote, “...be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
in the year 2025. It sounded so futur- istic. Still does. But here we all are...and still without the flying cars that Popular Mechanics promised were just around the corner back in 1969. In elementary school, our teacher once gave us an assignment to draw a pic- ture of what the year 2000 would look like. If I recall, mine included big satel- lite dishes on homes. I have no idea what I thought they’d be used for — they just looked futuristic to me, and I assumed they’d have a very important purpose. Now it seems ridiculous that these have already become outdated technology and were mainly used by consumers to watch television.
We may be motivated to make posi- tive changes in our lives on December 31st. In fact, many people assemble their list of resolutions all throughout the previous year and have great in- tentions to make those changes when the new year arrives. They’re moti- vated. They understand these are good and positive things. But motiva- tion fluctuates. It doesn’t remain a steady, solid rock we can depend on. One day our motivation may be at a peak, the next day not so much, and some days we have no motivation at all.
Last year was a strange one. As a nation, we learned even more about how we’ve been lied to for so long regarding so many things, and just how corrupt our government and so-called “jus- tice system” really is. It was a year filled with tension, perhaps purposely imposed upon us by the Regime and the mainstream media. One cri- sis after another. One scare after another, one impending disaster after another, to keep us all frightened, worried and dependent upon the Almighty State. When will we learn that most of the things we worry about never happen any- way? And now in 2025, many are hopeful for all that’s been wrong, bad and evil in our country and around the world to be made right — re- solved. Many hope and pray for America to be restored. We’re all ready for change, ready for real justice and righteousness to reign in our land. But we need to understand that nothing good can come unless the people of God repent and return to Him first. “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17). Now is the time for us to finally take 2 Chron- icles 7:14 seriously. “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Just imagine what this new year would look like if we finally put actions behind those words we quote so often. It all begins with us, as individuals. Individual members of God’s Church. By “Church,” I mean the “Ecclesia,” the “called out ones.” Those who are real, genuine Christ-followers. I certainly am not referring to any specific denomination or any building. I’m talking about us as individu- als, as husbands and wives, as families, as true children of God.
would help if we also sought the Lord in fervent prayer and study of His Word, to align our will with His. It’s precisely because so many don’t seek the Lord, pray or ask Him what His will is for our lives that so many New Years Resolutions fail within days. Many begin each new year with lofty, and well- intentioned goals. Among the most common: people desperately want to lose weight, stop smoking, stop drinking, save money, stop wast- ing time on fruitless endeavors, improve their marriages, be better parents — and some even resolve to read and study the Bible daily in the New Year. Several years ago, I had a gym membership. I was diligent to make time to exercise daily, and at one point it was common for me to make a point of walking fifteen miles in a day, a few days each week. I’d start off in the gym, then hike some trails, and end the day with more walking on the treadmill at the gym. I coupled this with a change in my eating habits, and since that time I’ve lost seventy pounds. I cringe now, when I see old photos of myself, morbidly obese. But that change didn’t happen overnight. It took work, a change of behavior and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Many begin the new year with good intentions, but motivation isn’t automatic and tends to come and go. And there’s nothing “magical” about the calendar rolling over to January 1st. I remember when I had my gym membership, I would avoid the place entirely the first week or so of every new year, because it was always packed with New Years’ Resolvers. But 3-5 days into the new year, things were usually back to normal, as those New Years Resolutions of so many fell by the wayside. So, let’s talk about New Year Resolutions for a bit. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines the word “Resolve,” as “To confirm; to fix in constancy.” And also, “To fix in opinion or purpose; to deter-
So, motivation alone is a good thing to get us started on our aspirations, but it’s not enough. Some think they just need to have more willpower, but willpower won’t get the job done for you either. When it comes to correcting our undesirable behaviors, or even besetting sins, we can be very motivated to do that and start off with great willpower, but eventually we’ll always take the path of least resistance. Willpower requires us to deny ourselves those things we still believe are “precious” in our minds. You can use willpower to deny yourself something you think you still want for a little while, but it soon becomes a tremendous burden and source of stress. If you’re trying to stop eat- ing junk food, stop smoking or drinking or over- come some other vice — and you still believe in your heart that those things are doing some- thing positive for you — your willpower will give out and the addiction will win every time. On the other hand, if you become transformed by the renewing of your mind, you don’t need willpower. You don’t need willpower NOT to do something you have no desire to do. Let me re- peat that, because you missed it: You do not need willpower NOT to do something you have no desire to do. Let me give you an example. If you struggle with alcohol, and a glass of bleach is set in front of you, you have no desire to drink it. Why? Because you know you don’t want it. You know it would be harmful to you, and you choose to live rather than drink poison. So, it doesn’t take willpower not to drink it. Well, al- cohol is poison too. We weren’t meant to con- sume it. The source of all addictions is the deception that we’ve trained our minds to believe we “need” something we’ve become accustomed to. Those struggling with alcohol likely began as young people. At first, they hated it. It made them sick, dizzy and probably caused vomiting. But they persisted, perhaps out of peer pressure, or to socialize, or to appear “cool” to their friends. The teenager on his knees, sweating profusely and vomiting into the toilet never envisioned himself drinking the stuff for a lifetime, and de- pending on it for stress relief or “self-medica- tion.” They never imagined it would take control of them, and they’d struggle with that addiction all their lives. But that’s how it starts, and it’s up to you whether or not it ends, so you can be healthy and strong as God intended, or if you re- main a slave to the addiction. Continued on Page 7
mine in t h e mi nd , ” and “To be set- tled in opinion.” G o d ’ s W o r d s a y s , “...as a m a n thinketh
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